Career Center

Mission:

East Tennessee Children's Hospital will improve the health of children through exceptional, comprehensive family-centered care, wellness, and education.

Basic Purpose of the Job:

• Promotes family-centered care by providing services to meet the psychosocial, emotional, and developmental needs of patients and families.

• • Documents assessment, plans and interventions in the medical record; verbally communicates information when appropriate and compiles reports as needed.

• Interactions and interventions are recorded according to policy and procedure.

• Information regarding the developmental status, individual needs of the patient and family and environmental factors which contribute to the patient’s care are communicated in a timely and concise manner.

• Monthly reports include special events, needs of units, and all community benefit activities, as well as student and PRN data.

• In collaboration with the medical and/or nursing staff, conducts medical play, psychosocial preparations and support during procedures.

• Uses developmental appropriate practice in assessing individual and family needs.

• Provides information on appropriate coping techniques to patients, families and the healthcare team.

• Stays current on medical practice and procedures, Child Life Standards, and practices; serves as a resource for staff on developmentally appropriate interactions and child-family centered care.

• Participates in planning, implementation, and evaluation of activities, celebrations and events related to the departmental mission (i.e., holiday celebrations, volunteer recognition, Child Life week).

• Seeks out unique opportunities to celebrate important events in the patients’ lives, including holidays and birthdays

• Follows policy in providing appropriate activities marking these celebrations and works with appropriate departments to do so.

• Provides support to the other departments involved in these activities (i.e., printing appropriate census information to Community Relations for tours).

• Serves as a resource to staff and families to assure continuity with normal life experiences.

1. Customer Service (internal and external)
   Plans, implements, and evaluates programs and activities for individuals and groups of patients in the playrooms, at the bedside, in outpatient clinics, and in the Emergency Department, ensuring a safe, supportive environment.

• Plans and directs developmentally appropriate programs and activities that are also based on each patient’s diagnosis, assessment, dietary instructions, activity level, coping styles and social supports; activities promote self- healing, self-expression, understanding and mastery.

• Utilizes therapeutic play techniques as a diagnostic and treatment tool.

• Serves as a resource to other departments in selection of age-appropriate materials and seeks opportunities to give input on modifying environment to meet specific needs of patients and families.

• Enhances parental abilities to provide age appropriate techniques to meet the needs of the child.

• Acts as a liaison between patients, families, and staff.

• Establishes a good relationship with each family to ease adjustment to the hospital, encouraging and assisting parents in interaction with the child as well as family involvement in patient care.

• Provides child development information resources to families and staff.

• Provides emotional support during identified stress points and extends support and offers counsel to family members with respect to their own stress and needs; refers families to appropriate resources when needed.

• Serves as a resource and advocate on child developmental issues, providing consultation to the healthcare team.

• Participates on multidisciplinary committees, task forces, and projects.

• Provides training on developmentally appropriate practice, interventions and interactions to staff and is knowledgeable of medical terms, diagnosis and therapy relevant to the particular population on the unit.

• Provides multidisciplinary in-services to increase staff awareness of psychosocial issues of children and families; seeks opportunities to advocate for families and children.

• Serves as a role model for developmentally appropriate practice as well as Child Life best practices.

• Participates in Quality Improvement Activities

• Takes an active role in departmental processes identifying issues regarding Quality Improvement and implements Quality Improvement projects.

• Evaluates the effectiveness/efficacy of the process andtakes a leadership role in ensuring quality programs and processes.

• Always seeks ways to improve own performance and departmental services.

• Participates in community education programs.

• Performs preadmission tours (as needed), “Hello Hospital” school visits, and assists in providing Parterns in Education activities.

• Participates in hospital outreach/informational programs as needed (i.e., media interviews, community events, lectures for universities).

• Seeks out opportunities to provide community education activities.

• Human Resource (Team behaviors) related
  Supervises Child Life students and volunteers.

• Participates fully in maintaining internship and practicum programs in accordance with departmental guidelines, school affiliation agreements and Child Life best practices; provides appropriate feedback and documentation of progress of students.

• Provides orientation, education and continuing feedback for students and volunteers on child development and impact of illness, injury and hospitalization on children and families; ensures compliance with all hospital policies.

• Mentors and supports students and volunteers, seeking opportunities to improve training, motivate and encourage professional growth and development.

• Willingly accepts any other assignment that may be requested.

3. Financial/Stewardship
   Is cost conscious with Departmental resources.

• Communicates departmental needs to Director and is aware of cost issues and demonstrates responsible usage of resources.

• Seeks innovative and fiscally responsible management of resources.

• Utilizes hospital resources and time respectfully and accountably.

• JOB REQUIREMENTS
  • Minimum Education
    • Bachelors Required
    • Degree in Child Development, Early Childhood Education or Child Life
  • Minimum Work Experience
    • 6 months related experience, which can include worksite educational experience.
  • Required Licenses/Certifications for position
    • Child Life Certification (CCLS) or eligibility to take exam is required.
  • Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
    • Must possess excellent communication skills with diverse populations.
    • Must have the ability to problem solve and work independently and must have strong interpersonal skills.
    • Some computer skills helpful.
    • Must meet physical requirements of this position.
• PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
  • Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
  • Medium lifting, pushing and pulling is required for 20-50 lbs occasionally, 10-20 lbs frequently and 10 lbs constantly to move objects. Sudden emergency situations have the potential for exposure to lifting or moving of up to 100 lbs. Frequent bending, walking, sitting, squatting, reaching and standing are required. Keyboard/computer use and/or repetitive motions may be required.

About East TN Children's Hospital

East Tennessee Children's Hospital is a 152-bed hospital certified by the state of Tennessee as one of four Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center in Tennessee and is accredited by the Joint Commission. As a Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center, Children's Hospital offers full capabilities to care for seriously ill children in a unique pediatric environment and offers the services of many different pediatric subspecialties. Children's Hospital works jointly with the University of Tennessee Medical Center to ensure that injured children in this region receive trauma care at the institution most appropriate for the child's needs. We also assist smaller hospitals by providing pediatric health care training opportunities. At East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, care is at the CORE of who we are. We are comprised of team members who live out our core values of Compassion, Ownership, Respect, and Excellence. We support each other by fostering a culture of team engagement that creates moments that matter – every interaction, every time. Compassion – We imagine what others are going through, work to alleviate suffering, and create joy whenever possible. Ownership – We take pride ...in our work, act with integrity, and feel personal responsibility for achieving our mission. Respect – We listen, understand, and communicate openly and politely. We recognize our diverse strengths. Excellence – We set high standards for performance in delivering the safest patient care. We give extraordinary and meaningful experiences to our patients, their families, team members, and the community we serve.

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Connections working at East TN Children's Hospital