Child Life Specialist Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Child Life, Child Development or related field.
• Must have current Child Life Certification or pass Child Life Certification Exam within one year of employment.
• Incumbent must be enthusiastic and dedicated to providing quality Child Life services to children and families in a variety of health care settings.
• Ability to demonstrate positive and effective interpersonal and communication skills required.
• Must be a self-starter, flexible, and possess ability to work well independently.
• Must have completed 600-hour clinical internship and eligible to set for exam.

Responsibilities

• Assesses and interacts with patients and families using theories of human growth and development, family systems, and cultural background.
• Creates a therapeutic, safe environment for individual patients or small groups on inpatient units, playrooms, clinic and emergency waiting areas, and in treatment rooms.
• Facilitates the child/adolescent mastery of and coping With the healthcare experience through a variety of interventions, to include: divisional and recreational play, medical play, developmental/skill retention support and seasonal celebrations.
• Provides emotional and educational support to patient and family coping with life-threatening, terminal illness or death.
• In collaboration with the health care team on the various units served or through physician/R.N. consultation, creates individualized pre-procedure and pre-surgery preparation which is developmentally appropriate and best meets the child/adolescent learning style and emotional state.
• Creates coping strategy with child/family and accompanies family to procedure/surgery.
• Functions as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team, relaying pertinent patient assessments through direct report, charting, family care conferences and team meetings.
• Provides consultation and direct teaching on variety of Child Life issues for parents, medical and nursing staff and students, including: normal growth and development, health care impact on coping and stress, and ameliorative interventions.
• Facilitates acquisition of hospital or homebound tutor for child/adolescent experiencing extended school absence due to accident or chronic illness.
• Assesses and develops individualized procedural support plans and supports patients during procedures such as blood draws, IV starts, immunizations, port accesses, etc.
• Advocates, educates, and helps facilitate KCP principles such as comfort positioning, use of treatment room, numbing, distraction, and sucrose/breastfeeding.
• Serves as an active member of the Kid’s Comfort Promise Initiative team attending all committee meetings and trainings.