Child Life Resident, Summer 2027

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia•Upper Merion Township, PA

11d•$10 - $23

About The Position

The Child Life Resident works under supervision to help plan and implement a developmentally and emotionally supportive program for children and adolescents in a health care setting. The role incorporates play, emotional support, health care education, and family involvement to enhance the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical well-being of children and families. The resident assesses patients’ and families’ physical, developmental, emotional, and recreational needs; individualizes and evaluates plans of care; communicates with families and the interdisciplinary team; and collaborates with other care providers. Clinical work includes developmentally appropriate education, procedural preparation, coping support, and individual or group activities for patients from infancy through adolescence. The resident also supports family-centered care, documentation, volunteer training, and professional development activities.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Completed academic coursework requirements as outlined by the Association of Child Life Professionals.
Baseline knowledge of infant, child, and adolescent growth and development.
Ability to perform duties with support and guidance from a supervisor, internship coordinator, and other Child Life staff.
Customer service and communication skills.
Ability to articulate factors influencing coping and to prioritize and complete duties in a timely, organized manner.
Ability to work collaboratively and positively with others.
Ability to set goals and judge results in accordance with high standards.
Ability to provide care with sensitivity and respect.
Annual influenza vaccination is required for employees working in patient care buildings or in patient-facing roles.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ and families’ physical, developmental, emotional, and recreational needs; individualize and evaluate plans of care.
Communicate plans of care to interdisciplinary team members and families.
Collaborate with patients, families, and interdisciplinary team members to provide care and services.
Coordinate care with Child Activity Coordinators, Creative Art Therapists, Teachers, and department coworkers.
Provide developmentally appropriate education, procedural preparation, and support to infants, preschoolers, children, and adolescents regarding illness and medical treatment.
Assist patients and family members in coping with stresses associated with health care experiences.
Plan and implement developmentally appropriate individual and group activities that promote self-awareness, self-expression, understanding, development, normalization, and mastery.
Recognize and address the role of play and recreation in supporting children’s mastery and coping in health care.
Provide a safe, developmentally appropriate environment and materials for patients and families.
Deliver child life services according to the principles of Family-Centered Care: dignity and respect, participation, collaboration, and information sharing.
Involve and support family members in the child’s plan of care, aligning expectations with family needs and values.
Advocate for parents and caregivers to maintain their caregiver role.
Attend documentation in-service and comply with patient care documentation standards and departmental policy.
Participate in departmental data collection as directed.
Provide training and supervision for volunteers.
Attend formal weekly in-service trainings throughout the semester or year.
Complete assignments outlined by the student program coordinator and/or student manual.