Child Life Specialist - Pediatrics

aah; Illinois; On-site; USD 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Educational assistance

Job summary

Advocate Health is seeking a Child Life Specialist to collaboratively address the psychosocial needs of pediatric patients and families. You will educate staff, coordinate with medical teams, and advocate for developmentally appropriate care in a hospital setting.

You’ll plan and implement educational and coping activities, supervise interns and volunteers, and participate in department initiatives to improve patient experiences during hospitalization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Recreation Therapy, Child Development, Education or closely related field.
• Clinical Internship in Child Life required; certification to be obtained within one year of hire.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with hospital personnel in identifying and managing patient’s psychosocial needs, including referrals.
• Participates in rounds, conferences and interdisciplinary discussions.
• Educates staff on psychosocial aspects of hospitalization and coping techniques for children and families.
• Provides developmentally appropriate education regarding diagnosis and treatment.
• Advocates for psychosocial needs of patients and families.
• Supervises and coordinates volunteers and interns; mentors students.
• Maintains patient and family confidentiality and documents care clearly.

Skills

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Staff education

Patient-family communication

Developmental assessment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Child Life or related field

Job description

Department

35133 Navicent Health Medical Center - Child Life Creative Arts Therapies and Education

Status

Full time

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Hours Per Week

40

Schedule Details/Additional Information

M-F days

Pay Range

$25.30 - $37.95

Major Responsibilities

• Collaborates with hospital personnel in identifying and managing patient’s psychosocial needs, including making appropriate referrals
• Participates in unit rounds, patient care conferences and inter-disciplinary rounds
• Provides staff education regarding the impact of hospitalization of children and developmentally appropriate coping techniques
• Makes appropriate referrals to outside organizations that provide emotional and developmental support to children and families who are experiencing such needs related to hospitalization, illness and bereavement.
• Educates staff regarding how to provide an environment that addresses the psychosocial needs of patients and families
• Self evaluates provision of child life services as they relate to the job description and makes changes as needed
• Participates in the development and implementation of department performance improvement initiatives and child life shared decision-making process
• Selects and utilizes diagnosis specific teaching tools and preparation equipment appropriate for the population served
• Provides developmentally appropriate education regarding diagnosis and treatment
• Selects and adapts procedural preparation materials and interactions based on patient’s and family’s developmental level, emotional status, temperament, learning style, and physical abilities
• Presents materials in a developmentally appropriate manner that allows for interaction from the patient and family in order to assess further educational needs while addressing misconceptions
• Describes sensory experiences, sequence of events, timing, and duration of procedures in developmentally appropriate language
• Sets and maintains appropriate limits with patients and families during hospitalization
• Recognizes patient’s individual qualities or behaviors to promote self-esteem
• Includes the patient in all conversations that occur in his/her presence
• Demonstrates sensitivity to parents’ concerns and uses the parents as a resource when developing goals and interventions
• Provides the patient with appropriate choices and respects the patient’s decision
• Establishes clear expectations during hospitalization and helps the patient meet these expectations
• Includes parents as part of the healthcare team
• Advocates for the psychosocial needs of patients and families
• Assesses and implements therapeutic programming for assigned population
• Provides interactions and activities to match the developmental and current emotional status of patients and families
• Provides normalization activities during hospitalization within a non-threatening and supportive environment
• Identifies patient specific stressors and utilizes stress reduction techniques such as non-pharmacological pain management to facilitate adaptive coping
• Helps the patient process their fears and /or misconceptions by providing developmentally appropriate interventions
• Upholds expectations set forth by ACCREDITATION BODY
• Demonstrates knowledge of current charting procedures through clear, concise, timely documentation and chart reviews
• Maintains professional standards of the Child Life council
• Uses play therapeutically to promote healing, coping, mastery, self-expression, control and learning. Selects activities to address individualized needs of patients and families including their developmental, physical, social and emotional needs
• Recognizes and responds to symbolic play and alternative forms of communication
• Participates in special events by identifying appropriate patients, serving as a liaison to volunteer services, and helping to implement programming
• Supervises and coordinates volunteers in assigned areas to maximize their use in providing opportunities for play and normalization to patients and families
• Facilitates adaptive coping strategies for patients and families while respecting their cultural beliefs
• Selects and adapts bereavement resources and interventions based on each child’s and family’s developmental level, emotional status, cultural beliefs, temperament, and learning style
• Participates in the implementation of department and unit based customer service initiatives
• Provides post-procedural support and follow-up to patients and families
• Introduces Child Life role and services to families
• Responds appropriately to patient’s and family’s emotional cues and behaviors
• Supervision and evaluation of students and volunteers
• Plans orientation for Child Life Internship participants and supervises internships
• Attends at least one child life related seminar or educational experience a year
• Attends departmental staff meetings , in-services and training
• Maintains patient and staff confidentiality per MCCG policy
• Practices fiscal responsibility in ordering and management of child life supplies monstrates proficiency in the assessment of patient, family, and unit environment to ensure optimal safety

Certification Required

• Clinical Internship in Child Life required.
• Child Life Certification to be obtained within one year of hire.

Education Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Recreation Therapy Child Development Education or a closely related field.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Must be able to use visual acuity to see monitor screen, computer and hard copy materials. Must be able to hear and verbally communicate in person and over the phone or radio. Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time (up to 2 hours). Must be able to comprehend and learn operation of various office equipment. Must have functional range of motion of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines, upper and lower extremities with a grip strength of 50-60# specific to job evaluation. Must be able to forward reach, overhead reach, bend, squat, kneel and apply proper body mechanics during the transfers and transport supplies and/or equipment using proper body mechanics. Must be able to lift up to 10# specific to job evaluation.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.

Our Commitment to You

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:

Compensation

• Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
• Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job
• Incentive pay for select positions
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits and more

• Paid Time Off programs
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program

Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview.

About Advocate Health

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more $6 billion in annual community benefits.