Child Life Specialist (Paediatrics)

Michael Garron Hospital; Toronto; On-site; CAD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) is seeking a dedicated Child Life Specialist to contribute to its Pediatrics Program in East Toronto. You will provide developmentally appropriate play-based care, family-centered support, and multidisciplinary collaboration to promote healing and coping for hospitalized children from newborn to 18 years old.

Join a dynamic, interprofessional team committed to learning and delivering high‑quality patient care, with opportunities for professional growth and

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years related experience with a focus in Paediatrics.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and willingness to work within a family centered care environment.
• Demonstrated recent relevant experience in the assessment of developmental, psychosocialand emotional responses of children to their illness and treatmentprocess in a hospital environment required.
• Experience in mental health services for children and youth preferred.
• Experience working with patients with eating disorders an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize preparation, distraction and/or medical play to support medical/surgical care and testing.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal & written).
• Proficient computer skills (Microsoft products) required.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills required.

Responsibilities

• Engage in planning, implementation, assessment and administration of educational and therapeutic play based programs for hospitalized children in an inpatient and ambulatory setting.
• Planning care that promotes and maintains normalized living patterns and experiences incorporating a sense of mastery, self-expression, learning and family involvement within a safe therapeutic environment.
• Caring for your patients as part of a respectful, collaborative interprofessional care team.
• Working with the MGH team to advance your competencies through ongoing unit-based and corporate educational and professional development opportunities.

Skills

Paediatric experience

Family centered care

Communication skills

Leadership in child advocacy

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

University Degree in Child related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

Bring your caring heart to the heart of the east at Michael Garron Hospital

Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) is an award winning community teaching hospital and has been providing care since 1929. We proudly serve more than 400,000 people in 22 distinctneighbourhoods in East Toronto. MGH is recognized as a leader in workplace wellness. We commit to living our values of Compassion, Respect, Integrity, Inclusion and Courage in many ways, including offering a quality work environment focused on learning and development. MGH invests in people to meet their professional goals and to reach their personal best.

We opened our new Ken and Marilyn Thomson Patient Care Centre in early 2023 providing eight floors of modern and bright care spaces and will continue to transform our campus in the coming years.

Our Paediatrics Program provides child life specialists a unique opportunity to grow their career and leadership experience. Here staff have the opportunity to improve the health of children, from newborn to 18 years of age by providing specialized child and family‑centred care. We focus on the whole person, to support children and families to cope, develop, grow, thrive and transform, leveraging strengths of the family. This dynamic, community oriented program has a team who are committed to learning and providing excellent patient care. You will work with a diverse interprofessional team that are welcoming and supportive of new staff.

What To Expect

• Engage in planning, implementation, assessment and administration of educational and therapeutic play based programs for hospitalized children in an inpatient and ambulatory setting.
• Planning care that promotes and maintains normalized living patterns and experiences incorporating a sense of mastery, self-expression, learning and family involvement within a safe therapeutic environment.
• Caring for your patients as part of a respectful, collaborative interprofessional care team.
• Working with the MGH team to advance your competencies through ongoing unit-based and corporate educational and professional development opportunities.

EDUCATION

• Current membership with Association of Child Life Professionals and designation of CCLS credentials required.
• University Degree in Child related field.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years related experience with a focus in Paediatrics.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and willingness to work within a family centered care environment.
• Demonstrated recent relevant experience in the assessment of developmental, psychosocialand emotional responses of children to their illness and treatmentprocess in a hospital environment required.
• Experience in mental health services for children and youth preferred.
• Experience working with patients with eating disorders an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize preparation, distraction and/or medical play to support medical/surgical care and testing.
• Demonstrated knowledge of growth and development with the abilityto apply this knowledge to clinical practice.
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability in planning and implementing social events and activities.
• Demonstrated strong leadership skills related to child advocacy required.
• Demonstrated experience working with families related to behavioural management issues.
• Demonstrated ability to support families with end of life care.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal & written).
• Proficient computer skills (Microsoft products) required.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills required.
• Self-motivated with a demonstrated ability to multi task, problem solve and prioritize workload with proven critical and creative thinking skills.
• Ability to provide a high level of care that aligns with the mission, vision and values of MGH.
• Works well independently and in a multi interdisciplinary team environment.
• Good work and attendance record required.
• All employees of Michael Garron Hospital (MGH), a division of Toronto East Health Network (TEHN) [formerly Toronto East General Hospital (TEGH)] agree to work within the legislated practices of the OccupationalHealth and Safety Act of Ontario.
• All employees of MGH are responsible to contribute to a transparent culture of patient and staff safety by adhering to and abiding by patient and staff safety policies and procedures set by MGH.
• All employees are accountable for protecting the psychological health and safety of themselves and their co-workers through adherence to MGH's policies and practices.

Vaccines (COVID-19 and others) are a requirement of the job unless you have an exemption pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Come be a part of the future of healthcare in the heart of the east!

EMPLOYMENT EQUITY & ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT

Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) champions accessibility, diversity and equal opportunity through the creation of an inclusive and diverse work environment. At Michael Garron Hospital, we strive to be an equitable and inclusive employer. We encourage candidates from Black, First Nations, Métis and Inuit, racialized and LGBTQ2S+ communities, people of colour, women, people with disabilities and individuals who identify with the diverse communities that we serve, to join the MGH team.

Through our values of Compassion, Respect, Integrity, Inclusion and Courage, Michael Garron Hospital is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC). Should you require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know how we can work with you to meet your needs.

This job posting is a confirmed, active vacancy for which we are currently seeking a qualified candidate.

MGH is committed to leveraging new technologies and working efficiently. As a result, artificial intelligence systems may be used as part of our process to screen, assess, and or select applicants for this position.