Child Life Specialist - Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health : Job Details

Required: Completion of Child Life Certificate is Required.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Child Life Specialist (CLS) demonstrates competence in supporting pediatric patients and family members of patients with medical and psychosocial needs. The CLS contributes to the advancement of safe quality child life practices. Child life professionals help children and their families navigate the emotionally and physically demanding process of coping with illness, injury, disability, trauma and hospitalization. Responsible for the design and implementation of pediatric programs, therapies, and activities among young patients. Works with families to assist in caring for childhood hospitalizations or disabilities. Monitors child development to ensure normal progression. Provides in-depth care as needed to more urgent cases. Child Life Specialists (CLS) are trained healthcare professionals who work with children and their families helping them cope with the challenges of hospitalization, surgery, illness and disability. They focus on the psychosocial development of children under stress while encouraging valuable coping strategies for them and their families as well.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Qualified individuals must have the ability (with or without reasonable accommodation) to perform the following duties:

• Provides competent child life services to patients, family members, including developmentally-appropriate therapeutic activities, education, procedural preparation, coping facilitation, and support as it is required related to their illness and medical treatment.
• Assesses, individualizes and evaluates plan of care based on family/patient physical, developmental, emotional and recreational needs.
• Communicates plan to interdisciplinary team members and family.
• Collaborates with patients, families, and interdisciplinary team members to provide optimal care and services.
• Demonstrates compliance with patient care documentation standards, providing support to newer staff regarding documentation practices as needed.
• Provides training, supervision, and feedback for volunteers.
• Manages department resources specific to assigned clinical unit.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS: The following duties are considered secondary to the primary duties listed above.

• Participates on unit and/or department committees.
• Participates in tasks and/or initiatives that enhance own further professional development.
• Participates in evidence-based practice system improvements projects, as identified.
• Participates in and supports initiatives that enhance further development of the profession and/or department.
• Other duties as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Child Development, Child Life, Psychology, Therapeutic Recreation or closely related field.
• Completion of Child Life internship or completion within 6 months of hire.
• Minimum of two years of experience working with children; preferably in a healthcare setting.
• Certification in Child Life and/or Therapeutic Recreation (CCLS/CTRS) within one year of hire date.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Masters degree.
• Certification in Child Life and/or Therapeutic Recreation (CCLS/CTRS).
• Experience as a paid Child Life Specialist and/or Recreation Therapist.