Child Life Specialist & Facility Dog Handler

Phoenix Children's; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Phoenix Children's is seeking a Child Life Specialist to serve as the primary handler for a hospital facility dog, delivering therapeutic interventions to pediatric patients and families.

The role supports psychosocial development, collaborates with the treatment team, and ensures safety for all participants while participating in education and program development within the Animal Assisted Therapy program.

Qualifications

• Completion of a minimum 480 hour professional Child Life Internship.
• Minimum of 4000 hours of professional Child Life Specialist experience in a hospital environment.
• Experience with animals in a therapeutic setting.

Responsibilities

• Primary handler of a Child Life facility dog.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary staff to provide animal-assisted interactions.
• Documents patient assessments, interventions and outcomes in the medical record.
• Participates in training, supervision and evaluation of Child Life staff and volunteers.
• Maintains safety and well-being of the facility dog during interventions.

Skills

Bilingual English-Spanish

Education

Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Therapeutic Recreation or related field

Master's degree in Child Life, Therapeutic Recreation or related field

Job description

Phoenix Children's is seeking a Child Life Specialist to serve as the primary handler for a hospital facility dog, delivering therapeutic interventions to pediatric patients and families.

The role supports psychosocial development, collaborates with the treatment team, and ensures safety for all participants while participating in education and program development within the Animal Assisted Therapy program.