Certified Child Life Specialist

Fairview Health Services•Minneapolis, MN

About The Position

The Certified Child Life Specialist supporting the Blyth Brenden Children's Clinical Research Center provides services to pediatric patients and their families to support coping and adaptation to the health care environment, using play as a therapeutic modality. The specialist provides clinical psychosocial services throughout the hospital system based on the competencies of a certified child life specialist and applies knowledge of child development and family systems as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team. The role includes assessing psychosocial needs and providing developmentally appropriate preparation, education, coping support, procedural support, play opportunities, and psychosocial support to patients, siblings, and families. The specialist collaborates with healthcare professionals, maintains professional competencies and boundaries, incorporates evidence-based practice and research, supports patient- and family-centered care, and may supervise students and volunteers.

Requirements

B.S./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, with a minimum of 480 hours.
Ability to sit for and pass the CCLS certification exam within one year of hire.
Basic Life Support certification through the American Heart Association or Red Cross within 30 days.

Nice To Haves

B.S./B.A. in child life or a closely related field, or an M.A./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.
Use formal and informal techniques to assess developmental and emotional states, and identify factors affecting vulnerability to stress and trauma.
Apply the assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation process to child life services.
Integrate clinical evidence and child life knowledge into professional decision-making.
Use therapeutic approaches, play, and expressive arts to support children’s expression and assess their concerns about hospital experiences.
Provide developmentally appropriate preparation, teaching, and education about diagnoses, plans of care, and independent coping skills.
Collaborate with families and healthcare professionals to set learning goals and action plans, and use appropriate teaching aids and techniques.
Facilitate coping experiences and developmentally appropriate procedural support during stressful, painful, or traumatic healthcare experiences.
Apply non-pharmacological pain management techniques and sensory, cognitive, and behavioral coping strategies.
Implement team plans for procedural coping support, including parental presence, comfort positioning, role responsibilities, and distraction techniques.
Plan, rehearse, implement, and evaluate coping strategies.
Provide developmentally appropriate play opportunities for infants, children, youth, and families.
Assess individual play needs and use play to reduce distress, provide comfort and enjoyment, enhance mastery, and promote healing.
Plan and implement culturally responsive play activities and materials for varied developmental needs and physical abilities.
Establish safe, engaging play spaces that encourage exploration and group play.
Provide psychosocial support to patients, siblings, and family systems, including support related to medical procedures, pain, traumatic events, loss, end of life, and grief.
Use active listening and empathic responses to build relationships with families experiencing stress, and use self-reflection to support mourning.
Maintain a therapeutic, healing, and family-centered environment and promote family connection during hospitalization or illness-related separation.
Practice within professional and personal competencies, maintain acceptable professional standards, and supervise students.
Communicate relevant information with healthcare professionals and consult and collaborate to coordinate interventions.
Maintain professional boundaries as defined by the organization and the ACLP.
Incorporate evidence-based practice and research into child life practice through continuing education.
Carry out other professional responsibilities as assigned.
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.