Certified Child Life Specialist

Fairview Health Services•Minneapolis, MN

61d

About The Position

The evening weekend Certified Child Life Specialist provides clinical psychosocial services to pediatric patients and their families throughout the hospital system, supporting coping and adaptation to the health care environment through therapeutic play. The specialist is an integral member of a multidisciplinary team and applies knowledge of child development and family systems to practice. The role includes assessment, preparation and teaching, procedural support, play programming, psychosocial support, collaboration with healthcare professionals, and supervision of volunteers and students as applicable. Other professional responsibilities may be assigned.

Requirements

B.S. or B.A. in child life, family or child development, counseling, child psychology, education, social work, nursing, or a related field.
Completion of a child life internship recognized by the ACLP; the overview specifies a minimum of 480 hours.
Ability to sit for and pass the CCLS certification exam within one year of hire.
Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association or Red Cross within 30 days.

Nice To Haves

B.S. or B.A. in child life or a closely related field, or an M.A. or M.S. in child life or a closely related field.
Three years of experience as a CCLS.
Current CCLS certification.

Responsibilities

Assess patient and family psychosocial needs and implement therapeutic coping plans.
Assess developmental and emotional states using formal and informal techniques, and apply the cyclical process of assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation.
Use clinical evidence and fundamental child life knowledge in professional decision-making.
Use developmentally supportive play and expressive arts to help patients express anxieties, misconceptions, and perceptions of hospital experiences.
Provide developmentally appropriate preparation, teaching, and education about diagnoses, plans of care, and independent coping skills.
Set learning goals and objectives with families and healthcare professionals, and use appropriate teaching aids and techniques.
Facilitate positive coping and provide developmentally appropriate procedural support during stressful, painful, and traumatic healthcare experiences.
Use non-pharmacological pain management and developmentally appropriate sensory, cognitive, and behavioral coping strategies.
Implement team plans for procedural coping support, including parental presence and guidance, comfort positions, role responsibilities, and distraction techniques.
Plan, rehearse, implement, and evaluate coping strategies.
Provide opportunities for play for infants, children, youth, and families, incorporating theories of human growth and development, play, and family systems.
Assess individual play needs and facilitate play that decreases distress, provides enjoyment and comfort, enhances mastery, and promotes healing.
Plan and implement play activities and materials appropriate to diverse cultures, developmental needs, and physical abilities.
Establish safe, engaging play spaces that promote cross-cultural connections, group play, and child-led exploration.
Provide psychosocial support to patients, siblings, and family systems, including support related to procedures, pain, traumatic life events, loss, end of life, and grief.
Use active listening and empathic responding to build relationships with families experiencing stress, and use self-reflection to support patients and families through mourning.
Establish and maintain a therapeutic, healing, and family-centered environment, promoting family connection during separation caused by hospitalization or illness.
Practice within the scope of professional knowledge and skills, including supervision of students, and maintain professional responsibilities and competencies.
Communicate pertinent information concisely with healthcare professionals, integrating theory and evidence-based practice.
Consult and collaborate with health professionals to coordinate interventions and share direction and insight.
Maintain professional boundaries in accordance with organizational and ACLP guidance.
Incorporate evidence-based practice and research into child life practice through continuing education.
Work as an integral part of the Patient and Family Support Services team to support patient- and family-centered care across disciplines.
Utilize and supervise volunteers for child life programming or patient care needs.