Child Life Specialist- Full time- DC

Provides therapeutic services and play activities to promote the physical, emotional and developmental growth of patients and minimize potential stress and trauma for patients and families

Minimum Education

Bachelor's Degree Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Child Development or related field. (Required)

Master's Degree Master's degree in Child Life, Child Development or related field. (Preferred)

Completion of Child Life Internship (minimum 600 hours) and all internship prerequisites including, but not limited to volunteer hours and Child Life Practicum (Required)

Candidate must be certified or eligible for Child Life Certification. Candidate must pass certification exam within 6 months of hire.(Required)

Required Skills/Knowledge

Knowledge of child and adolescent growth and development based on the theories of development, including but not limited to Piaget, Erikson, Bowlby, and Vygotsky

Knowledge of age-appropriate play and ability to utilize play as a mechanism for patient-understanding of the hospital environment and experiences

Ability to assess patient’s development and response to hospital environment and provide developmentally appropriate interventions

Ability to discuss medical experiences in age-appropriate, child-friendly language

Understanding of basic human anatomy and physiology and knowledge of medical terminology

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple tasks simultaneously, utilizing critical thinking and problem solving skills

Ability to comfortably work with internal and external customers from diverse social, cultural and educational backgrounds.

Ability to identify and work collaboratively with diverse teams.

Ability to listen, be empathetic, motivate and follow-through, and eager to seize challenges and resolve issues

Functional Accountabilities

Direct Patient Care

Assesses patients’ development, temperament, coping style, and adjustment using knowledge of child development and behavior, disease/injury, treatment, healthcare stressors, cultural and family systems

Uses knowledge and resources to create developmental plan and implement appropriate child life and interdisciplinary interventions.

Provides therapeutic interactions and activities which offer emotional support, opportunities for continued growth and development, and diversion from the hospital experience

Provides opportunities for and facilitates a variety of group and/or individual recreational and play activities that promote normalization, development, learning, self-expression, and coping

Uses preparation and medical play opportunities to help alleviate misconceptions and increase understanding of hospital procedures

Provides procedural support to patients in order to foster increased coping skills and evaluates effectiveness of interventions to better inform and individualize future support

Provides education and support to siblings and parents related to hospital visits, effects of hospitalization, procedures, new diagnoses, etc.

Prioritizes own caseload daily in order to meet both child and departmental needs

Participates in the weekday, weekend, and on-call rotation, as assigned

Regularly maintains patient care documentation in accordance with standards

Patient Experience

Fosters environment for patients and families to feel heard and understood, anticipates patient and family needs, and ensures needs are met.

Collaborates with child life team and other professionals to provide activities, special visitors, events, and entertainment to patients and families hospital-wide

Encourages and coordinates patients’ and families’ participation in activities and special events to support normalization and coping

Supports and chaperones special visitors to assigned areas of hospital

Assists child life team, assigned area of hospital, or department with intake and distribution of donations of toys and other comforting items

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Collaborates with interdisciplinary healthcare team in order to provide optimal care and advocate for developmentally-appropriate patient and family needs

Uses formal and informal methods of communication to share assessments, interventions, and evaluations, as appropriate

Maintains communication with interdisciplinary team members to coordinate care and engage in consultation regarding patient care

Provides referrals to internal or community resources for patients and families as needed

Program Development

Facilitates patient interaction for volunteers.

Presents in-service trainings on role and impact of child life to departments or assigned areas, increasing understanding of importance of family-centered care.

Adheres to budget set and outlined by Child Life Manager.

Manages child life resources of assigned area of hospital and ensures consistent supply of resources.

Attends and participates in opportunities that complement and enhance professional development.

Professional Development

With Child Life Manager, establishes annual goals and independently works to meet those goals.

Participates as member of assigned area or department committees as deemed appropriate.

Develops and maintains professional skills and knowledge by attending seminars, workshops, conferences, etc.

Maintains a willingness to learn and openness to new ideas and practices.

Organizational Accountabilities

Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

Teamwork/Communication

Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior

Partner with all team members to achieve goals

Receptive to others’ ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

Contribute to a positive work environment

Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change

Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes

Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

Use resources efficiently

Search for less costly ways of doing things

Safety

Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance