Child Life Specialist - PRN

Denver Health • Denver, CO

4d • $53,300 - $74,600

About The Position

The Child Life Specialist I is a key member of the pediatric healthcare team who works under general supervision in a healthcare setting to address the emotional and developmental needs of children and their families. The Specialist reduces stress associated with healthcare experiences and supports coping through play, developmentally appropriate medical information, and family involvement in the child’s care. The role collaborates with a multidisciplinary healthcare team and other professionals in ambulatory, emergency, and inpatient settings.

The Specialist develops care plans and provides family and sibling support, psychological preparation and procedural support, developmental and therapeutic play, diagnosis education, and grief support. The role also monitors children’s responses to hospitalization, communicates with families and staff, assesses developmental and psychosocial needs, documents services and care-plan changes, maintains Child Life program supplies, and supervises volunteers and others participating in the program.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Eligible for CCLS certification or certified as a CLS through ACLP (Association of Child Life Professionals).
• Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification through the American Heart Association.
• Knowledge of normal human growth and development and ability to provide clinical Child Life interventions to decrease medical trauma and stressors.
• Skills in active listening, oral and written communication, critical thinking, customer service, objective-setting and strategy development, interpersonal relationships, work organization and prioritization, problem solving, psychosocial support, creative thinking, and time management.
• Familiarity with technology platforms, such as Apple products (iPad) and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Nice To Haves

• Two years of experience as a Certified Child Life Specialist in a hospital setting is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop plans of care and interventions to address the needs of children and families.
• Provide family-centered support that meets patients’ and families’ individual, cultural, and social needs, including developmentally appropriate education and support for siblings.
• Prepare children psychologically for medical procedures using expressive or medical play and other techniques to reduce stress and fear.
• Use normative and therapeutic play to encourage expression, process difficult events, explore coping skills, promote mastery and understanding of healthcare experiences, and reduce stress.
• Recognize developmental issues related to healthcare experiences.
• Explain diagnoses, injuries, illnesses, or death using developmentally appropriate language.
• Provide grief support, including memory-making and legacy-building items, education and resources for families, and facilitation of bedside visits.
• Monitor children’s reactions to hospitalization and provide timely information to staff.
• Consult with families and staff to support clear communication and the patient’s best interests.
• Educate others about the scope of Child Life services, healthcare’s impact on development, developmentally appropriate and emotionally safe medical care, and professional boundaries.
• Assess patients’ developmental levels and provide interventions to enhance development.
• Complete Psychosocial Risk Assessment in Pediatrics to evaluate and mitigate pediatric medical traumatic stress.
• Document services in patient charts and update documentation as care plans change.
• Select and maintain Child Life program materials, including developmental and normative toys or items, distraction items, and technology.
• Supervise volunteers and others participating in the Child Life Program.

Benefits

• Social security replacement retirement plan with an employer contribution of 3%.
• On-site employee fitness center and wellness classes.
• Community resource navigation support.
• Childcare discount programs and exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more.
• Education and development opportunities, including career pathways and coaching.
• Tuition assistance, career advancement pathways, and professional development.
• Loan forgiveness eligibility and employer contributions.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level