Child Life Specialist - Women & Children's Health

Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health•Mira Road, NS

4d•CA$35 - CA$44•Onsite

About The Position

The scope of a Child Life Specialist (CLS) involves supporting children and families facing illness, trauma, or hospitalization by reducing stress and promoting coping through developmentally appropriate education, play, and emotional support, helping them understand medical experiences, build resilience, and maintain normalcy using techniques like distraction, preparation for procedures, behavioral plans, and legacy-making, working collaboratively within healthcare teams in diverse settings from NICU to oncology.

Requirements

Bachelor degree in any field, with 10 college level courses completed in child life or related department/subject
Certification or successful child life internship experience supervised by a certified child life specialist required.
Approximately 4 months (equivalent to 600 hours clinical internship) previous work experience is required
Demonstrated competence in: Growth & Development, Functions of Play, Therapeutic Processes and Boundaries, Ethical Child Life Practice, Behaviour Management, Principles of Learning/Teaching.
Ability to provide non-medical preparation and support for children undergoing tests, surgeries, medical procedures and transition to home or community programs.
Demonstrated skill in working with children, youth with health or behavioural challenges.
Demonstrated effective decision-making abilities.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team
Demonstrated initiative to work independently with minimal supervision
Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Nice To Haves

Current Certification by Child Life Council preferred; Successful applicant will be required to successfully obtain child life certification within one (1) year of employment as a child life specialist
Competencies in other languages an asset, French preferred

Responsibilities

Supporting children and families facing illness, trauma, or hospitalization
Reducing stress and promoting coping through developmentally appropriate education, play, and emotional support
Helping children understand medical experiences, build resilience, and maintain normalcy
Utilizing techniques like distraction, preparation for procedures, behavioral plans, and legacy-making
Working collaboratively within healthcare teams in diverse settings from NICU to oncology