Job Description
Overview:
The Child Life Specialist works to meet the psychosocial needs of patients and families by providing education, preparation, procedural support, and therapeutic play to reduce stress and enable pediatric patients to cope more effectively with their medical experiences. The Child Life Specialist will act as a resource for nursing staff by aiding in their understanding of the psychosocial effects of hospitalization of children and adolescents according to both their chronological age as well as their developmental level. The Child Life Specialist will be responsible for assisting families through the initial stages of the grieving process.
Responsibilities:
Integrates into practice full consideration of the chronological age, developmental level, and the cultural diversity of the patient
Works collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team to meet the needs of the patient and family.
Carries out psychosocial assessments of patients and families to identify needs, strengths, and concerns
Utilizes developmentally appropriate explanations, sensory information, hands-on exploration and medical/therapeutic play to explain medical information to children and adolescents.
Facilitates family involvement and supports patients and families in adjustment to illness/injury as well as hospitalization
Creates coping plans with patients and assists in designated activity during stressful procedures (e.g. diversion, guided imagery, deep breathing). Provides and supports nonpharmacological pain management.
Provides safe, developmentally appropriate play and peer interactions to patients to aid in the normalization of the hospital environment
Supports families through the initial stages of grief and bereavement in regards to the death of a parent, sibling, or the child's own impeding death
Documents patient information pertaining to Child Life services provided
Assists with pediatric unit programs and events to provide activities and entertainment to patients and families through community engagement
Develops educational resources for staff, patients, and the community.
Participates in training and mentoring students pursuing clinical preparation within the Child Life department.
Oversees the inventory of medical and developmental play items throughout the hospital.
Functions as a mandated reporter, reporting suspicions of child abuse and/or neglect to the Department of Children and Family Services
Perform other duties as assigned.
Provides medical play and/or diversion tactics during painful procedures Oversees the inventory of donated supplies within Pediatrics Directs unit volunteers
Qualifications:
License/Certifications: Basic Life Support (BLS) within 30 days - American Heart Association (AHA); Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) within 1 year - Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP)
Education: Bachelor's Degree: Related Field; Bachelor's Degree: Child Development
Other Knowledge/Skills:
Job Tags
Full time,