Child Life Specialist

sluhn; Bethlehem (Northampton County); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Luke's University Health Network is seeking a Child Life Specialist to support pediatric patients and families.

You will plan, develop, and provide developmentally appropriate and therapeutic interventions to promote growth, reduce pain and anxiety, and foster positive coping during hospitalization. Responsibilities include conducting developmental assessments, collaborating with the care team, educating families, and contributing to program growth through outreach and supervision of

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in child life, psychology, child development, education or related field is required.
• Completion of a Child Life internship under supervision is required. Eligibility for Child Life certification. CCLS certification within one year of hire.

Responsibilities

• Conduct developmental assessments and individualize care plans based on patient needs.
• Provide developmentally appropriate education, preparation, coping support, comfort, and play opportunities to pediatric patients and families.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate pediatric care plans including behavioral support and treatment adherence.
• Communicate care plans to interdisciplinary teams and family members.
• Serve as a resource on developmental care, coping strategies, distraction, parental engagement, and therapeutic play techniques.
• Assist with supervision of students and volunteers in daily activities with patients.
• Support community outreach and fundraising activities related to Child Life services.

Skills

Developmental care

Family education

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Therapeutic play

Education

Bachelor's degree in child life/psychology/child development/education or related field

Child life internship completion or eligibility for certification

Job description

St. Luke's is proud of the skills, experience and compassion of its employees. The employees of St. Luke's are our most valuable asset! Individually and together, our employees are dedicated to satisfying the mission of our organization which is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient's ability to pay for health care.

The Child Life Specialist is responsible for supporting pediatric patients and families in the health care setting by planning, developing and providing developmentally appropriate and therapeutic interventions to optimize growth and development; reduce the pain, fear, and anxiety associated with illness/injury; and promote positive coping with the stress of hospitalization.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct developmental assessments and individualize care plans based on the patient's physical, developmental, and emotional needs
• Participate as a clinical member of the patient care team by providing developmentally appropriate education, psychological procedural preparation, coping support, comfort management, and play opportunities to pediatric patients and families
• Develop, implement, and evaluate effective pediatric patient and family centered health care plans, including as needed for behavioral support/modification, medication/treatment compliance, and bereavement support
• Communicate care plans to interdisciplinary care teams and family members
• Provide education to and serve as a resource for Network care teams on developmental care, coping mechanisms, distraction, parental engagement, therapeutic play techniques, etc. in an effort to improve the pediatric care experience
• Assist with supervision of students and volunteers in their daily activities with patients
• Assist with community outreach and fundraising activities related to the further development of Child Life services

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

Sit up to 2 hours per day; 1 hour at a time. Stand for up to 10 hours time; 3 hours at a time. Walk 6 hours per day; 10 minutes at a time. Consistently lift and carry objects up to 10 lbs. Frequently push objects up to 10 lbs. Occasionally lift and carry objects up to 50 lbs. Frequently stoop and bend. Occasionally squat. Frequently reach above shoulder level objects. object through touch. Frequently finger and handle objects. Occasional firmly grasp, twist and turn and turns objects with hands and fingers. Must be able to hear as it relates to normal conversation. Must be able to see as it relates to general, near, far, color, and visual monotony.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in child life, psychology, child development, education, or related field required. Completion of Child life internship under supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist required. Must be eligible to receive Child Life certification from the Association of Child Life Professionals. CCLS Certification required within one year of hire.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

Prior experience in a hospital-based Child Life program preferred.

St. Luke's University Health Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer.