Child Life Specialist I-HC (Full Time, Day)

Rochester Regional Health • Syracuse, KS

7d • $60,500 - $75,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Child Life Specialist is a core member of the interdisciplinary care team serving pediatric palliative care patients and their families in the home and community setting. The Child Life Specialist is responsible for the development and delivery of skilled child life support focused on the developmental, emotional and psychosocial needs of identified CompassionNet patients (children/teens with a potentially life-threatening illness) and their siblings. The Child Life Specialist promotes effective coping through developmentally appropriate interventions and advocacy for family-centered care, in collaboration with the interdisciplinary care team and in accordance with Child Life standards and scope of practice.

Requirements

• Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) certification from the Association of Child Life Professionals (formerly the Child Life Council) is required, with a minimum of 3 years related experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in child life, psychology, child development, or human service required.
• Must have ability to travel.
• Demonstrates strong communication (both written and verbal), interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills.
• Basic computer skills are necessary, including but not limited to the ability to navigate on a personal computer within a Windows based operating environment; the ability to access and create basic e-mail messages; and the ability to open, edit, and save basic electronic documents if necessary.
• With training provided, must demonstrate the ability to learn and utilize new systems, computer applications and operating environments as necessary.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates as an effective member of the Interdisciplinary Care Team and as a resource regarding children’s developmental and psychosocial needs to reduce suffering and promote healthy coping for children, siblings and families.
• Understands and promotes the integration of pediatric palliative care with pediatric acute care and community-based care.
• Collaborates with involved parents/caregivers to assess initial/ongoing developmental and psychosocial needs and coping styles of children and/or siblings, while promoting family-centered care.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates plan of care for child life services to empower and address the needs of medically fragile children, their siblings, and families, to support comfort, goals of care, and facilitate adaptive coping through developmentally appropriate interventions including medical play, expressive techniques, education, procedural support, developmental and psychosocial support.
• Promotes a safe and nurturing environment within the home setting, school, or other community setting agreed upon with family.
• Collaborates with medical team to provide developmentally appropriate diagnostic teaching.
• Provides ongoing education and information to parents/caregivers related to child development, childrens’ reaction(s) to stress and healthcare experiences, anticipatory grief, and bereavement.
• Provides opportunities for family members to participate in expressive/therapeutic play activities including grief, loss, and legacy work as appropriate.
• Advocates on behalf of the child and family to assure their wishes/goals are being respected and communicated with the team throughout illness and at end-of-life.
• Facilitates developmentally appropriate grief and bereavement interventions, both preceding and following the child’s death; including preparation for funeral/memorial services, facilitation of memory making, therapeutic intervention to assess and respond to children’s understanding and coping needs.
• Plans and implements age-appropriate programming for children and siblings to encourage opportunities for peer support, validation, and to reduce feelings of isolation.
• Documents all communication/interventions with all program participants and potential participants.
• Participates in Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) meetings.
• Meets department productivity standards.
• Collaborates with child life staff at the facility where the child receives “primary care” to promote consistency of care.
• Consistently demonstrates high standards of integrity by supporting the Lifetime Healthcare Companies’ mission and values and adhering to the Corporate Code of Conduct.
• Maintains high regard for member privacy in accordance with the corporate privacy policies and procedures.
• Regular and reliable attendance is expected and required.
• Performs other functions as assigned by management.

Benefits

• Rochester Regional Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital or familial status, military or veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

What This Job Offers

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