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Title
Text copied to clipboard!Child Life Assistant
Description
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We are looking for a compassionate and dedicated Child Life Assistant to join our healthcare team. The Child Life Assistant plays a crucial role in supporting pediatric patients and their families by providing emotional support, therapeutic play, and developmental activities within healthcare environments. This role is essential in helping children cope with hospitalization, medical procedures, and illness-related stress, ensuring their emotional and developmental needs are met.
The ideal candidate will have a genuine passion for working with children, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to create a comforting and engaging environment for young patients. You will collaborate closely with Child Life Specialists, healthcare providers, and families to develop and implement individualized care plans that address the unique needs of each child.
As a Child Life Assistant, you will be responsible for organizing and facilitating therapeutic play sessions, recreational activities, and educational programs designed to reduce anxiety, promote coping skills, and support normal growth and development. You will also assist in preparing children for medical procedures by using age-appropriate explanations and demonstrations, helping to alleviate fears and misconceptions.
In addition, you will maintain a safe, clean, and welcoming play environment, ensuring toys and materials are sanitized and appropriate for various developmental stages. You will document patient interactions and observations, providing valuable insights to the healthcare team to enhance patient care and family support.
Strong communication skills are essential, as you will regularly interact with children, families, and multidisciplinary healthcare teams. You must demonstrate empathy, patience, and sensitivity when addressing the emotional and psychological needs of children and their families during challenging times.
The successful candidate will have experience working with children in healthcare, educational, or childcare settings, and possess knowledge of child development principles and therapeutic play techniques. You should be comfortable working in a fast-paced, emotionally demanding environment, and capable of adapting quickly to changing circumstances and patient needs.
We offer a supportive and collaborative work environment, opportunities for professional growth, and the chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families facing medical challenges. If you are passionate about pediatric care and committed to providing compassionate support, we encourage you to apply for this rewarding position.
Join our dedicated team and help us create positive healthcare experiences for children and their families. Your contributions as a Child Life Assistant will directly impact the emotional well-being and recovery of our young patients, making their hospital stay less stressful and more comfortable. We look forward to welcoming a caring, enthusiastic, and skilled individual to our healthcare family.
Responsibilities
Text copied to clipboard!- Facilitate therapeutic play and recreational activities to support children's emotional and developmental needs.
- Assist Child Life Specialists in preparing children for medical procedures through age-appropriate explanations and demonstrations.
- Maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming play environment, ensuring toys and materials are sanitized and developmentally appropriate.
- Document patient interactions and observations to provide valuable insights for healthcare teams.
- Collaborate with healthcare providers and families to develop individualized care plans for pediatric patients.
- Provide emotional support and comfort to children and families during hospitalization and medical treatments.
- Participate in educational programs and activities designed to reduce anxiety and promote coping skills.
Requirements
Text copied to clipboard!- High school diploma or equivalent; associate's or bachelor's degree in child development or related field preferred.
- Previous experience working with children in healthcare, educational, or childcare settings.
- Knowledge of child development principles and therapeutic play techniques.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with children, families, and healthcare professionals.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, emotionally demanding environment and adapt quickly to changing circumstances.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Certification or training in pediatric CPR and first aid preferred.
Potential interview questions
Text copied to clipboard!- Can you describe your previous experience working with children in healthcare or childcare settings?
- How do you approach preparing a child for a medical procedure to reduce anxiety?
- What strategies do you use to engage children of different ages and developmental stages?
- How do you handle emotionally challenging situations involving children and families?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you collaborated with a healthcare team to support a child's emotional needs?
