Child Life Specialist for Adaptive Care Team

Job Description

Child Life Specialists with the Adaptive Care Team specialize in adapting healthcare experiences for individuals with developmental disabilities and other behavioral health challenges to help understand, cope, comply, improve the healthcare experience, and promote emotional safety.

This child life specialist is part of an outpatient care team focused on assessing and enrolling eligible patients in the adaptive care program. They use various assessment skills to develop interventions that provide psychosocial support, promote adapting care for patients, and offer coping strategies for healthcare appointments while advocating for the needs of patients and families.

Education and Experience

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field
• Successful completion of Child Life Internship
• Experience or preferred interest in working with children and young adults with developmental disabilities and/or challenging behaviors
• Ability to remain calm in varying situations
• Strong communication skills
• Advocacy for patients and families
• A commitment to teamwork, flexibility, and collaboration
• Obtain CCLS within one year of hire

Work Schedule- 1.0 FTE, 40 hours a week

Monday- Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Weekend Rotation: working one weekend day every eight weeks is required.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Patient Care - Performs comprehensive psychosocial assessments of patients and families reflecting an intuitive understanding of their complex needs to develop short and/or long-term goals. Consistently integrates age specific and culturally diverse concepts into patient care, taking into consideration both the patient's chronological age and developmental functioning. Facilitates patient and family involvement. Supports patients and families in adjusting to injury, diagnosis, chronic illness or disability and anticipates concerns and issues. Identifies and advocates for the needs of patients. Reassesses effectiveness of interventions, develops new approaches, and educates others to new skillset. Reports suspicions of abuse and neglect as mandated for investigation. Implements appropriate intervention strategies and style for individual patients/families to accomplish goals. Reviews and revises goals as appropriate. Post-procedural assessment and/or intervention. Promotes and supports pain management by active involvement, advancing pain management in area/on unit and throughout the institution. Documents services and/or interventions provided. Contributes expertise in patient care conferences and/or rounds. Initiates patient care conferences. Follows up on referrals in a timely manner.

• Professional Responsibility - Formulates and implements process improvement activities. Demonstrates leadership and actively participates in research/evidence-based initiatives, encourages the spirit of critical inquiry and maintains designated knowledge level. Enriches committees and/or work groups in the division, hospital, and/or community by being a positive leader and contributing to their success. Serves as a recognized expert and leader on the health care team resulting in an expanded role within CCHMC. Serves as a leader and guide for staff. Facilitates the education and training of students, coworkers, professionals, and members of the community. Actively shares knowledge/expertise through presentations locally, regionally, or nationally. Guides, nurtures, and contributes to the growth of others by sharing knowledge and skills.

• Departmental Responsibility - Submit requests for supplies according to departmental guidelines. Ensures that work areas are organized, safe and professional in appearance for employees, patients and families. Consistently identifies and provides solutions for potential problems, clears barriers, and assumes ownership of problems. Utilizes creativity and flexibility to solve them at the lowest possible level demonstrating accountability of self and others. Consistently models and coaches co-workers in positive interactions in communication. Consistently manages time and priorities effectively. Effectively manages workload and resources to provide a fair, consistent and acceptable volume of work. Completes special assignments and projects while maintaining regular workflow. Increases personal and departmental productivity by identifying and implementing new work procedures. Proactively contributes to and encourages a positive work environment.

• Data Management - Completes required daily/weekly exchange of information and documentation according to division guidelines to ensure quality patient care and staff productivity. Serves as a mentor encouraging opportunities to explore the potential for clinical changes based upon new evidence for best practice.

• Teamwork - Engages in multidisciplinary team process, actively participating in effective problem solving, collegial learning and pursuit of best practice. Models and coaches others in dealing with conflicts directly, constructively and tactfully. Models and encourages an atmosphere of cooperation, respect and trust within the team. Proactively responds to day-to-day needs of co-workers and division. Act as a role model to facilitate healthy conflict resolution and cohesiveness with and among peers and colleagues. Act as a change agent to promote and advocate for process and practice improvement.

To meet the psychosocial needs of patients and families by providing education, preparation, procedural support, and play for the Division of Child Life and Integrative Care of a Medical Center dedicated to the care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in a related field

• 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline

• Benefits may vary based on FTE Status and Position Type

Primary Location

Schedule

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Department

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Expected Starting Salary Range

Comprehensive job description provided upon request.

Cincinnati Children’s is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and treasures Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We are committed to creating an environment of dignity and respect for all our employees, patients, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. EEO/AA/M/F/Veteran/Disability.