Certified Child Life Specialist

Child Life Specialist

Child life specialists support and nurture children and their families through the emotional and physical aspects of hospitalization. They work hand-in-hand with the medical team to provide the children and their families the support they need. Child Life Specialists work with pediatric patients and families throughout the facility, primarily focusing on the Pediatric Unit and Clinic, Neonatal Intensive Care, and Emergency Department. They educate and inform the families as to what is going on, and provide emotional support to the children as they go through tests and treatments. Although they do not provide medical care directly, they work with the children on their specific needs and stay with them throughout the entire process. Child life specialists provide as normal of an environment as possible in an inpatient or outpatient setting. They provide opportunities for the children to play, thrive, and grow in an abnormal and sometimes difficult environment. Child life specialists work to support children through difficult medical circumstances, both personal conditions, as well as conditions that affect their family members, and strive to provide some sense of normalcy. They are an extension of the medical staff and keep apprised of the condition and treatment regimen for the child, so they can keep the family informed and prepared.

Essential Functions:

• Uses correct terminology.
• Conforms to required style and format.
• Develops expected outcomes that provide direction for continuity of care.
• Involves patient/family and other disciplines to determine expected outcomes.
• Modifies expected outcomes based on changes in the assessment of the patient.
• Includes the patient and others involved in the care in the evaluation process.
• Evaluates the plan in relation to patient responses and expected outcomes. Documents the results of the evaluation.
• Demonstrates technical skill in using equipment appropriate for role.
• Understands equipment operation.
• Maintains equipment in working order. Troubleshoots equipment problems.
• Uses technology to increase productivity. Adapts to new technology.
• Appropriately observe and assess patient and family learning style, diagnostic understanding, and needs.
• Understand and utilize evidence-based practice concepts, including play, preparation and assessment.
• Obtain appropriate information needed to complete accurate assessment of patient and family.
• Identify appropriate child life plan and interventions, based on assessed patient priorities.
• Provide developmentally appropriate explanations/teaching aimed at pre-operative and procedural preparation.
• Use appropriate teaching aids and techniques to address knowledge and coping strategies.
• Provide activities and interventions to help children and families cope with medical situations and meet their developmental, emotional, and educational needs.
• Demonstrate proficiency in educating patient and family and in delineating appropriate sequential events.
• Provide clear and concise chart documentation of interventions and emotional status of the patient, family, and/or sibling in a timely manner according to policy.
• The Child Life Specialist is responsible for promoting the physical and psychosocial development of children.
• Ability and willingness to work with patients' growth and developmental needs particularly related to the age of patients.
• Ability to manage a chaotic work environment related to changing patient needs, including work with patients with acute, chronic, and complex disease processes.
• Ability and willingness to exhibit behaviors consistent with standards for performance improvement and organizational strategic initiatives.
• Minimize fears and stress regarding the health experience.
• Recognize and address the importance of therapeutic play in facilitating child's mastery of and coping with health care experiences.
• Deliver services in a manner that is flexible, accessible, comprehensive, and responsive to family-identified needs.
• Child life professionals promote the role of parents and other family members as full partners on the health care team and promote the philosophy of patient- and family-centered care.
• Facilitate family/professional collaboration.
• Initiate communication with peers about clinical priorities for care.
• Provide information to patients and families to reduce anxiety and convey an attitude of acceptance, sensitivity, and caring.
• Maintain professional relationships and convey relevant information to other members of the health care team within facility and any applicable referral agencies.
• Assess and interact with patients and families using theories of human growth and development, family systems, and cultural background.
• Share information on child development and early childhood education topics with families via verbal communication, handouts, etc.
• Submit pertinent information/data to the appropriate employee/management in a timely manner.
• Individuals shall continually seek knowledge and skills that will update and enhance their understanding of all relevant issues affecting the children and families they serve.
• Attend staff meetings, in-services, and continuing education.
• Respond to problems/opportunities to improve care/customer service.
• Maintain professional competence by keeping abreast of research and evidence-based practices within the child life field.
• Meets training requirements on an annual basis.
• Individuals shall respect the privacy of children and families and shall maintain confidentiality of information concerning the children and the families with whom they work.
• Maintain confidentiality in matters relating to patient/family.
• Individual shall act with respect for the duties, competencies and needs of their professional colleagues and shall maintain the utmost integrity in all interactions with the institutions or organizations that employ them.
• Ability and willingness to work effectively as part of a team and independently.
• Ability and willingness to exhibit behaviors consistent with principles for service excellence.
• Treats colleagues with dignity and respect.
• Participate in improvement activities and initiatives.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with children, families, and staff.
• Functions as an effective team member, working with administration, colleagues, and volunteers, to ensure that appropriate parties are kept informed and those individual and collaborative assignments/responsibilities are met.
• Contribute to discussions at departmental meetings and to departmental projects and undertakings, working in concert with others.
• Adheres to the hospital and departmental attendance and punctuality guidelines.
• Performs all job responsibilities in alignment with the core values, mission and vision of the organization.
• Performs other duties as required and completes all job functions as per departmental policies and procedures.
• Maintains current knowledge in present areas of responsibility to include any specialty certification requirements (i.e., self-education, attends ongoing educational programs).
• Attends staff meetings and completes mandatory in-services and requirements and competency evaluations on time.
• Demonstrates competency at all levels in providing care to all patients based on age, sex, weight, and demonstrated needs. For non-clinical areas, has attended training and demonstrates usage of age-specific customer service skills.
• Wears protective clothing and equipment as appropriate.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Child Life Development or other related field (i.e. psychology, recreation therapy.) (Required)
• Master's Degree (Preferred)
• Work Experience: > 1 years Completion of minimum of 480 hr. Child Life Internship. (Required)
• Licenses and Certifications: CCLS - Certified Child Life Specialist or eligible to sit for exam and obtained within 1 Year. (Required)