Inpatient Child Life Specialist

Join Cleveland Clinic's Main Campus where research and surgery are advanced, technology is leading-edge, patient care is world class and caregivers are family. Here, you will work alongside a passionate and dedicated team, receive endless support and appreciation, and build a rewarding career with one of the most respected healthcare organizations in the world.

As a Child Life Specialist, you will be working with patients and families to communicate with our interdisciplinary team, child life team and other patients / families. This role is highly valued by the multidisciplinary surgery teams. The role of child life is important for patients undergoing surgery and helps to improve their patient experience, reduce fears and increase coping. Using a strengths-based approach, you will assess developmental, psychosocial, emotional and cultural needs and provide appropriate education for medical procedures and diagnoses, non-pharmacological pain management, therapeutic play and emotional or bereavement support. In this position, you will also have the ability to advance the Child Life specialist program, drive change across the ambulatory space and contribute to its continued development.

Caregivers in this department professionally develop through group education opportunities and can attend national child-life conferences. The work culture in this department is positive and communication is clear between all team members. You will be supported by leadership and encouraged in your professional development.

A caregiver in this role works day / evening / night / weekend shifts from 8 : 00 a.m. - 4 : 40 p.m. or 7 : 00 a.m. - 3 : 30 p.m.

A caregiver who excels in this role will :

Assess the developmental, social, and physical needs of an assigned pediatric population and provide appropriate interventions, such as preparations and therapeutic play.

Assess and document patient's developmental level, emotional state, utilizes hospitalization and procedures using informal assessment techniques throughout the hospital stay.

Plan and implement therapeutic interventions and a variety of individual and group play experiences promoting development, self-expression, and mastery.

Maintain and order supplies and equipment as needed.

Advocate for patient and family-centered care through communication, involvement, partnership with and empowerment of patients and family members.

Provide education regarding illness / condition, treatment, procedures and coping techniques to patients, family members, and the larger community as appropriate.

Actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team, integrating goals and plans to promote optimal patient care that is family-centered, developmentally appropriate, culturally sensitive, and psychosocially sound.

Actively participate in monthly clinical team and committee meetings

Regularly attends and participates in medical, multidisciplinary, and psychosocial team meetings.

Orient and supervise volunteers and participate in education for Cleveland Clinic and visiting students.

Facilitate ongoing formal and informal education and orientation for unit and multidisciplinary team on availability and provision of child life service.

Provide a physically and emotionally safe, therapeutic and healing environment for patients, families and staff.

Co-treat and refer patients and families to multidisciplinary services and resources as needed.

Serve as a financial steward by implementing cost effective programming.

Adhere to and embrace Enterprise Child Life team norms.

Minimum qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include :

Bachelor's degree in child life or child development related field

Completed an approved Child Life Internship, minimum of 600 hours, under the direction of a Certified Child Life Specialist

Must have or earn professional certification (CCLS) through the Association of Child Life Professionals within a year of appointment and maintain certification throughout their employment (If certification is not achieved within 1 year of hire, the caregiver is not eligible to practice)

An extension may be granted by Child Life Manager under appropriate circumstances

Proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) through American Heart Association (AHA) certification must be obtained within one year of hire

Preferred qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include :

• Two years and 4000 hours of professional Child Life clinical experience in a hospital setting

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Physical Requirements :

Requires full range of body motion including handling and lifting patient, manual and finger dexterity, and eye-hand coordination.

Requires standing and walking for extended periods of time.

Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range.

Requires working under stressful conditions and irregular hours. Exposure to communicable diseases and / or body fluids.

Medium Work - Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and / or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and / or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work.

Personal Protective Equipment :

Pay Range

Salaries [which may be] shown on independent job search websites reflect various market averages and do not represent information obtained directly from The Cleveland Clinic. Because we value each individual candidate, we invite and encourage each candidate to discuss salary / hourly specifics during the application and hiring process.

Cleveland Clinic Health System is pleased to be an equal employment employer : Women / Minorities / Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities