Job Description
Overview USA Health is Transforming Medicine along the Gulf Coast to care for the unique needs of our community.
USA Health is changing how medical care, education and research impact the health of people who live in Mobile and the surrounding area. Our team of doctors, advanced care providers, nurses, therapists and researchers provide the region's most advanced medicine at multiple facilities, campuses, clinics and classrooms. We offer patients convenient access to innovative treatments and advancements that improve the health and overall wellbeing of our community.
Responsibilities A Child Life Specialist (CLS) helps children and families cope with potentially stressful medical experiences and hospitalization by providing education, coping skills, procedural support, and emotional support, through age-appropriate play and education. The CLS will provide preparation for procedures, alternative focus techniques, and promote normal development and coping during illness and injury. The CLS will also focus on the psychosocial needs of patients and their family and advocate for the patient's needs. The CLS will collaborate with the medical team to act as a bridge for the family to ensure the child's emotional and developmental needs are considered in their care plan.
The Child Life Specialist I's professional responsibility within their scope of practice:
1. Abides by and enforces all compliance requirements and policies and performs these responsibilities in an ethical manner consistent with the
organization's values.
2. Adheres to hospital policies including confidentiality.
3. Requires regular and prompt attendance.
4. Works the assigned schedule including overtime.
5. Assists with the orientation of new employees.
6. Provides therapeutic and recreational activities.
7. Provides orientation and conveys Child Life philosophy for new employees, physicians, volunteers and students.
8. Requires minimal supervision to safely perform patient care andessential functions.
9.Utilizes proper body mechanics when moving equipment and/or supplies that are necessary to perform essential functions.
10.Reports broken or malfunctioning equipment to supervisor or department head.
The Child Life Specialist I's department responsibilities:
1. Provide clinical interventions in the pediatric departments, emergency department and other areas where pediatric patients receive care.
2. Identifies high risk and high interaction patients and implements a therapeutic plan to facilitate recovery as they cope with hospitalization, illness, injury, disability, treatment , bereavement or grief.
3.. Identifies the developmental and psychosocial needs of the pediatric patient and provides activities that are developmentally appropriate to satisfy those needs.
4. Therapeutic Play: Specialists use play as a primary tool to help children express feelings, learn about their bodies, and meet developmental milestones while hospitalized.
5. Procedural support: Provide alternative focus and coping strategies during painful or frightening procedures
6.. Family Support: They educate parents and siblings on how to support the sick child and provide bereavement support for families facing loss.
7. Collaborates and coordinates with physicians and other disciplines regarding individualized patient treatment and care plans.
8.. Provides consultation to the health care team regarding the developmental status and individual needs of the patient and family in order to promote optimal care during hospitalization and treatment.
9. Advocacy: Champion the psychosocial needs of the child and family within the healthcare team.
10. Assists with the coordination of community activities and visits to the Treehouse and Class Act programs.
11. Assists with the coordination and supervision of hospital volunteers, student interns and clinical observers assigned to the Treehouse and Class Act programs.
12. Performs other duties as required.
The Child Life Specialist I's communication responsibilities:
1. Communicates and uses appropriate customer relation skills with physicians, patients, families, healthcare team and staffing, in person and via telephone.
2. Education & Preparation: Offer age-appropriate explanations for medical procedures, diagnoses, and treatments using tools like medical play.
Maintains accurate and complete records by:
Medical Record Entry: Maintain accurate and timely documentation in Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems, including initial assessments, progress notes, and discharge summaries.
• Documenting Child Life plans of care, assessments, interventions, interactions and responses for designated patient populations.
• Documenting teaching of therapy recommendations given to patients, parents, family.
The Child Life Specialist I's citizenship responsibilities:
1. Accepts and completes all duties positively and without conflict.
2. Cooperates, helps others and improves the performance of the unit.
3. Completes all mandatory unit, educational and hospital requirements.
4. Utilizes cost effective practices in performing all aspects of the job.
5. Adheres to current Infection Control and Safety Standards.
The Child Life Specialist I's responsibilities for providing age specific care:
1. Demonstrates the ability to provide competent patient care to the following patient populations:
Neonate, Infant-Toddler/Preschool, School age/Adolescent, Reproductive Age.
Participates on committees as assigned. Participates in Performance Improvement activities and professional development opportunities, as required. Regular and prompt attendance; Ability to work schedule as defined and overtime as required; Related duties as required.
Facility Dog (medical dog) handler experience, preferred.
Employees must be in a regular position, working 20 hours or more per week (.50 FTE or greater) to qualify for benefits. Additional Information Employees must be in a regular position, working 20 hours or more per week (.50 FTE or greater) to qualify for benefits. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Childhood Development, or a related field from an accredited institution as approved and accepted by the University of South Alabama, completion of a 600-hour clinical internship under the supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist, and certification as a Child Life Specialist (CCLS) within 12 months of hire.
Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer The University of South Alabama is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status or any other applicable legally protected basis.
EO Employer - minorities/females/veterans/disabilities/sexual orientation/gender identity.
Job Tags
Internship, Live in