Child Life Specialist

SUMMARY Our Certified Child Life Specialists embrace a collaborative multidisciplinary approach in meeting the developmental psychosocial and intellectual needs of pediatric patients and their families. We implement therapeutic medical preparation, supervise organize and direct age-appropriate therapeutic play experiences to help alleviate anxiety, and provide a sense of normalcy while providing developmentally appropriate medical teaching to help patients better understand their medical experience. As a member of a multidisciplinary team, assess the developmental, psychosocial, and intellectual needs of pediatric patients to plan, organize, and direct a therapeutic program that will help to reduce stress, anxiety, and fear associated with illness and hospitalization. Create a healing environment while promoting social emotional and intellectual growth and wellbeing. Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another. In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors which tell us how we work together and how we get things done. The core Success Factors include: Instill Trust and Value Differences Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate RESPONSIBILITIES Assessment: Identify, obtain, and use relevant data (healthcare, family, child) regarding the child and family to develop a comprehensive assessment and initiate a plan of care. Identify developmental factors and their implications regarding the child's healthcare experience to plan appropriate interventions. Identify psychosocial factors (such as diversity, culture, spirituality, family dynamics and structure, coping styles, and socioeconomic status) and family-identified needs and goals to provide family-centered care. Intervention: Provide psychosocially and developmentally appropriate support that is responsive to the specific needs of children and families. Empower and collaborate with children and families to develop and use advocacy skills. Provide educational opportunities and resources that are responsive to the needs of children and families to promote learning mastery. Facilitate preparation (psychological and educational) for challenging situations with children and families to minimize fear and anxiety to promote proficiency in their experience. Facilitate the development of coping strategies for children and families (pain management, positioning for comfort, distraction, alternative focus, guided imagery, and child participation) to minimize distress and promote empowerment. Facilitate play (recreational, healthcare, therapeutic) and familiar life experiences to encourage expression, process information, and promote development and normalization. Evaluate and document assessment goals, interventions, outcomes, and significant events to communicate and modify care plans as necessary. Function as a member of the healthcare team and promote professional relationships (child life team, inter-disciplinary teams, community resources) to enhance communication and collaboration, foster family-centered care, and maximize positive outcomes. Educate staff, students, volunteers, and the community to promote greater awareness of the needs of children and families as well as the child life profession. Recognize and document administrative responsibilities (quality improvement, staffing, resource allocation, policies, and program evaluation) to ensure quality services. Engage in continuing education (educational opportunities, relevant medical information, technology, research, &literature) to promote professional development. Orient, train, and supervise students and volunteers assigned to the unit. Other duties as assigned. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS BASIC KNOWLEDGE: Association of Child Life Professionals verified Internship hours (minimum 600 hours). Bachelor's degree in child life, child development, or closely related field required. Master's degree preferred. Certified Child Life Specialist by the Association of Child Life Professionals (or completion within one year of hire). EXPERIENCE: Completion of Child Life Professional internship with one year experience working with children required. Professional child life experience in health care setting strongly preferred. INDEPENDENT ACTION: Performs independently within the department's policies and practices. Refers specific complex problems to the supervisor when clarification of the departmental policies and procedures are required. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Orients, trains and supervises students and volunteers assigned to the unit. Pay Range $48,068.80-$79,372.80 EEO Statement Brown University Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Location Rhode Island Hospital - 593 Eddy Street Providence, Rhode Island 02903 Work Type Variable Work Shift Variable Daily Hours 10 hours Driving Required No As Rhode Island's largest health system and private employer, Brown University Health is the state's premier provider of health services and includes the only Level I Trauma Center for southeastern New England. Today, more than 20,000 people work at Brown University Health and bring their unique skills, experiences, and compassion to their jobs every day. Formed in 1994, Brown University Health is a not-for-profit health system based in Providence, RI comprising three teaching hospitals of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University: Rhode Island Hospital and its Hasbro Children's; The Miriam Hospital; and Bradley Hospital, the nation’s first psychiatric hospital for children; Newport Hospital, Saint Anne's Hospital and Morton Hospital, community hospitals offering a broad range of health services; Gateway Healthcare, the state’s largest provider of community behavioral health care; and Brown Health Medical Group, the largest multi-specialty practice in Rhode Island. Brown University Health is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity of cultural background, race, gender, age, religion, identity, ability, and perspectives - we are actively committed to a diverse workforce that represents the patients and community that we serve. We are invested in creating a respectful, inclusive, and equitable environment that supports the holistic well-being of our employees and their families. Join us and help build a healthier future for our patients - and for yourself. #J-18808-Ljbffr RIH Rhode Island Hospital