Child Life Specialist (Inpatient)

Kennedy Krieger Institute; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 45,059 - 75,603; Full time

Job summary

Kennedy Krieger Institute is seeking a Child Life Specialist I in Baltimore, Maryland. The role focuses on utilizing a family-centered care approach to meet the psychosocial needs of patients and families through therapeutic play and coping techniques. Responsibilities include facilitating orientation and ongoing support for patients and caregivers, providing medical procedure support, and developing programs to assist children in coping with medical experiences. The position requires a Bachelor's degree in Child Life or related field and one year of experience in a child life program.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Child Development or related field required.
• One year experience in a child life program and hospital setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Facilitates the orientation and ongoing support of patients and caregivers.
• Provides medical procedure preparation and support as necessary.
• Communicates and documents patient and caregiver interventions.
• Provides activities to help children and caregivers cope with medical situations.
• Models developmentally appropriate interactions for patients and caregivers.
• Maintains a safe, therapeutic environment for patients and caregivers.
• Attends and participates in departmental meetings and education.
• Provides supervision for child life students and volunteers.
• Interprets the mission and goals of the department and institute.
• Maintains quality of patient services through compliance with policies.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Child Development or related field

Job description

Overview

Child Life Specialist I will utilize a family centered care approach in assuring that the psychosocial needs of the patients and families are met. The incumbent facilitates therapeutic play, coping techniques, psychological preparation, procedural support, and clinical education regarding health care experiences. This position promotes the optimum development of the patients through therapeutic individual and group activities.

Responsibilities

• Facilitates the orientation, adjustment, and ongoing support of patients and caregivers to the hospital, health care experiences, illness or disability.
• Provides medical procedure preparation, support, and accompaniment whenever necessary to support the patient and/or caregivers.
• Communicates and documents patient and caregiver interventions as appropriate.
• Provides activities and interventions in group and individual settings to help children and caregivers cope with medical situations and meet their developmental, emotional and cultural needs.
• Models developmentally appropriate interactions for patients, caregivers and staff.
• Maintains a safe, therapeutic milieu in all patient areas and sustains appropriate professional boundaries with patients, caregivers and staff.
• Attends and actively participates in interdisciplinary and departmental meetings and/or in-service education as assigned and advocates for the diverse needs of the patients and caregivers.
• Provides supervision for child life students and volunteers.
• Interprets the mission, goals and philosophical base of the department, professional group, and/or Institute whenever necessary.
• Maintains quality and effectiveness of patient services through implementation of and compliance with all departmental and/or Institute policies and procedures, PI activities, and yearly program assessment.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Child Development or related field required.

Experience

• One year experience in a child life program and hospital setting preferred.

Minimum pay range: USD $45,059.66 / Yr.

Maximum pay range: USD $75,603.63 / Yr.