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POSITION SUMMARY:

The Child Life Specialist is responsible for child life services and programs to children ages birth through 21 years in the Maryville Academy Children’s Healthcare Center. Through the development, implementation and documentation of services and programs, this position promotes effective coping through play, preparation, education, and self-expression for children and their families to cope with the stress of an illness or disability, a prolonged healthcare stay, ongoing treatments and procedures or psychosocial challenges. Provides information, emotional support and guidance for family members.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provides developmentally appropriate play and activities to support normal growth and development and to assess and meet the child’s psychosocial needs during their respite or transitional care stay.

• Creates an activity plan for each child using basic principles of family-centered care. Implements individual interventions and activities based on an assessment of a child’s development, coping style, diagnosis, and psychosocial supports.

• Ensure adequate understanding of medical care and experiences using play and developmentally appropriate language and teaching tools.

• Uses developmentally appropriate play experiences to assess and meet the child’s psychosocial needs during their respite or transitional care stay.

• Offers opportunities to play, learn and interact with others in an emotionally and physically safe environment to reduce stress, increase adaptive coping, and enhance developmental integrity.

• Identifies resources as necessary for developmental intervention, play, coping, education and family support.

• Creates a positive environment for children, families and the community.

• Supports continued growth and development for the child through group and individual programming.

• Promotes adjustment of children and families to treatment, illness, and disability.

• Considers the needs of siblings or other children who may also be affected by a child’s health situation.

• Communicates with members of the health care team, through formal and informal means of transmitting information, in order to provide optimal care of patients and families. Communicates through both conveying and responding to pertinent information.

• Participates in the orientation, training, and mentoring of students and volunteers in appropriate developmental play.

• Maintains and orders equipment and supplies for service and program.

• Participates in the development and implementation of goals, data collection, and quality improvement projects related to the CLS program.

• Evaluates CLS services and makes recommendations to improve child and program outcomes.

• Advocates for and addresses the psychosocial/spiritual/developmental/cultural needs of the child and family throughout the continuum of care.

• Handles difficult situations pro-actively and collaboratively at the point of service.

• Develops new programs or projects to meet the needs of service area.

• Assumes responsibility for professional development through participation in seminars or other course work.

• Administrative and project management duties, as assigned.

• Maintains appropriate records and statistics.

• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field

• Requires knowledge of child and adolescent development normally acquired through the completion of a baccalaureate degree in child development, child and family development or related field of study.

• Minimum of 1 year of experience in child life setting or equivalent position.

Skills /Knowledge:

• Ability to think pro-actively, act creatively and take initiative appropriately.

• Ability to communicate effectively, work as a member of a team and adapt to the changing health care environment.

• Understands coping styles, child/family learning styles and needs based on developmental level, emotional state, cultural and religious practices.

• Bilingual English/Spanish language competency required

• Must conduct oneself in an ethical and professional manner.

Physical Demands:

• Required to frequently sit, stand, bend, stoop and walk, sometimes for extended periods;

• Required to occasionally lift/move objects and/or youth weighing in excess of 40 pounds;

• Must have visual, hearing, and learning capabilities sufficient to perform the essential functions defined above.

Environment and Scheduling:

• Work is performed in designated administrative office and clinical settings;

• Duties may involve contact with youth who may be hostile, threatening, aggressive, and/or under the influence of drugs or alcohol;

• Must be flexible and available to work additional hours when necessary.

HIPAA PRIVACY TRAINING AND SANCTIONS:

All employees who have access to health information whose confidentiality is protected by the HIPAA Privacy Rule are required by the Rule to receive training so that they have an understanding and knowledge of the Privacy Rule that corresponds to their job responsibilities and of the group health plan’s policies and procedures that impact on their job duties. Site specific training on requirements of the HIPAA Privacy Rule and the plan’s health information policies and procedures under the direction of the plan privacy officer may be required for this position based upon site specific requirements. Employees who violate the requirements of the HIPAA Privacy Rule will be subject to discipline, up to and including termination.

EMPLOYER RIGHTS:

This description is intended to describe the essential job functions, the general supplemental functions, and the essential requirements for the performance of this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and requirements of a person so classified. Management retains the right to add to or change the duties at any time.