Child Life Specialist- Pediatric Palliative

Notre Dame Health Care Center, Inc. • Worcester, MA

75d

About The Position

The Child Life Specialist provides support and assistance to children and their families during a child’s journey with a life-limiting illness. The specialist offers emotional and physical support in collaboration with the medical team, serving children, siblings, and families as part of an interdisciplinary team that may include physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, and teachers.

The role includes reviewing patient information in electronic or paper health records; assessing patients and caregivers; establishing therapeutic and functional goals related to child life in accordance with the interdisciplinary plan of care; and keeping patient records current and accurate. The specialist identifies and addresses comfort-care needs, prepares patients in a developmentally appropriate manner for medical procedures, tests, and treatments, and provides holistic, family-centered support to help infants, children, youth, and families cope with stressful events and improve quality of life across treatment settings. Other duties may apply.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Child Life, Child Development, or a related field.
• Current Child Life Certification, or the ability to pass the Child Life Certification Exam within one year of employment.
• Ability to be proactive with clients.
• Demonstrated integrity, maturity, and sound judgment.
• Verbal and written communication skills to communicate clearly, effectively, and patiently by phone and through email or text message.
• Ability to work in a sometimes stressful environment.
• Ability to remain calm, resilient, and flexible, with a positive sense of humor.
• Valid driver's license and dependable transportation.

Nice To Haves

• One year of Child Life experience preferred.
• Hospice experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Utilize and navigate patient information in electronic or paper health records.
• Perform assessments and evaluations, and establish therapeutic and functional goals for patients and caregivers related to child life in accordance with the interdisciplinary plan of care.
• Maintain up-to-date patient records so problems, plans, interventions, and goals are accurately and clearly documented and changes are reflected as they occur.
• Identify and address comfort-care needs.
• Prepare patients in a developmentally appropriate manner for medical procedures, tests, and treatments.
• Support infants, children, youth, and families in coping with stressful events.
• Provide holistic, family-centered care across treatment settings to improve quality of life.
• Perform other duties as applicable.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time