Pediatric Music Therapist

Major Responsibilities:

• Provides direct assessment, consultation and delivery of pediatric music therapy services. Responds to referrals from physicians, nursing, child life specialists, art therapists, chaplains, and other hospital staff for group and individual sessions. Leads and supervises individual and group sessions on all pediatric and neonatal intensive care units.

• Determines, designs, and implements pediatric music therapy interventions to address the needs of the patients and families at various developmental levels. Provides music therapy to address the treatment goals of pediatric patients and/or families.

• Communicates with all members of the healthcare team in order to provide a holistic approach to the care of the patients and families.

• Interprets and promotes the therapeutic benefits of music therapy to the multidisciplinary team throughout AAH and to the broader community.

• Keeps up to date on current trends and practices and educates staff across numerous disciplines regarding developmental concerns and benefits of music therapy.

• Develops and implements program objectives, assesses program outcomes and makes recommendations for improvements.

• Effectively incorporates music technology and other sound media to provide support and legacy building to pediatric patients and families.

• Utilize knowledge of human development to identify the pediatric patients’ developmental level to formulate the plan of delivering music therapy services for each individual patient.

• Coordinates, plans, and implements events with pediatric patients and families to ensure typical development and enhance coping while receiving medical treatment.

• Partners with Public Affairs and Marketing and Advocate Charitable Foundation to coordinate and implement special events with donors and community partners in order to develop, nurture and maintain relationships.
• Maintain all in-kind donations and utilize restricted funding per donor intent. Manages delivery and storage of all in-kind donations, toys, and supplies.

SUPERVISORY/MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

This position serves as the clinical internship supervisor and/or director in accordance with the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and works to maintain accreditation with the AMTA as a designated internship site. This position recruits, selects, orients, supervises and evaluates all music therapy interns. This position oversees work assignments in relationship to the needs of clinical units and the learning goals of each intern/student.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

License/Registration/Certification: Board Certification eligible. Must be MT-BC through Certification Board for Music Therapists within six months of hire.

Issued by (Governing Body): Certification Board for Music Therapists

Level of Education: Bachelors Degree in Music Therapy (Masters Degree preferred)

Field of Study (if applicable): Music Therapy with board certification

Years of Experience: Completed Music Therapy Internship per AMTA guidelines

Describe Type Experience: Preferred 1-2 years of pediatric experience

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSA)

• Ability to function in a multidisciplinary environment while providing direct patient/family care.

• Ability to establish supportive relationships with children and their families and maintain rapport.

• Experience and comfort working with hospitalized children, patients diagnosed with mental illness, developmental delay, and/or who display challenging behaviors in individual and group contexts. Ability to adapt interventions to meet the needs of patients with special needs.

• Experience and/or comfort working with patients and families during critical illness and at end of life.

• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served (typically 0-21 years).

• Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient’s status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirements relative to his/her age-specific and/or developmentally appropriate needs.

• Understanding, supportive, and empathetic to individual needs of a diverse patient/family population.

• Strong PC skills and understanding of current technologies utilized in the medical setting.

• Works safely and efficiently under stressful and difficult situations.

• Resilient and flexible in an ever changing environment.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both written and verbal).

• Assessment skills, organizational skills, and knowledge on how to prioritize patients.

• Proven leadership skills, ability to prioritize in a fast paced and high demand setting, and strong organizational skills.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills as demonstrated through establishing and maintaining positive relationships with patients, parents, donors, and other team members.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• This position may require travel, therefore, will be exposed to weather and road conditions.

• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.

• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, squat, bend, and reach above shoulders and twist.

• Exposed to a normal office environment.

• Requires direct contact with patients, families, AAH team members in all departments, interns/students, volunteers, representatives from community groups and agencies, professionals from other health care institutions, and professional organizations.

• Contact with patients with infectious diseases, which requires special protective equipment, training and adherence to prescribed rules and procedures to prevent the spread of infection.

• This position falls into a fast-paced, rapidly and constantly changing environment.

• May be required to lift up to 25 lbs without assistance or lift over 25 lbs with assistance.

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.