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Title
Text copied to clipboard!Child Life Specialist
Description
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We are looking for a compassionate and dedicated Child Life Specialist to join our healthcare team. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in child development and psychology, and will be skilled in providing emotional support and guidance to children and their families during medical procedures and hospital stays. As a Child Life Specialist, you will work closely with medical staff to create a supportive and comforting environment for young patients, helping them to understand and cope with their medical experiences. You will use therapeutic play, education, and self-expression activities to reduce fear and anxiety, and to promote positive coping strategies. Your role will also involve educating and supporting family members, helping them to understand their child's needs and how to best support them. You will be an advocate for the child's emotional and developmental needs, ensuring that their voice is heard and their well-being is prioritized. This position requires excellent communication skills, empathy, and the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team. If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and their families, we encourage you to apply.
Responsibilities
Text copied to clipboard!- Provide emotional support to children and their families during medical procedures.
- Develop and implement therapeutic play activities to help children cope with hospitalization.
- Educate children and families about medical procedures and treatments.
- Collaborate with medical staff to create a child-friendly environment.
- Advocate for the emotional and developmental needs of pediatric patients.
- Conduct assessments to identify the psychosocial needs of patients.
- Provide support and education to family members.
- Develop individualized care plans for patients.
- Facilitate support groups for children and families.
- Document patient interactions and progress in medical records.
- Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings.
- Provide crisis intervention and support during traumatic events.
- Offer bereavement support to families experiencing loss.
- Coordinate special events and activities for pediatric patients.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of child development and pediatric healthcare.
- Train and supervise volunteers and interns.
- Develop educational materials and resources for patients and families.
- Participate in community outreach and education programs.
- Ensure compliance with hospital policies and procedures.
- Promote a positive and supportive hospital experience for children.
Requirements
Text copied to clipboard!- Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Child Development, Psychology, or related field.
- Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential.
- Minimum of 2 years of experience working with children in a healthcare setting.
- Strong understanding of child development and psychology.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
- Empathy and compassion for children and families.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Ability to develop and implement therapeutic play activities.
- Knowledge of medical terminology and procedures.
- Experience providing crisis intervention and support.
- Ability to advocate for the needs of pediatric patients.
- Proficiency in documenting patient interactions and progress.
- Ability to educate and support family members.
- Experience facilitating support groups.
- Knowledge of bereavement support practices.
- Ability to coordinate special events and activities.
- Commitment to ongoing professional development.
- Ability to train and supervise volunteers and interns.
- Strong problem-solving skills.
Potential interview questions
Text copied to clipboard!- Can you describe your experience working with children in a healthcare setting?
- How do you approach providing emotional support to children during medical procedures?
- Can you give an example of a therapeutic play activity you have implemented?
- How do you collaborate with medical staff to create a child-friendly environment?
- What strategies do you use to educate children and families about medical procedures?
- How do you advocate for the emotional and developmental needs of pediatric patients?
- Can you describe a time when you provided crisis intervention and support?
- How do you support family members in understanding and coping with their child's medical experience?
- What is your approach to developing individualized care plans for patients?
- How do you stay up-to-date with the latest knowledge in child development and pediatric healthcare?