Child Life Specialist - Pediatrics

Advocate Health; Macon (GA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health seeks a dedicated Child Life professional to identify and manage psychosocial needs of hospitalized children and their families. You will work with hospital teams to provide developmentally appropriate education, preparations for procedures, and family-centered care.

The role requires clinical internship in child life and certification within one year of hire, with a focus on education and advocacy in a pediatric hospital setting.

Qualifications

• Collaborates with hospital personnel to identify and manage psychosocial needs of patients and families.
• Provides staff education on impact of hospitalization on children and coping techniques.
• Selects and adapts educational materials based on patient development and learning style.

Responsibilities

• Leads developmentally appropriate education about diagnoses and treatments.
• Coordinates with families to involve them as part of the care team.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and adheres to department policies.

Education

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

Job description

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.