SUMMARY:

Our Certified Child Life Specialists embrace a collaborative multidisciplinary approach in meeting the developmental psychosocial and intellectual needs of pediatric patients and their families. We implement therapeutic medical preparation, supervise organize and direct age-appropriate therapeutic play experiences to help alleviate anxiety, and provide a sense of normalcy while providing developmentally appropriate medical teaching to help patients better understand their medical experience.As a member of a multidisciplinary team, assess the developmental, psychosocial, and intellectual needs of pediatric patients to plan, organize, and direct a therapeutic program that will help to reduce stress, anxiety, and fear associated with illness and hospitalization. Create a healing environment while promoting social emotional and intellectual growth and wellbeing.

Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Assessment: Identify, obtain, and use relevant data (healthcare, family, child) regarding the child and family to develop a comprehensive assessment and initiate a plan of care. Identify developmental factors and their implications regarding the child’s healthcare experience to plan appropriate interventions. Identify psychosocial factors (such as diversity, culture, spirituality, family dynamics and structure, coping styles, and socioeconomic status) and family-identified needs and goals to provide family-centered care. Intervention: Provide psychosocially and developmentally appropriate support that is responsive to the specific needs of children and families. Empower and collaborate with children and families to develop and use advocacy skills.Provide educational opportunities and resources that are responsive to the needs of children and families to promote learning mastery.

Facilitate preparation (psychological and educational) for challenging situations with children and families to minimize fear and anxiety to promote proficiency in their experience. Facilitate the development of coping strategies for children and families (pain management, positioning for comfort, distraction, alternative focus, guided imagery, and child participation) to minimize distress and promote empowerment. Facilitate play (recreational, healthcare, therapeutic) and familiar life experiences to encourage expression, process information, and promote development and normalization.Evaluate and document assessment goals, interventions, outcomes, and significant events to communicate and modify care plans as necessary.Function as a member of the healthcare team and promote professional relationships (child life team, inter-disciplinary teams, community resources) to enhance communication and collaboration, foster family-centered care, and maximize positive outcomes. Educate staff, students, volunteers, and the community to promote greater awareness of the needs of children and families as well as the child life profession. Recognize and document administrative responsibilities (quality improvement, staffing, resource allocation, policies, and program evaluation) to ensure quality services. Engage in continuing education (educational opportunities, relevant medical information, technology, research, &literature) to promote professional development. Orient, train, and supervise students and volunteers assigned to the unit. Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
BASIC KNOWLEDGE:Association of Child Life Professionals verified Internship hours (minimum 600 hours).Bachelor’s degree in child life, child development, or closely related field required. Master’s degree preferred.Certified Child Life Specialist by the Association of Child Life Professionals (or completion within one year of hire).

EXPERIENCE:

Completion of Child Life Professional internship with one year experience working with children required. Professional child life experience in health care setting strongly preferred.INDEPENDENT ACTION:Performs independently within the department’s policies and practices. Refers specific complex problems to the supervisor when clarification of the departmental policies and procedures are required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

Orients, trains and supervises students and volunteers assigned to the unit.

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EEO Statement:

Brown University Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.

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