The Child Family Life Specialist provides services to pediatric patients and their families to support coping and adaptation to the health care environment, utilizing play as a therapeutic modality. Provides clinical psychosocial services throughout the hospital system based on the competencies of a certified child life specialist (CCLS). The Child Family Life Specialist will function as an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team, applying a knowledge of child development and family systems to their practice. Minimum of a BA/BS in child life, therapeutic recreation, family or child development, counseling, child psychology, education, social work, nursing or related fields. Completion of a child life internship with a minimum of 600 hours. CCLS certification through the ACLP required, or ability to sit for the exam within 6 months of hire.

This is a casual position which offers schedule flexibility to include day/evening/weekend options.

We are looking for child life specialists to train at a minimum of 2 sites and to commit to working a minimum of 2 shifts/month.

Sites include: Masonic Childrens Hospital, Ridges Hospital, Maple Grove Clinic and Ambulatory Surgery Center

Rate of pay starts at $27/hr and can be adjusted based on experience.

• Ability to assess patient and family psychosocial needs and implement therapeutic coping plans.
• Describe and apply formal and informal techniques to assess developmental and emotional state
• Identify factors that impact a child and familys vulnerability to stress and trauma and how children and families interpret and make meaning of health, illness, and loss
• Describe and apply the cyclical process of assessment, plan, intervention, and evaluation of child life services
• Ability to integrate clinical evidence and fundamental child life knowledge into professional decision making.
• Identify therapeutic approaches that facilitate open-ended, developmentally-supportive play and expressive arts
• Utilize play as an assessment tool that encourages patients to express their anxieties, misconceptions, and perceptions of hospital experiences.
• Ability to provide developmentally appropriate preparation, teaching, and education regarding patients diagnosis, plan of care, and independent coping skills.
• Identify basic terminology, processes, and expected plan of care for the population served.
• Articulate learning styles and needs of individuals with various developmental levels, emotional states, and of diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Describe common fears, misconceptions and concerns of individuals in each developmental stage.
• Determine realistic goals and objectives for learning in collaboration with family members and other healthcare professionals and identify an action plan to achieve these goals.
• Use accurate and developmentally appropriate teaching aids and techniques to increase knowledge and support emotional needs.
• Ability to facilitate positive coping experiences and provide developmentally appropriate procedural support during stressful, painful, and traumatic healthcare experiences.
• Identify types of stressful events affecting children and families, including medical procedures, pain, traumatic life events, loss, end of life, and grief work.
• Describe immediate and long-term coping styles and techniques, as well as their effect on adjustment and behavior.
• Articulate and apply effective non-pharmacological pain management techniques.
• Describe sensory, cognitive, and behavioral coping strategies specific to developmental stages and populations.
• Implement a team plan for coping support during medical procedures, including parental presence with guidance, comfort positions, role responsibilities, and distraction techniques to help children refocus their attention.
• Facilitate planning, rehearsal, implementation, and evaluation of coping strategies.
• Ability to provide opportunities for play for infants, children, youth, and families
• Articulate and implement theories of human growth and development, play, and family systems
• Demonstrate the ability to assess individual play needs and incorporate play into daily practice.
• Facilitate opportunities for play to decrease distress, provide enjoyment and comfort, enhance mastery, and promote healing.
• Plan and implement appropriate play activities and materials for children and families of diverse cultures, varying developmental needs, and physical abilities.
• Establish safe and engaging play spaces that promote cross cultural connections, facility group play, and encourage children to choose and explore at their own pace.
• Ability to provide psychosocial support to patients, siblings, and family systems.
• Identify types of stressful events affecting children and families, including medical procedures, pain, traumatic life events, loss, end of life, and grief work.
• Understand the role of communication, particularly active listening and empathic responding, in building relationships with families undergoing stress.
• Understand the role of self-reflection in aiding patients and families in the process of mourning.
• Establish and maintain a therapeutic, healing and family-centered environment.
• Promoting family connections and togetherness during times of separation due to hospitalization or illness.
• Ability to practice within the scope of professional and personal knowledge and skill base including the supervision of students.
• Take action to ensure personal responsibilities and professional competencies are maintained and do not fall below a level considered acceptable in the field of practice.
• Communicate concisely with other healthcare professionals, integrating theory and evidence-based practice to obtain and share pertinent information.
• Consult with other health professionals to initiate collaboration, offer direction, share insight, and coordinate interventions.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries to preserve the therapeutic relationship as defined by the organization and the ACLP.
• Incorporate evidence-based practice and research into child life practice through continuing education.
• Other Professional responsibilities, as assigned.
• Work as an integral part of the Patient and Family Support Services team in supporting other disciplines in providing patient and family centered care.
• Utilize and supervise volunteers for child life programming or patient care needs.

Required

Education

• Bachelors Degree in Child Life, Family or Child Development, Counseling, Child Psychology, Education, Social Work, Nursing, or related field.

Experience

• Completion of child life internship as recognized by the ACLP

License/Certification/Registration

• Ability to sit for and pass CCLS certification exam within 6 months of hire

Preferred

Education

• Bachelors or masters in child life or closely related field

Experience

• Three to five years experience as a CCLS

License/Certification/Registration

• Current CCLS certification