Pediatric Child Life Specialist - Ryan House

Hospice of the Valley • Phoenix, AZ

11d

About The Position

The Pediatric Child Life Specialist promotes a healthy and healing environment for children and their families as they cope with the emotional and physical demands of a life-threatening illness. Through assessment, therapeutic play, socialization, and education, the specialist supports developmentally appropriate care and helps maintain a safe environment at Ryan House. The role works closely with families and the interdisciplinary care team, supports children and families facing illness, disability, death, and loss, and contributes to meaningful activities and memory making.

Requirements

• Current Child Life Specialist certification (CCLS) from the Child Life Council (CLC).
• At least two years of recent experience in a healthcare setting.

Nice To Haves

• A master’s degree in Child Development or a related field is preferred but not required.
• Hospice experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the care team and family members to develop and implement specialized plans of care based on children’s developmental, temperament, coping, social, sensory, and emotional needs.
• Identify, educate, and support developmentally appropriate coping strategies for children and families facing illness, disability, death, or loss.
• Plan, organize, and lead individual and group creative expression, self-healing, and developmental play activities.
• Encourage socialization with peers, siblings, and family members through developmentally appropriate play.
• Integrate child life goals into the child’s and family’s overall care through team meetings, case conferences, and staff meetings.
• Provide a safe, therapeutic, and healing environment for infants, children, adolescents, and families.
• Respond appropriately, effectively, and calmly to crisis situations to maintain the safety of children and families.
• Organize and manage special events, including birthdays, holidays, graduations, and special guests, and participate in planning house-wide family programming.
• Implement strategies to encourage family participation.
• Provide developmentally appropriate legacy and memory activities for children nearing end of life and their siblings, supporting expression of feelings and inclusion in the process.
• Ensure memory-making items are thoughtfully packaged and returned to families in a timely manner.
• Communicate regularly with nursing staff about plans, interventions, and progress issues affecting the care or status of children and families.
• Participate in training, supervision, and evaluation of volunteers and Child Life student interns.
• Lead volunteers in daily Ryan House activities.
• Maintain current and accurate patient records in accordance with established protocols.
• Maintain and inventory bereavement materials, toy storage, and activity rooms.
• Facilitate developmentally appropriate swimming and aquatic activities while following established safety procedures.
• Work with the development team to create and implement a resource-driven child life budget.

Benefits

• Supportive work environment with a culture of caring for patients and one another.
• Competitive wages.
• Excellent benefit program.
• Generous paid time off.
• Flexible schedules for work/life balance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed