Child Life Specialist McKay Dee Hospital
About The Position
The Child Life Specialist works directly with pediatric patients, families, and other health team members to facilitate age-appropriate interactions and activities that make the health care experience easier. The role reduces patient and family distress, strengthens coping, fosters patient independence, and promotes optimum development. The specialist provides supervision to volunteers, child life pre-internship students, and child life assistants. This position supports the entire McKay-Dee Hospital, including Pediatrics, the Emergency Department, ICU, Lab, Radiology, and other units as needed. It works within a team of three and is also part of Intermountain Health’s broader child life department. The role is part-time at 31.5 hours per week, with swing/night shifts and weekends. Evening, night, and weekend shift differentials may apply. The position is based at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; degree will be verified.
- Documentation of a successfully completed 600-hour internship supervised by a Child Life Specialist.
- Child Life Certification from the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) is required within 15 months of hire.
- Experience with pediatric patients in a medical, hospital, or behavioral health setting.
- Experience in Child Life Core Competencies, including establishing supportive relationships; meeting the social, emotional, and cognitive needs of children and family members; educating and communicating with children, families, and team members; providing coping support and comfort management; guiding children in therapeutic play; and ongoing assessment and written documentation of clinical care.
- Computer experience with word processing, spreadsheets, and databases or similar applications.
- Skills in pediatrics, training and mentoring, written documentation, communication, relationship building, taking initiative, critical thinking, teamwork, growth mindset, and accountability.
Nice To Haves
- One year of experience with pediatric patients in a medical, hospital, or behavioral health setting.
- Work experience as a child life assistant.
- Experience as a child life pre-internship or practicum student.
- Experience supervising volunteers while working with children and adolescents.
- Spanish speaking.
Responsibilities
- Accurately assess, prioritize, and document pediatric patient and family care.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate effective pediatric patient- and family-centered health care plans.
- Provide developmentally appropriate education, psychological procedural preparation, coping support, comfort management, and play opportunities to pediatric patients and families.
- Participate in the selection, supervision, and training of new hires, students, and volunteers.
- Provide education for staff, including in-services and newsletter articles.
- Assist with community outreach and Foundation partnerships.
- Adhere to the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) Child Life Code of Ethics and meet child life department expectations.
Benefits
- $1,500 sign-on bonus for new hires.
- Eligible for shift differentials when working evening, night, or weekend hours.
- Generous benefits package with programs intended to support well-being and wellness.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
