Child life specialist job description

• Bachelors or Master s Degree with area of concentration: Child Life, Child Development Education, Creative Arts Therapies, etc.
• Completed 600 hour Child Life Internship and child life certification exam eligible
• Experience in Health Care setting. Prefer one-year experience in a Child Life Program setting.
• Coursework in Child Life, Human Development, Family Dynamics, Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, Therapeutic Recreation, and/or Expressive Therapies preferred.
• Child life Certification preferred or required within one year of hire

First established in 1901, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center is a 665-bed quaternary care, teaching hospital that provides comprehensive health care for the region. Staffed with more than 800 physicians, 3200 employees, and 150 volunteers, our hospital is ready to provide you and your family with the quality care you need. At Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, we are committed to quality and excellence in patient care. Our goal is to exceed your expectations and to provide you with an environment that is conducive to healing and promotes patient safety. The Newark Beth Israel Medical Center management and staff abide by the philosophy that all patients are to be treated with respect, dignity, and sensitivity.

RWJBarnabas Health is the most comprehensive health care delivery system in New Jersey and the state s second largest private employer with more than 32,000 employees, 9,000 physicians and 1,000 residents and interns. The system includes eleven acute care hospitals, three acute care children s hospitals and a leading pediatric rehabilitation hospital (Children s Specialized Hospital).

We offer a great work environment, competitive rates and excellent benefits, including:

Medical/Dental/Vision plans

401 (k)

Vacation/Personal/Holiday/Sick Time Off

Short & Long Term Disability

Basic Life & Accidental Death Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

***This position is for 40 hours/week with Full-Time Benefits. Working hours are from 6:30am - 3pm, Monday through Friday

Responsibilties:

A day in the life of a Child Life Specialist at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

1. Adheres to the Child Life Code of Ethics approved by the Association of Child Life Professionals.
2. Provides child life services to pediatric patients and family members, including developmentally appropriate therapeutic play and activities, education, procedural preparation, coping techniques, and support based on illness or medical treatment.
3. Patient/Family assessment to prioritize and create a psychosocial care plan for each patient. Documents observations and interventions in EPIC. Participates in team care conferences.
4. Demonstrate outstanding communication skills. Collaboration with patients, families and interdisciplinary teams to increase patient satisfaction.
5. Support manager/team with development of programming, policies and procedures. Offer opportunities to enhance and expand child life services within the children's hospital.
6. Supervision of child life students as defined by ACLP.
7. Supervision/training of volunteers for child life program.
8. Assist child life team with donations and special events.
9. Miscellaneous responsibilities include coordinating for patient milestone events and anything directly supporting patient care, such as maintenance of playrooms/teen lounge and storage units, restocking therapeutic play supplies, etc.
10. Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Qualifications:

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

1. Bachelor's Degree in Child Life, Child Development or closely related field
2. Must have successfully completed Child Life Internship as required by the ACLP
3. BLS (Basic Life Support) Certification required

Licenses and Certifications Required:

1. AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP Certification.

Licenses and Certifications Preferred:

1. Preferred Child Life Certification through the Association of Child Life Professionals. If not certified, must be eligible for certification and obtain within 6 months of hire.

If you feel the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!

*This position requires a successful completion of Child Life Internship under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist

The Child Life Specialist is responsible for providing therapeutic play opportunities and assisting children with coping skills before, during and after medical procedures. Utilizing developmentally appropriate play, preparation, education and creative expression activities, the Child Life Specialist provides support to children and families in order to lessen the stress of the hospital experience.

1. Assess children and families at various stress points throughout their health care experience. Identify relevant data regarding the child and family to develop a comprehensive assessment and initiate a plan of care. Identify developmental and psychosocial factors and their implications regarding the child's healthcare experience in order to plan appropriate goals and interventions.

2. Based upon assessment of child and family, facilitate play and familiar life experiences to encourage expression, process information and promote development. Evaluate and document assessments, goals, interventions, outcomes and significant events. Modify care plans as needed. Make appropriate referrals when necessary.

3. Utilizing evidence-based best practices, facilitate preparation (e.g. psychological, educational) for challenging situations with children and families in order to minimize fear and anxiety and to promote mastery of their experience. Facilitate positive coping strategies (e.g. pain management, comfort positioning, distraction, alternative focus, guided imagery, child participation) in order to minimize distress and promote empowerment.

4. Provide educational opportunities and resources that are responsive to the needs of children and families in order to promote learning and mastery. Provide education about specific illnesses, injuries and medical procedures in age appropriate language. Provide pre-operative tours and outpatient services including special events and support when deemed necessary by Child Life department.

5. Educate staff, students, volunteers and the community of the unique needs of children and families to foster appropriate and positive interactions throughout the healthcare experience by acting as a resource regarding
adjustment to illness and hospitalization, development, age- appropriate play and materials.
6. Collaborate with health care team to enhance communication, foster Patient and Family-Centered Care and maximize positive outcomes. Act as resource for volunteers and provide direction/feedback as needed.
7. Maintain toys, supplies, play areas and waiting areas by following toy cleaning and safety processes. Identify available resources and promote relationships with community organizations to assist with fiscally responsible purchases and donations.
This document represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. It should be understood, therefore, that incumbents may be asked to perform job-related duties beyond those explicitly described.
STANDARD QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.
A. Education / Training:
· Bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation, Child Development or related field.
B. Work Experience:
· Successful completion of Child Life Internship under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist who meets the basic requirements for supervision as recommended by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP).
C. Certification, Licensure, Registration:
· Child Life Professional Certification, CCLS or eligible to sit for and pass certification exam within one year of hiring date (required by hospital).
D. Other Qualifications:
· Excellent interpersonal skills required. Requires skilled knowledge of child development, medical/therapeutic play, medical procedures and diagnoses. Must have a working knowledge of the principles of Patient and Family-Centered Care. Must know and adhere to the ethics of the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP), assume responsibility for own professional behavior, and be able to work effectively with staff, children and families of all ages, races, cultures and belief systems.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
A. Physical Effort:
· This position requires the ability to lift up to 40 lbs. and communicate effectively with patients' families and staff
B. Work Environment:
· The Child Life Specialist must feel comfortable working in a small space with patients who have contagious illnesses.

* Beaumont Health grants equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, genetic information, marital status, height, weight, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other legally protected category.
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