Child Life Specialist FT, Variable

Inspire health. Serve with compassion. Be the difference.

Job Summary

Provides optimal development & psychosocially appropriate care for pediatric patients & families. Assesses children's development & coping needs, and implements developmentally appropriate therapeutic interventions such as play, medical play, psychological preparation, & rehearsed coping to minimize distress associated with the healthcare environment & to foster resiliency. Collaborates as a member of an interdisciplinary healthcare team to develop and administer an individualized plan of care.

Essential Functions

All team members are expected to be knowledgeable and compliant with Prisma Health's values : Inspire health. Serve with compassion. Be the difference.

Utilizes information from the child / family and observations of development, coping styles, play, and affect as a basis for initial assessment and to formulate a plan of care. Assesses children's development, emotional responses to healthcare experiences, and coping.

Evaluates outcomes of interventions and uses ongoing assessment to guide the plan of care.

Documents professional assessment in a timely manner.

Makes referrals as appropriate.

Facilitates individualized goal-directed therapeutic interventions to address issues such as separation, fear, medical compliance, and developmental delays. Facilitates medical play. Provides psychological preparation to children and families undergoing procedures and surgery. Accompanies children and families during procedures and / or stressors to facilitate adaptive coping. Facilitates planning, rehearsing, and implementing coping strategies with children and families. Facilitates therapeutic interventions to children and families to address issues of grief and loss. Concisely and accurately documents interventions provided and children's responses to interventions.

Utilizes developmentally appropriate play and activities to foster optimal developmental and psychosocial outcomes. Establishes and maintains safe, therapeutic, and inviting play environments. Facilitates developmentally appropriate play as a primary tool to meet psychosocial needs.

Orients families to services available. Supports the central role of the family, valuing strengths and needs in implementing child life services. Identifies needs and provides services to meet the developmental and emotional needs of siblings. Acts as an advocate for families in the healthcare setting.

Educates families regarding children's responses to healthcare environments, coping, chronic illness, and grief and loss. Acts as a resource and provides anticipatory guidance to families in the areas of child development, play, and parenting.

Acts as a role model regarding age specific and developmentally appropriate care. Conducts in-services and conference presentations within the healthcare environment and community regarding the psychosocial needs of children in the healthcare setting. Provides orientation, ongoing education, and feedback to volunteers and interns. Seeks and obtains opportunities for professional growth and development. Maintains certification.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory / Management Responsibilities

This is a non-management job that will report to a supervisor, manager, director or executive.

Minimum Requirements

Education - Bachelor's degree in Child Life or related field of study.

Experience - No experience required.

In Lieu Of

Required Certifications, Registrations, Licenses

Child Life Certification (Must obtain within one year of employment)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Work Shift

Variable (United States of America)

Location

Richland

Facility

1510 Richland Hospital

Department

15106521 Childrens Hospital Child Life

Share your talent with us! Our vision is simple : to transform healthcare for the benefits of the communities we serve. The transformation of healthcare requires talented individuals in every role here at Prisma Health.