Child Life Specialist

Description:

You are a fun and approachable health care professional who bonds easily with children and their families, often under stressful circumstances. You provide a sense of calm and confidence, and are able to quickly assess a situation and have two or three potential approaches at the ready. Difficult circumstances don’t deter you, because you have a genuine desire to help and support with whatever it takes. From infants through to teens, you have an innate ability to lead with the right tone and build relationships based on care and trust.

What you’ll do

• Conduct screening and assessment of patients utilizing established standards and guidelines, identifies and obtains data relevant to child life including child/family goals of care.
• Develop and implement care plans incorporating individual patient needs e.g. cultural, religious, learning, social, and economic factors. Supports children, youth and caregivers throughout the challenges of hospitalization and illness by identifying and encouraging effective coping techniques, and provides recommendations to the health care team.
• Provide preparation, alternate focus, and coping skills coaching for patients undergoing medical procedures and providing psychosocial support to minimize stress and anxiety during hospitalization
• Plan, initiate, and supervise activities that foster continued growth and development in children and youth, including therapeutic and medical play opportunities that promote development and adaptation to the hospital environment and their health care condition.
• Monitor patients to determine if the plan is meeting the established goals.