Child Life Specialist I, Full-Time, Days

University of Chicago Medicine • Chicago, IL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Be a part of a world-class academic healthcare system, UChicago Medicine , as a Child Life Specialist in Comer Children's Hospital in our Comer 6 Department. In this role, the Child Life Specialist will work throughout the hospital offering support for children and families to help them cope with injuries and illnesses. Our Child life specialist's focus on each child's psychological and developmental needs to help him or her feel more comfortable in the hospital. We use a wide range of medical dolls, teaching tools and resources to prepare each child for procedures, surgeries and treatments. Since children grow and learn through play, we offer many opportunities for kids to do just that, as well socialize with other young people in the hospital. Our child life staff provides a wide range of supportive services for babies, children and adolescents. The Child Life Specialist will provide psychosocial support to children and families during hospitalization and will be responsible for designing and maintaining the physical, therapeutic, developmental and educational environment of Child Life Services in a manner that promotes a child/family friendly atmosphere. The Child Life Specialist lends expertise and knowledge of child growth and development to the healthcare team, adjusts interaction and/or treatment to match each patients developmental, educational and other related needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree with a concentration in child life
• An internship in a child life program over 500 hrs
• Certification eligible as a Child Life Specialist and acquired with one year of employment
• One to two years’ work experience with infants, children or adolescents
• Knowledge and skills necessary to utilize theoretical constructs of human development for assessment and intervention for infants through teenagers
• Interpersonal skills necessary to establish therapeutic relationships with children and their families, as well as effective communication
• Analytical skills necessary to identify and solve problems within a constantly changing and stressful environment

Nice To Haves

• Master's Degree with a concentration in child life
• Hospital setting work experience as a Child Life Specialist
• Child Life Specialist certification

Responsibilities

• Assess patients/families' psychosocial and developmental needs within the context of their adjustment to the healthcare setting.
• Facilitates appropriate interventions through individual and group play/art activities, therapeutic activities/medical play, preparation for procedures, surgeries and potentially stressful events.
• Formulates treatment goals.
• Documents weekly Child Life interventions and services on weekly reports and computer census.
• Documents in patient's medical chart adhering to departmental policy.
• Orders, stocks, and maintains supplies; maintains play areas with developmentally appropriate toys/activities that are clean and safe.
• Initiates and implements new programs/projects as assigned by Director of Child Life.

Benefits

• UChicago Medicine is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status and other legally protected characteristics.
• As a condition of employment, all employees are required to complete a pre-employment physical, background check, drug screening, and comply with the flu vaccination requirements prior to hire. Medical and religious exemptions will be considered for flu vaccination consistent with applicable law.
• UChicago Medicine is committed to transparency in compensation and benefits.
• Review the full complement of benefit options for eligible roles at Benefits - UChicago Medicine

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level