Child Life Specialist I

CHRISTUS Health•San Antonio, TX

14d

About The Position

The Child Life Specialist I demonstrates advanced skill and knowledge in the therapeutic process of working with children and families. The role evaluates developmental skills and psychosocial needs and provides purposeful medical play and developmental experiences to improve patients’ quality of life during health care visits and support personal development. The specialist advocates for child life services through collaboration with other health care providers and serves as a leader in the department, hospital, and community. The role may assume responsibility for department functions in the Manager’s absence, as determined by the Manager. The position assesses patients and families, including developmental needs, family stressors, and the effects of procedures, diagnoses, and health care. It observes and interprets responses to health care and illness; implements supportive play interventions; and facilitates education and support on coping, illness, health care experiences, family dynamics, and parenting. The specialist documents observations and intervention responses, maintains productivity records, and plans and obtains materials within budget guidelines in consultation with the Manager. The specialist serves as a resource for patients, families, and health care team members; evaluates Child Life programming with the Manager; supervises and guides interns, volunteers, and students; mentors CCLS I and II staff in complex cases; and contributes to staff development and family education. The role participates in committees, supports department management and continuous improvement, helps resolve problems, and promotes respectful communication and team building. Assigned patient care responsibilities must be performed in a manner responsive to patients’ population-specific, developmental, physical, psychosocial, cultural, and age-specific needs. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Child Life or a related field is required.
Completion of a 600-hour child life internship under the supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist is required.
Previous experience working with children is required.
Previous experience with therapeutic use of play materials or activities is required.
Must obtain and maintain Child Life Certification within one year of hire.
BLS certification is required.
Knowledge of growth and development, patient and family reactions to hospitalization, and coping strategies.
Interpersonal skills and effective communication.
Working knowledge of educational development.
Understanding of hospital policies and medical terminology and procedures.
Must obtain required certifications within the time frame specified by the CHRISTUS Health License, Certification and Registration Verification Policy.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a related field is preferred.
Bilingual English/Spanish is preferred.
One year of experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Assess patients and families for developmental needs, family stressors, and the impact of procedures, diagnoses, and health care, identifying complex needs for child life intervention.
Observe and interpret children’s and families’ responses to health care and illness.
Implement planned, purposeful play activities and interventions that support children’s needs during health care visits.
Assess and facilitate informal interactions and structured support groups or classes addressing stress and coping, illness and health care experiences, family dynamics, and parenting topics.
Document observations of patients and families and patients’ responses to interventions.
Plan for, order, and collect materials and equipment for therapeutic and educational activities within budget guidelines and in consultation with the Manager.
Maintain accurate records of patient contacts and related productivity information.
Serve as a resource to patients, families, and health care team members regarding child life and community services.
Evaluate Child Life programming in collaboration with the Manager.
Supervise and guide interns, volunteers, and students in Child Life learning experiences, including lectures, patient assignments, performance evaluations, and references, with direction from the Manager.
Mentor CCLS I and II staff working with complex patient situations.
Provide formal and informal staff development and serve as a resource to other health care team members.
Develop educational tools and bulletin boards to educate families.
Participate in hospital, corporate, and/or community committees.
Collaborate with the Manager to lead the department’s continuous improvement efforts.
Take a leadership role in resolving problems in collaboration with the Manager and other departments.
Promote effective communication and team building that respects the dignity and self-worth of patients, families, and the health care team.
Support the Manager in management of the department and assume department functions in the Manager’s absence as determined by the Manager.
Perform assigned patient care responsibilities in a manner that meets the population-specific and developmental needs of patients.
Adapt patient care assessment, treatment, and care methods to patients’ physical, psychosocial, cultural, age-specific, and other developmental needs.
Perform other duties as assigned.