Summary:
The Child Life Specialist promotes coping, growth and development for children, teens and young adults in the hospital environment. As a member of the care team, this position collaborates in care plans, procedures, diagnosis education, play, coping support, and referrals to community services. Serve as liaison between patient families and medical team, communicating with patients and families prior to radiology appointments to assess psychosocial stressors and prepare for medical procedures. Facilitate simulated MRI appointments to promote familiarization and mastery in effort to reduce radiology department sedation rates.  Based on assessment and conversation with families, recommend appropriate strategies for radiology appointment success.  This position practices in alignment with current principles and practices of the Association of Child Life Professionals. 

Responsibilities:

• Provision of individual and group support
• Facilitates procedural and surgical preparation and support
• Provides medical play opportunities to promote desensitization and developmentally appropriate understanding for patients and family members
• Utilizes appropriate tools to implement diagnosis education for patients and family members
• Creates a developmentally appropriate plan for the facilitation of therapeutic interventions
• Prepares siblings and children/visitors for visitation and anticipated events related to treatment
• Provides sibling support and therapeutic interventions for continued coping and normal growth
• Provision of legacy building and bereavement support
• Coordinates and initiates involvement or referrals in appropriate community activities or resources/support
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with members of the healthcare team to meet care plan goals. Provide interdisciplinary team member education on utilization of services and developmentally appropriate care
• Documents patient's developmental needs, coping and plan to facilitate mastery in patient medical records and recognize subtle changes in patient psychosocial assessment
• Continues to develop self-reflective capacity and incorporates feedback into daily practice

ESSENTIAL:
Certified Child Life Specialist

WORK EXPERIENCE
No previous experience required

EDUCATION

• Four-year bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required
• Graduate or professional work or advanced degree; or equivalent experience preferred

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Child Life Specialist Professional Certification or ability to obtain certification within eighteen months of hire date