UI Health is seeking an experienced Medical Social Associate (Family/Child Support Specialist) to join our Neonatal ICU/Special Care Nursery Team. This role will report to the Patient Care Director and Administrative Nurse III of Neonatal ICU/Special Care Nursery and will take direction from leadership under the department. The Family/Child Support Specialist is responsible for collaborating with the multidisciplinary team to create and implement social interventions and programs at UI Health. Family/Child Support interventions include but are not limited to; procedural preparation, support and distraction, support programs and education for siblings and family members, teaching coping techniques and developing coping plans, utilizing knowledge of child development to create appropriate interventions, and providing family-centered care.
Duties & Responsibilities:

• Interviews families regarding plans for care and provides emotional support.
• Organizes and participates in patient-care case conferences.
• Counsels families on needs and provides such guidance as necessary.
• Collaborates with multidisciplinary team members to provide comprehensive care.
• Assists in maintaining patient records and prepares reports for NICU Leadership Team as required.
• Collects and maintains current information about available community resources beneficial NICU patients and families.
• Explains UI Health (specifically NICU) programs to the community and delivers educational presentations.
• Communicates and assists in resolution of patient complaints leveraging emotional support when needed.
• Primary liaison between families and NICU providers for communication.
• Plans, manages and leads essential patient programs, meetings and events (e.g. PAGES- Parents Are Great).
• Establishes and participates in the planning and implementation of programs that improve the parental experience and engagement with their child.
• Schedules and leads outreach and engagement activities and serve as key team member in the NICU Customer Experience Committee.
• Interacts with families of NICU patients to provide general education and support concerning their infant’s hospitalization and provide behavioral support.
• Develops educational materials for parents to support understanding of their infant’s condition.
• Communicates with the care team on any parental issues that might impact the care of the infant.
• Serves as liaison with the UI Health volunteer department to train and supervise volunteers on the unit and processes/manages their confidential/historical appointment documentation in partnership with Volunteer Services.
• Develops, plans, organize and manages the reflective process supervision for NICU staff.
• Collaborates with academic and clinical staff to produce scholarly work relevant to the NICU experience.
• Provides bereavement and emotional support to NICU families and staff.
• Establishes comfortable relationships with families to ease their adjustments to the hospital while supporting family bonds and utilizing family strengths in the care of the child. Also, encourages the effective use of available programs and resources in the hospital.
• Participates in Continuous Quality Improvement activities on the Neonatal ICU Units.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.