Child Life Specialist

Child Life Specialist

The Child Life Specialist provides psychosocial and development-based assessments and support to children of all ages and their families. Plans and provides emotionally and developmentally appropriate experiences to promote effective coping with health care and continued cognitive and emotional growth for infants, children, and adolescents.

The Child Life Specialist:

• Promotes Carilion Clinics Culture of Excellence and quality service through teamwork, respectful communication, maintenance of a professional environment, partnership with those we serve, and anticipation of patient/customer needs.
• Assesses child/family psychosocial and developmental strengths and risks, plans goals, implements indicated interventions, and evaluates the accuracy of the assessment and effectiveness of the plan and interventions. Documents plan of care and communicates to appropriate caregivers.
• Collaborates with medical and nursing staff to provide opportunities for the child/family to increase understanding of medical procedures, to express feelings, and to promote mastery and coping. Provides emotional and bereavement support to children and families.
• Organizes, prioritizes, directs, supervises and evaluates the psychosocial care delivered by various levels of staff.
• Provides educational seminars and in-services for hospital staff and other health care professionals to enhance their understanding of the unique needs of children and their families.
• Actively participates in planning a safe and supportive environment for children and families.
• Accountable for budgetary aspects of programs which includes supplies and costs associated with staff support.
• Responsible for helping with the transition of patients and families from different units and communicating with the designated child life specialist for that area about their needs.
• Demonstrates knowledge of principles of growth and development. Plans and provides emotionally and developmentally appropriate experiences to promote effective coping with health care and continued cognitive and emotional growth for infants, children, and adolescents.
• Provides bereavement support for family members.
• Enhances quality of patient care through participation, documentation and communication with other members of the health care team.
• Teaches, supervises, and evaluates work of practicum students and may oversee a child life intern after one year of employment and/or completion of 4,000 paid hours as a CCLS.
• Communicates with multi-disciplinary team and community agencies. Serves as resource and advocate on child development issues.
• Requires substantial walking, standing, lifting and bending in performance of duties. Considerable exposure to infectious disease and hazardous material.
• Adheres to the Child Life Council Code of Ethics. Demonstrates knowledge of principles of growth and development. May be asked to provide care at other Carilion facilities to meet Organization Mission, Values, and Guiding Principles.

What We Require:

Education: Bachelor's degree in child Life, Child Development, Education, Special Education, Family Studies or related field, and completion of a 480-hour child life internship under a Certified Child Life Specialist.

Experience: At least 1-2 years of on-the-job experience in an acute setting within a child life program.

Licensure, certification, and/or registration: Certified Child Life Specialist required within 1 year of hire.

Life Support: AHA BLS-HCP required within 6 months hire. Other Minimum Qualifications: Must be able to assess patient/family psychosocial and developmental level and strengths and risks; plan goals, implement interventions and evaluate effectiveness. Must also have excellent communication skills, service excellence commitment and organizational skills.

This job description is only meant to be a representative summary of the major responsibilities and accountabilities performed by the incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.

Benefits, Pay and Well-being at Carilion Clinic

Carilion understands the importance of prioritizing your well-being to help you develop and thrive. That's why we offer a well-rounded benefits package, and many perks and well-being resources to help you live a happy, healthy life – at work and when you're away.

When you make your tomorrow with us, we'll enhance your potential to realize the best in yourself. Below are benefits available to you when you join Carilion:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, & Vision Benefits
• Employer Funded Pension Plan, vested after five years (Voluntary 403B)
• Paid Time Off (accrued from day one)
• Onsite fitness studios and discounts to our Carilion Wellness centers
• Access to our health and wellness app, Personify Health
• Discounts on childcare
• Continued education and training