Child Life Specialist

Tufts Medicine

4d•$25 - $31

About The Position

The Child Life Specialist provides developmentally appropriate play and activities, preparation, and emotional support to help pediatric patients and their families cope with the stress of illness or injury, hospitalization, treatments, and procedures. As an integral member of the health care team, the specialist advocates for children’s and families’ needs and serves as a resource for other professionals. The role involves assessing each patient’s development, coping style, diagnosis and treatment, and psychosocial supports to design individual interventions. The specialist uses medical play, age-appropriate language and teaching tools, and therapeutic or diversionary techniques to prepare and support patients during medical care. The position also supports parents, family members, and siblings; promotes continuity of normal life experiences; and helps accommodate cultural needs. The specialist works in inpatient and/or outpatient pediatric clinical care areas. The schedule is four 10-hour days per week with rotating Saturday and Sunday shifts; particular days may be discussed with the manager. The role also includes training and supervising Child Life and child development students and volunteers, maintaining supplies and toys, and recording census and intervention data.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Human Development, or a related field.
Completion of a 400-hour Child Life Internship.
Ability to apply knowledge of child growth and development and understand the impact of medical experiences on development.
Ability to work with infants, toddlers, preschool- and school-age children, and adolescents in developmentally appropriate ways.
Ability to read, write, and communicate in English, with demonstrated empathy and sympathy in spoken and written communication.
Knowledge and skills to provide care throughout the life span, considering aging processes, human development stages, and cultural patterns in each step of care.
Ability to function effectively in very busy situations.
Responsible and reliable, with good organizational skills.
Knowledge of the CQI process.
Understanding of family dynamics and ability to work effectively within various types of family systems.
Excellent interpersonal skills.

Nice To Haves

Child Life certification or eligibility to apply for certification.

Responsibilities

Provide developmentally appropriate play and activities that support normal growth and development.
Design and implement individual interventions based on assessments of patients’ development, coping styles, diagnoses and treatments, and psychosocial supports.
Use medical play, developmentally appropriate language, and teaching tools to prepare patients for medical interventions and support understanding and mastery of their diagnoses, medical care, and experiences.
Use therapeutic and diversionary techniques to support patients during treatments and procedures.
Communicate pertinent patient-care information during rounds and case conferences and in the medical record.
Offer support to parents and family members and use developmentally appropriate interventions to support siblings.
Promote continuity of normal life experiences by preparing birthday and holiday celebrations, arranging educational tutoring when appropriate, and using resources to accommodate cultural needs and bridge differences.
Provide training and supervision for Child Life and child development students and volunteers.
Assist with managing supplies, cleaning and maintaining toys and equipment, and recording census and intervention data.
Maintain collaborative relationships with peers and colleagues to contribute to work-group goals and foster a positive work environment.