Child Life Specialist, ER, Days

Memorial Hermann Health System•Houston, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Position responsible for assessing the emotional, psychosocial, educational, recreational, and therapeutic needs of patients and families and to directly provide services to meet those assessed needs; also responsible for procedural support and psychosocially supportive interventions; collaborates with the physician and healthcare team in the delivery of patient care, utilizing the child life process to facilitate the delivery of patient care.

Requirements

Bachelor Degree in Child Life, Child Development; Family Studies or related field
Certified in Child Life by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) or be eligible to sit for the exam
Certified in Basic Life Support or CPR Certification required.
Completion of a 480-hour internship program
Less than two (2) years experience as a Child Life Specialist

Responsibilities

Delivers child life services at a beginner level, according to the Child Life skills inventory and the age and needs of the patient/population.
Ensures the delivery of child life services through the assessment of and interaction with patients and families using developmentally appropriate play as a tool in assessing and meeting the child’s psychosocial needs, providing a therapeutic and safe environment according to the age/needs of the patient/population served.
Assists patients and families in coping with the stress of hospitalization, illness, death and/or loss; participates in patient/family teaching by using developmentally appropriate and medically accurate teaching aids and techniques in such a way that knowledge is increased and emotional needs are supported; prepares patients and families for medical and surgical procedures or for the visitation to pediatric or adult ICUs.
Provides supervision to child life volunteers.
Ensures safe care to patients, staff and visitors; adheres to all Memorial Hermann policies, procedures, and standards within budgetary specifications including time management, supply management, productivity and quality of service.
Promotes individual professional growth and development by meeting requirements for mandatory/continuing education and skills competency; supports department-based goals which contribute to the success of the organization; serves as preceptor, mentor and resource to less experienced staff.
Demonstrates commitment to caring for every member of our community by creating compassionate and personalized experiences. Models Memorial Hermann’s service standards by providing safe, caring, personalized and efficient experiences to patients and colleagues.
Other duties as assigned.
Utilizes the facility dog to full working capacity while fulfilling the job duties and expectations of a Child Life Specialist (PC1016).
Incorporates the facility dog into day-to-day responsibilities.
Facilitates unit consults related to the facility dog, responding to referrals across the clinical setting.
Assesses the needs of the dog throughout the work shift to provide adequate rest and down time.
Maintains program statistics to assess and evaluate quality of programming and makes necessary adjustments.
Communicates facility dog and professional issues as they relate to healthcare through the provision of lectures and programs both in the community and within the health care system; provides in-services/workshops to health care staff and trainees having direct patient care.
Participates as able in the attendance of special events and programming that involve the facility dog.
Upholds all requirements for dog handling set forth by Canine Companions for Independence regarding weight management, vet care, home environment, grooming, reporting and follow ups.