Child Life Specialist - Full Time

Elizabeth Seton Children’s • Yonkers, NY

6d • $64,000 - $70,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Child Life Specialist will fulfill position functions and responsibilities necessary for ethical and efficacious programming of child life services. This role involves planning developmentally-appropriate individual and group clinical sessions to meet resident-specific goals, and providing developmentally-appropriate procedural support and preparation. The specialist will function as an integral part of the creative arts therapy and child life team, as well as the neighborhood-based interdisciplinary team, to promote quality family-centered care.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Certification in Child Life required.
• Minimum of 1-2 years professional experience in a clinical pediatric setting
• Internship or fellowship in child life
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language fluently
• Must meet or exceed all health standards and requirements for the position as established by NYDOH and all other regulatory agencies
• Must meet the general health requirements set fourth by the policies of this Center which includes a medical and physical examination
• Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of thirty-five (35) pounds
• Perform tasks that may involve exposure to the resident’s blood/body fluids
• Must be able to assist in the evacuation of residents, if necessary

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred in Child Life, Child Development, Special Education or closely related field
• Clinical or volunteer experience with children with multiply handicapped and medically fragile children, preferred

Responsibilities

• Understands and promotes Elizabeth Seton Children’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure application with organizational policies and procedures.
• Continually strive to improve the organization’s systems and/or services.
• Make decisions as a team to fulfill our mission, share recognition, and learn from failures.
• Treat every resident, family member, and co-worker with dignity, respect, and courtesy.
• Provide a full range of child life clinical services (caseloads, procedural support, clinic visits, family support etc.) with approximately 20 client-contact hours per week.
• Provide procedural support and logistical assistance for in-house clinics, in-house medical procedures and ADLs as indicated to meet resident needs.
• Provide developmentally-appropriate preparation and education for procedures, and provide procedural support for external appointments as indicated.
• Screen newly admitted residents to determine appropriateness for child life assessment, and communicate findings to team.
• Communicate referrals to child life team and conduct initial child life assessments for referred residents who are prioritized for services.
• Assure accurate physician’s orders for all residents on caseload, and consistently fulfill orders.
• Conduct individual and group clinical sessions, with child-centered, measurable goals.
• Participate in Plan of Care meetings when applicable to discuss clinical goals and progress.
• Maintain standard data-gathering techniques during all phases of clinical processing including assessment, therapy and evaluation.
• Adhere to established clinical documentation standards in a timely fashion.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to provide highest quality of care.
• Advocate for families and serve as a role model of family-centered care.
• Communicate with relevant child life staff in acute care settings to provide continuity of care when children are transferred to acute care.
• Provide clinical support to residents and families around times of crisis and transition (including sibling support, palliative and end-of-life care, discharge preparation, etc.).
• Provide complementary therapies as trained, when appropriate (e.g., Reiki, massage, Acutonics).
• Participate in interviewing, selecting and orienting child life interns.
• Participate in the supervision and training of child life interns and practicum students.
• Represent CAT CL department on one assigned neighborhood by attending clinical status, maintaining interdisciplinary communication and participating in neighborhood-based initiatives and special events.
• Participate in providing child life orientation, in-services and educational opportunities for ESPC staff.
• Actively participate in pertinent ESPC committees and Business Plan teams as appropriate (e.g., Family Advisory Council, business plan work-groups, palliative care committee, etc.)
• Assist with planning and implementation of department-led special events (e.g., Family Portrait Day).
• Comply with applicable federal and/or state laws, regulations and/or agency rules, standards and guidelines, etc.
• Adhere to CLC Standards of Clinical Practice and Code of Ethical Responsibility.
• Engage in on-going continuing education opportunities consistent with professional standards.
• Maintain departmental supplies and demonstrate appropriate care of departmental materials.
• Requisition supplies with the approval of the supervisor.
• Adhere to a resident-focused schedule of hours and use appropriate procedures for requesting time off.

What This Job Offers

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