PRN Child Life Specialist – Columbia, MO

University of Missouri Health Care; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 29,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

MU Health Care is seeking a passionate and dedicated Child Life Specialist to join our team, focusing on child development and family-centered care in a hospital setting.

You will develop individualized plans, provide therapeutic interventions, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to prepare children and families for procedures while maintaining a safe, supportive play environment.

Qualifications

• Must be a Certified Child Life Specialist or eligible to be certified and will obtain within one year of hire.
• If eligible, but not yet certified, must have a Bachelor’s degree and have completed a child life internship.

Responsibilities

• Develop individual treatment plans based on assessment of the child’s development and needs.
• Provide interventions and activities that support normal growth and development.
• Practice family-centered care leveraging family bonds in care.
• Communicate professionally with the child life team and multidisciplinary team.
• Prepare patients and families for procedures using developmentally appropriate methods.
• Monitor play area safety and enforce infection control policies.
• Provide supervision for practicum students and volunteers.
• Deliver therapeutic interventions to promote coping and understanding.

Skills

Child & Family Development

Leadership/Communication

Distraction/Teaching

Playroom Safety

Professionalism

Student/Volunteer Supervision

Therapeutic Interventions

Education

Certified Child Life Specialist

Bachelor’s degree

Child life internship

Job description

Shift

PRN – variable shifts with some call and holiday coverage.

Work Arrangement

On-Site

Department

Child Life Services

Facility

University Hospital – 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO

Compensation

• Base Pay Range: $25.00 per hour, flat rate.

ABOUT THE JOB

MU Health Care is looking for a passionate and dedicated Child Life Specialist to join our team. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional skills in child and family development, with a keen ability to create individualized treatment plans that foster normal growth and development in hospitalized children. We seek someone with outstanding leadership and communication abilities, who can professionally articulate patient needs and collaborate effectively with our multidisciplinary team. Your enthusiasm for using developmentally appropriate methods to prepare children and their families for medical procedures, along with your commitment to maintaining a safe, therapeutic play environment, will be highly valued. If you are proactive in your professional development, exhibit a positive attitude, and can inspire students and volunteers, we want you to be a part of our dynamic team.

ABOUT MU HEALTH CARE

MU Health Care is proud to be named one of Forbes’ Best-in-State Employers seven years in a row, and that’s largely a result of the incredible culture and team we’ve built. At MU Health Care, we have an inspired, hard-working and collaborative environment driven by our mission to save and improve lives. Here, we believe anything is possible and rally around solutions. We celebrate innovation and offer opportunities to be a part of something bigger — to have a voice and role in the work that is serving our community and changing the field of medicine.

Our academic health system — the only in mid-Missouri — is home to seven hospitals, including the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and region’s only Children’s Hospital, as well as over 90 specialty clinics. Here you can define your career among our many clinical and nonclinical positions — with growth, opportunity and support every step of the way.

Learn more about MU Health Care. Learn more about living in mid-Missouri.

DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION

• Child & Family Development Skills: Develop individual treatment plans based on an assessment of the child’s development, temperament, coping style, medical plan and available social supports.Provide interventions/activities that support the normal growth and development of the child.Practice family-centered care by encouraging, supporting and utilizing family bonds/strengths in the care of the child.
• Leadership/Communication Skills: Communicates professionally regarding patient assessment and provision of child life services to child life team and multidisciplinary team.Effectively communicates issues/concerns and ideas to child life team and coordinator.
• Patient and Family Teaching/Distraction Skills: Use developmentally appropriate methods in preparing patients, sibling and family members for diagnostic and treatment procedures. Seeks out information from medical staff regarding the plan for patient procedures/diagnostic test.Follows Child Life Council standards of Clinical Practice.Provide education concerning child development, adjustment and reactions to hospitalization/diagnosis and role model appropriate parenting skills.Use developmentally appropriate distraction/coping methods during a child’s identified stress points.
• Playroom / Activity Room Safety and Management: Monitor and maintain play / activity area, toys, supplies and equipment to provide safe, therapeutic environment and to meet all developmental needs.Abide by infection control policy regarding cleaning of equipment and playroom visiting guidelines.Provide a safe environment for patients by being aware of all children in the room and advocating the “safe place” policy.
• Professionalism/Self Development: Identifies self-learning needs and has a plan to meet them.Presents self professionally in appearance, positive attitude and uses feedback to improve in areas needed.Promotes professionalism, positive communication among child life team and staff members. Recognizes the potential for legal/ethical/risk management issues.
• Student / Volunteer Supervision: Provide positive and professional supervision for child life practicum students, interns and volunteers.Provide experiences and opportunities to help students meet the goals of the practicum and internship.
• Therapeutic Interventions: Provide therapeutic interventions and support during patient’s identified stress points. Provide therapeutic interventions to promote self-healing, self-expression and understanding of master/control. Identify and provide crisis intervention to patients and families.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be a Certified Child Life Specialist or eligible to be certified and will obtain within one year of hire.If eligible, but not yet certified, must have a Bachelor’s degree and have completed a child life internship in accordance with the standards and guidelines set forth by the Child Life Council.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met with or without reasonable accommodation. The performance of these physical demands is an essential function of the job. The employee may be required ambulate, remain in a stationary position and position self to reach and/or move objects above the shoulders and below the knees. The employee may be required to move objects up to 10 lbs.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.