Connecticut Children's
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Child Life Specialist
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Connecticut Children's Job Description This position will be supporting the new pediatric ED at Norwalk Hospital through our Care Alliance Partnership- it may be a 24-40 hour position. ASSESSMENT & PLANNING: Assess the coping responses and needs of assigned patients/families to their healthcare experience; plan and coordinate appropriate developmental, therapeutic and educational opportunities for the patient and family during the hospital stay, taking into consideration the individuality of each child’s family, culture and stage of development; develop and implement activities, resources and programs to meet patient/family needs. THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS: Minimize stress and anxiety for patient by providing developmentally appropriate opportunities that encourage expression of feelings and promote a sense of mastery and understanding of health care experiences. Maintain appropriate supply of therapeutic materials. Prepare children and families for and provide support during tests, surgeries or other medical procedures through education, tours, rehearsal and coping skills development. Promote and support parental role. ESSENTIAL LIFE EXPERIENCES: Provide essential life experiences for children to foster continued growth and development during their hospital stay; organize play activities, materials and other experiences at bedside and/or in activity rooms; coordinate special events in recognition of significant and familiar experiences; participate in development and implementation of activities with individuals/community groups involved in interacting with children and their families. HEALTH CARE TEAM: Effectively communicate observations, assessments and recommendations for care to other members of healthcare team; accurately documents care and services provided following established policies and procedures. Advocate for patient and family needs; and activate appropriate services/referrals. Assists in the maintenance of a safe and therapeutic patient care environment. EDUCATION/COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY: Develop and maintain own knowledge and understanding of the medical conditions and healthcare experiences of specific patient populations. Develop resources and provide education for medical center staff; may develop and provide education and resources for community providers regarding developmental needs of children. BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT: Provide age-appropriate emotional support and education, in collaboration with the health care team, for parents and families surrounding issues of end-of-life care, grief and loss; facilitate memory-making activities relative to family’s cultural and traditional practices. SIBLING SUPPORT: Assess the support needs of siblings, both indirectly, through parent report, and directly, through observation and therapeutic interactions. Provide teaching and support regarding surgery and/or procedures, orientation to the hospital environment, bereavement support and ongoing assessment / support for siblings of chronic and critically ill patients. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Child Development or directly related field in behavioral sciences or human development required. Master’s degree preferred. 600-hour Child Life Internship required. Certified Child Life Specialist, issued through Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP), within one year of hire. Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training certification required within one year of hire and maintained thereafter. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED Basic knowledge and understanding of the medical conditions and healthcare experiences of specific patient populations Clinical operations policies and procedures; documentation and patient record policies and standards In-depth knowledge of child development theory and practice Therapeutic play activities and materials; teaching techniques; identification of learning needs and provision of patient/family education Legal and ethical issues related to patient rights Crisis intervention techniques ABOUT US Connecticut Children’s is the only health system in Connecticut that is 100% dedicated to children. Established on a legacy that spans more than 100 years, Connecticut Children’s offers personalized medical care in more than 30 pediatric specialties across Connecticut and in two other states.
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Child Life Specialist
role at
Connecticut Children's Job Description This position will be supporting the new pediatric ED at Norwalk Hospital through our Care Alliance Partnership- it may be a 24-40 hour position. ASSESSMENT & PLANNING: Assess the coping responses and needs of assigned patients/families to their healthcare experience; plan and coordinate appropriate developmental, therapeutic and educational opportunities for the patient and family during the hospital stay, taking into consideration the individuality of each child’s family, culture and stage of development; develop and implement activities, resources and programs to meet patient/family needs. THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS: Minimize stress and anxiety for patient by providing developmentally appropriate opportunities that encourage expression of feelings and promote a sense of mastery and understanding of health care experiences. Maintain appropriate supply of therapeutic materials. Prepare children and families for and provide support during tests, surgeries or other medical procedures through education, tours, rehearsal and coping skills development. Promote and support parental role. ESSENTIAL LIFE EXPERIENCES: Provide essential life experiences for children to foster continued growth and development during their hospital stay; organize play activities, materials and other experiences at bedside and/or in activity rooms; coordinate special events in recognition of significant and familiar experiences; participate in development and implementation of activities with individuals/community groups involved in interacting with children and their families. HEALTH CARE TEAM: Effectively communicate observations, assessments and recommendations for care to other members of healthcare team; accurately documents care and services provided following established policies and procedures. Advocate for patient and family needs; and activate appropriate services/referrals. Assists in the maintenance of a safe and therapeutic patient care environment. EDUCATION/COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY: Develop and maintain own knowledge and understanding of the medical conditions and healthcare experiences of specific patient populations. Develop resources and provide education for medical center staff; may develop and provide education and resources for community providers regarding developmental needs of children. BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT: Provide age-appropriate emotional support and education, in collaboration with the health care team, for parents and families surrounding issues of end-of-life care, grief and loss; facilitate memory-making activities relative to family’s cultural and traditional practices. SIBLING SUPPORT: Assess the support needs of siblings, both indirectly, through parent report, and directly, through observation and therapeutic interactions. Provide teaching and support regarding surgery and/or procedures, orientation to the hospital environment, bereavement support and ongoing assessment / support for siblings of chronic and critically ill patients. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Child Life, Child Development or directly related field in behavioral sciences or human development required. Master’s degree preferred. 600-hour Child Life Internship required. Certified Child Life Specialist, issued through Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP), within one year of hire. Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training certification required within one year of hire and maintained thereafter. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED Basic knowledge and understanding of the medical conditions and healthcare experiences of specific patient populations Clinical operations policies and procedures; documentation and patient record policies and standards In-depth knowledge of child development theory and practice Therapeutic play activities and materials; teaching techniques; identification of learning needs and provision of patient/family education Legal and ethical issues related to patient rights Crisis intervention techniques ABOUT US Connecticut Children’s is the only health system in Connecticut that is 100% dedicated to children. Established on a legacy that spans more than 100 years, Connecticut Children’s offers personalized medical care in more than 30 pediatric specialties across Connecticut and in two other states.
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