• Job Description

  Req#: 14426

  Overview

  The Child Life Specialist plays an integral role in fostering the emotional, developmental, intellectual and physical wellbeing of children in the inpatient and outpatient setting by creating a welcoming and nurturing environment. The specialist ensures the comfort of the patients and their families by demonstrating the basic principles of family-centered care, and fostering positive hospital community relations.

  Responsibilities

  • Recruits, trains and supervises Child Life Specialist volunteers.
  • Seeks grants and donations to supplement program supplies and special projects.
  • Provides training for medical personnel on child development, and child life related theory and practice.
  • Provides developmentally appropriate therapeutic play activities for children which promotes a sense of mastery and encourages the expression of feelings.
  • Offers programs to allow the children to play, learn and interact with others in an emotionally and physically safe environment.
  • Assists patient/family in making decisions to maximize feelings of control.
  • In conjunction with the medical team, develops plan-of-care based on assessment of child's development, temperament, coping style, medical plan and available social support.
  • Uses knowledge of patient/family coping styles, learning styles and needs based on developmental level, emotional state, cultural and religious practices, physical and cognitive limitations, and language barriers.
  • Accompanies patient during medical procedure, provides support appropriately and help child use effective coping behaviors.
  • Participates in local and national Child Life activities, as well as ACLP and CLGNY.
  • Provides documentation on patients that are seen by Child Life in hospitals EMR.
  • Assess children's response to illness, hospitalization and/or treatment and provides emotional support and stress reduction techniques.
  • Assist family members with their adaptation to the child's illness and healthcare experiences by offering support.
  • Performs other tasks as requested.
  • Performs other tasks as requested.

  Qualifications

  Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Child Life, Child Development or related field, required.
  • Master’s Degree preferred.

  Experience:

  • Minimum one to two (1-2) years of related field experience required.

  Knowledge and Skills:

  • Familiar with community based and institutional programs to ensure patients and families can access services.
  • Be a strong independent worker, as well as a dedicated team player.
  • Ability to fully utilize BHMC’s electronic record systems, equipment and other healthcare and billing systems relevant to this position.

  Licenses, Certifications:

  • Child Life Specialist Certification OR completed requirements with plans to take exam within one year of hire.

  Physical Requirements:

  • Position requires prolonged periods of standing, reaching, walking throughout the working day.
  • Position will be required to stoop, bend, lift, and carry items weighing up to 10 pounds.

  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of The Brookdale Hospital Medical Center.

  BHMC is an equal opportunity employer, it is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, military status, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or handicap or other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

• About the company

  91250 The Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center is a nonprofit 501 medical services provider in the borough of Brooklyn, New York City.

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