Coordinator Child Life Inpatient Program - Other Ancillary Child Life

CHRISTUS Health•San Antonio, TX

About The Position

Under the general supervision of the Director of Child Life/Child Development, the Coordinator interacts with patients and families and provides children with appropriate, purposeful developmental experiences to elevate their quality of life during healthcare visits and enhance personal development. The role oversees inpatient playroom operations through program development, play facilitation, and management of materials. The Coordinator develops and implements programming that promotes children’s optimal development in the healthcare setting and supports family members. The role adapts play activities and interventions to each child’s age, developmental level, and needs; documents interactions; plans and manages materials and equipment within budget; and serves as a resource to patients, families, and healthcare team members. The Coordinator also evaluates programming with the Director, supervises and orients Child Life volunteers, and may coordinate student programming or liaise with community partners and donors when requested. The position promotes a family-centered environment and safe patient care, completes required competencies and documentation, maintains productivity data, contributes to the annual report, attends meetings and professional development activities, and meets monthly with an assigned mentor during the first year. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Previous experience working with children required.
Previous experience with therapeutic use of play materials or activities required.
BLS certification required.
Knowledge of growth and development, patient and family reactions to hospitalization, and coping strategies.
Interpersonal skills and effective communication abilities.
Working knowledge of educational development.
Understanding of hospital policies and medical terminology and procedures.
Ability to problem-solve, be creative, take initiative, and work independently.

Nice To Haves

1–3 years of work experience with children preferred.
Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement programming that promotes optimal development for children in the healthcare setting and supports family members.
Implement planned, purposeful play activities and interventions based on each child’s age, developmental level, and needs.
Develop adaptive play materials and teaching tools and coordinate events or opportunities for designated populations.
Document interactions with patients and families according to department policy.
Plan, order, and collect materials and equipment for therapeutic and educational activities within budget guidelines and in consultation with the Child Life Director.
Identify innovative tools and resources that reduce costs without adversely affecting programming.
Serve as a resource to patients, families, and healthcare team members regarding child life and community services.
Participate in team meetings and hospital committees, advocate for children, and develop educational tools for patients and families.
Evaluate Child Life programming with the Director through individual and monthly staff meetings and quarterly rounding.
Supervise and orient Child Life volunteers, and occasionally coordinate student programming.
Adapt patient care assessments, treatments, and methods to patients’ physical, psychosocial, cultural, age-specific, and developmental needs.
Promote a family-centered environment and ensure safe patient care.
Serve as a liaison for community partners and donors when requested.
Attend conferences, workshops, in-services, staff meetings, and other professional development activities; present at staff meetings as needed.
Complete annual job competencies, including age-specific and special-needs competencies, as well as HealthStream, Genesis, and Child Life Competencies.
Maintain reports and productivity data and contribute to the annual report.
Meet monthly with an assigned mentor during the first year of employment.
Perform other duties as assigned.