POSITION
DESCRIPTION
|
POSITION
SUMMARY: The Child Life
Specialist will be able to meet all the core competencies set forth by the
Child Life Council and use these competencies as a guide for his/her
practice. The Child Life Specialist
assesses the emotional, developmental, educational and diversionary needs of
hospitalized children and coordinates the therapeutic interventions to
address the medical, procedural, surgical and diagnostic experiences of
patients and families. Plans and
implements programs and services to meet the needs identified for assigned
clinical populations and the child life department. Promotes and practices the delivery of high
quality family-centered care and services for patients and families. |
MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS: |
|
EDUCATION,
CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE: |
|
1. |
Bachelor’s degree in Child
Development, Child Life, Psychology or related field. |
2. |
Child Life
Certification. |
3. |
Obtain
certification in Basic Life Support within 30 days of hire date. |
PREFERRED
QUALIFICATIONS: |
|
EDUCATION,
CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE: |
|
1. |
Master’s degree in Child Life Development,
Child Life, Psychology or related field preferred. |
EXPERIENCE: |
|
1. |
Professional
child life experience in a hospital environment strongly preferred. |
CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The
statements described here are intended to describe the general nature of work
being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be constructed as
an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities and duties. Other duties may be assigned. |
|
1. |
Prepares and executes an
individualized therapeutic care plan for the developmental and psychosocial
well-being of the child to promote healthy coping. |
2. |
Applies child life interventions (e.g.
legacy building, needle play, medical play, diagnostic teaching, treatment
compliance, death and bereavement) aimed towards mastery of medical
experiences. |
3. |
Makes developmentally-appropriate preparations
for medical experiences of patients and families to encourage the expression
of feelings, healthy adaptation and coping mechanism development. |
4. |
May accompany child to procedure and surgery
experiences to incorporate pre-planned coping strategies as well as
diversionary and guided imagery techniques. |
5. |
Selects therapeutic activities,
materials, and equipment that foster intellectual, physical, social and
emotional growth. |
6. |
Creates, oversees and facilitates
playroom programming; identifies ways to enhance expressive opportunities and
optimize peer relationships within established limits. |
7. |
Examines behaviors and modifies care
plan in response to behavior, development, and limitations utilizing approved
methods of discipline. |
8. |
Coordinates normalization activities
for patients (holiday celebrations, entertainment, visiting groups and
community recreational activities). |
9. |
Assesses the needs of the patient and
family members for education on the impact of illness, visitation, support
and development. |
10. |
Involves and communicates with the
patient and family to support the goals of the health care team and match
with the expectations and values of the family. |
11. |
Advocates for the opportunities for
parents to maintain their parenting role. |
12. |
Assists with the identification and
utilization of research to accommodate cultural, environmental, and language
needs. |
13. |
Participates and/or initiates studies
which advance the mission and goals of the educational mission of West
Virginia University School of Medicine and/or highlight and advance the
mission and vision of the Child Life profession defined by the Child Life
Council. |
14. |
Serves as a resource for state-wide
outreach and education regarding child life and child life development by
speaking at conferences, school systems, and local clinics. |
15. |
Offers skills and expertise to children’s camps. (Examples: Heart Camp, HEM/ONC Camp, Diabetes Camp, etc.) |
16. |
Collects statistical data based upon
required templates. |
17. |
Evaluates departmental activities and
makes recommendations for improvement. |
18. |
Maintains program expenditures within the budgetary limits. |
19. |
Maintains affiliation and networks with
the Child Life professional organization and other related organizations. |
20. |
Participates in and provides
in-service training throughout the institution relative to practice areas. |
21. |
Participates in program activities to
promote efficient operations, including scheduling, flexing of hours and
assignments, attendance at unit-based meetings and using peer collaboration. |
22. |
Participates to
ensure overall success of assigned department and institutional projects and
events including communication and evaluation. |
23. |
Provides guidance and instruction to
interns, volunteers and shadowing opportunities. |
24. |
Oversees and provides educational
in-services for child life practicum students. |
25. |
Participates in daily
rounds, patient care conferences and hospital committee meetings. |
26. |
Provides consultation
to and collaborates with medical/patient care team. |
27. |
Provides in-services
to hospital staff regarding Child Life principles and works with other
departments to coordinate institutional events and clinical presentations. |
28. |
Coordinates the
therapeutic plans with the healthcare team through communication and
documentation. |
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical
demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an
employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities
to perform the essential functions. |
|
1. |
Heavy/Hard work: Work requires strength and/or stamina,
lifting, moving, stooping, reaching, positioning of patients, standing,
walking, carrying of patients, materials and equipment weighing 40+ lbs. |
2. |
Works closely with others. |
3. |
Works protracted or irregular hours. |
4. |
Works around biohazards. |
5. |
Works around infectious diseases. |
6. |
Works with or near the deceased. |
7. |
Works with hands in water. |
8. |
Works with electrical hazards
associated with patient care equipment. |
WORKING ENVIRONMENT: The work
environment characteristics described here are representative of those an
employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities
to perform the essential functions. |
SKILLS AND ABILITIES: |
|
1. |
Must be able to implement therapeutic
play activities for individuals and group. |
2. |
Must be able to assess patient
behavior. |
3. |
Must possess knowledge of infant, child,
adolescent growth and development. |
4. |
Must possess knowledge of children’s
reactions and copying mechanisms in hospitalization and illness. |
5. |
Must possess strong organizational
skills, energetic, creative, and enjoy working with children. |
6. |
Ability to work independently with
minimal supervision. |
7. |
Knowledge and skills in basic computer
programs such as Word and Excel. |
Date Reviewed/Revised: October
2020 |