Certified Child Life Specialist, Pediatric ICU, Holtz Children's Hospital, FT, Days

Jackson Health System • Miami, FL

93d

About The Position

The Child Life Specialist provides psychosocial and developmentally based assessment, interventions, and support to pediatric patients and families with the primary goals of increasing patient and family education / understanding, decreasing anxiety, and maintaining the integrity of the child and family. Plans and provides emotionally and developmentally appropriate experiences to encourage continued cognitive and emotional growth during various health care experiences. Plans and provides developmentally appropriate preparation for medical / surgical procedures, facilitation of coping strategies, and empowerment of family members to support the patient. Enhances the quality of pediatric patient care through participation, documentation, and communication with other members of the health care team. Teaches, supervises, and evaluates the work of volunteers and child life student interns. Serves as a resource and an advocate on child development, family-centered care, multicultural awareness, and the impact of various health care experiences on pediatric patients and families.

Requirements

• Generally requires 3 to 5 years of related experience.
• In-patient/ Pediatric ICU experience highly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in related field is required.
• Valid license or certification is required as needed, based on the job or specialty.
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) and any additional applicable life support certification for Healthcare Providers is required upon hire.

Responsibilities

• Exchanges significant information with members of the health care team (e.g. daily report, interdisciplinary meetings).
• Provides age-specific orientation to the child and family to health care experiences and personnel and to the setting(s) where health care will occur.
• Develops supportive therapeutic relationships with pediatric patients and families that reinforce trust and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Provides consultation to the health care team regarding the ongoing developmental status and unique needs of children and families to promote effective adaptation to treatment and/or potentially stressful events and circumstances; makes referral recommendations.
• Provides opportunities for and facilitates a variety of play, activities, and other interactions which promote self-healing, self-expression, understanding and mastery.
• Demonstrates awareness of social, emotional, developmental, educational, and cultural needs of pediatric patients and families.
• Provides developmental screening and assessment based on formal and informal techniques; completes child life assessment, plan and follow-up per child life program policy.
• Plans and initiates follow-up actions to achieve identified goals for patient interventions and program development.
• Provides developmentally appropriate psychological preparation for potentially stressful experiences.
• Provides emotional support during identified stress points, and utilizes stress reduction techniques to facilitate adaptive coping of the child and family.
• Promotes and participates in a collaborative approach to services with patients, families and the health care team.
• Utilizes therapeutic play techniques (including health care play) as a diagnostic and treatment tool.
• Provides family-centered care which supports family bonds, utilizes family strengths in the care of the child, and provides support and counseling to family members with respect to their own stress and needs.
• Provides information and resources (to families and professionals) regarding child development and psychosocial care.
• Provides sensitive palliative care to pediatric patients, families and siblings when indicated.
• Participates in the orientation and training of new child life staff as indicated.
• Maintains administrative documentation per child life program policy and provides a written report of monthly activities to the child life coordinator.
• Attends and participates in child life and/or Pediatric Surgical team staff meetings and program development.

What This Job Offers

• Industry: Hospitals
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees