Child Life Specialist

Sutter Health•Sacramento, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Assists Pediatric patients and families to cope with hospitalization and illness through planning and implementation of evidence-based therapeutic, recreational, and diversion interventions based on their emotional and development needs. Plans and implements programs and services to meet the needs identified for assigned clinical populations and the child life department. Promotes and practices the delivery of high quality family-centered care and services for patients and families.

Requirements

Bachelor's in Child Life, Child Development, Psychology, or another area with all necessary coursework for Clinical Child Life Certification completed
Successful completion of Child Life Internship that meets the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) requirement of Clinical Child Life Certification
Certified Child Life Specialist within 1 year
Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider (BLS)
5 years recent relevant experience.
Working knowledge of child growth and development, family dynamics, therapeutic play, developmental assessment, the learning process, group process and behavior management, the reactions of children and their families to illness and healthcare encounters, interventions to support coping, collaboration with other healthcare professionals, basic medical terminology and children's illnesses.
Ability to implement therapeutic play activities for individual children and groups, apply knowledge of child growth and development and assess children's behaviors and needs.
Interpersonal communication skills.
Interpersonal and organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

Employees of Sutter Health and its entities may handle hazardous drugs in the course of their work, including patient care, which requires them to manage, store, prepare, receive, unpack, transport, dispose of, or administer drugs identified as hazardous or potentially hazardous by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and in accordance with the USP 800 guidelines.

Responsibilities

Assists Pediatric patients and families to cope with hospitalization and illness through planning and implementation of evidence-based therapeutic, recreational, and diversion interventions based on their emotional and development needs.
Plans and implements programs and services to meet the needs identified for assigned clinical populations and the child life department.
Promotes and practices the delivery of high quality family-centered care and services for patients and families.
Utilize and teach coping strategies.
Utilize appropriate supervisory skills with volunteers, students and interns.
Prioritize multiple demands independently, and in a self directed manner, in an ever changing environment.
Direct the day to day activities of patients, their families, students, volunteers and interns.
Effectively communicate with children of all ages, families and hospital staff, both verbally and in writing.
Independently handle crisis and emergent situations.