Job Information

Fairview Health Services Child Family Life Specialist in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Overview

Job Summary : The Casual Child Family Life Specialist provides services to pediatric patients and their families to support coping and adaptation to the health care environment, utilizing play as a therapeutic modality. Provides clinical psychosocial services throughout the hospital system based on the competencies of a certified child life specialist (CCLS). The Child Family Life Specialist will function as an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team, applying a knowledge of child development and family systems to their practice. Minimum of a BA/BS in child life, therapeutic recreation, family or child development, counseling, child psychology, education, social work, nursing or related fields. Completion of a child life internship with a minimum of 600 hours. CCLS certification through the ACLP required, or ability to sit for the exam within 6 months of hire.

Responsibilities Job Description

Core Competencies :

  • Ability to assess patient and family psychosocial needs and implement therapeutic coping plans.

  • Describe and apply formal and informal techniques to assess developmental and emotional state

  • Identify factors that impact a child and family’s vulnerability to stress and trauma and how children and families interpret and make meaning of health, illness, and loss

  • Describe and apply the cyclical process of assessment, plan, intervention, and evaluation of child life services

  • Ability to integrate clinical evidence and fundamental child life knowledge into professional decision making.

  • Identify therapeutic approaches that facilitate open-ended, developmentally-supportive play andexpressive arts

  • Utilize play as an assessment tool that encourages patients to express their anxieties, misconceptions, and perceptions of hospital experiences.

  • Ability to provide developmentally appropriate preparation, teaching, and education regarding patients’ diagnosis, plan of care, and independent coping skills.

  • Identify basic terminology,processes, and expected plan of care for the population served.

  • Articulate learning styles and needs of individuals with various developmental levels, emotional states,and of diverse backgrounds and experiences.

  • Describe common fears, misconceptions and concerns of individuals in each developmentalstage.

  • Determine realistic goals and objectives for learning in collaboration with family members andother healthcare professionals andidentify an action plan to achieve these goals.

  • Use accurate and developmentally appropriate teaching aids and techniques to increase knowledge andsupport emotional needs.

  • Ability to facilitate positive coping experiences and provide developmentally appropriate procedural support during stressful, painful, and traumatic healthcare experiences.

  • Identify types of stressful events affecting children and families, including medical procedures, pain,traumatic life events, loss, end of life, and grief work.

  • Describe immediate and long-term coping styles and techniques, as well as their effect onadjustment and behavior.

  • Articulate and apply effective non-pharmacological pain management techniques.

  • Describe sensory, cognitive, and behavioral coping strategies specific to developmental stages andpopulations.

  • Implement a team plan for coping support during medical procedures, including parental presence withguidance, comfort positions, role responsibilities, and distraction techniques to help children refocustheir attention.

  • Facilitate planning, rehearsal, implementation, and evaluation of coping strategies.

  • Ability to provide opportunities for play for infants, children, youth, and families

  • Articulate and implement theories of human growth and development, play, and family systems

  • Demonstrate the ability to assess individual play needs and incorporate play into daily practice.

  • Facilitate opportunities for play to decrease distress, provide enjoyment and comfort, enhance mastery,and promote healing.

  • Plan and implement appropriate play activities and materials for children and families of diversecultures, varying developmental needs, and physical abilities.

  • Establish safe and engaging play spaces that promote cross cultural connections, facility group play, and encourage children to choose and explore at their own pace.

  • Ability to provide psychosocial support to patients, siblings, and family systems.

  • Identify types of stressful events affecting children and families, including medical procedures, pain,traumatic life events, loss, end of life, and grief work.

  • Understand the role of communication, particularly active listening and empathic responding, inbuilding relationships with families undergoing stress.

  • Understand the role of self-reflection in aiding patients and families in the process of mourning.

  • Establish and maintain a therapeutic, healing and family-centered environment.

  • Promoting family connections and togetherness during times of separation due to hospitalization or illness.

  • Ability to practice within the scope of professional and personal knowledge and skill base including the supervision of students.

  • Take action to ensure personal responsibilities and professional competencies are maintained and do notfall below a level considered acceptable in the field of practice.

  • Communicate concisely with other healthcare professionals, integrating theory and evidence-based practice toobtain and share pertinentinformation.

  • Consult with other health professionals to initiate collaboration, offer direction, share insight, and coordinate interventions.

  • Maintain appropriate professional boundaries to preserve the therapeutic relationship as defined by the organization and the ACLP.

  • Incorporate evidence-based practice and research into child life practice through continuing education.

  • Other Professional responsibilities, as assigned.

  • Work as an integral part of the Patient and Family Support Services team in supporting other disciplines in providing patient and family centered care.

  • Utilize and supervise volunteers for child life programming or patient care needs.

Organization Expectations , as applicable:

  • Demonstrates ability to provide care or service adjusting approaches to reflect developmental level and cultural differences of population served.

  • Partners with patient care giver in care/decision making.

  • Communicates in a respective manner.

  • Ensures a safe, secure environment.

  • Individualizes plan of care to meet patient needs.

  • Modifies clinical interventions based on population served.

  • Provides patient education based on as assessment of learning needs of patient/care giver.

  • Fulfills all organizational requirements.

  • Completes all required learning relevant to the role.

  • Complies with and maintains knowledge of all relevant laws, regulation, policies, procedures and standards.

  • Fosters a culture of improvement, efficiency and innovative thinking.

  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

M inimum Qualifications to Fulfill Job Responsibilities :

Credentials : Designate licensure, registration and/or certification requirements. Required credentials should be listed first. If the position has more than one acceptable credential clearly explain this in the comments section.

Required

Education

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Child Life, Family or Child Development, Counseling, Child Psychology, Education, Social Work, Nursing, or related field.

Experience

  • Completion of child life internship as recognized by the ACLP

License/Certification/Registration

  • Ability to sit for and pass CCLS certification exam within 6 months of hire

Preferred

Education

  • Bachelors or masters in child life or closely related field

Experience

  • Three to fiveyears experience as a CCLS

License/Certification/Registration

  • Current CCLS certification

Additional Requirements (must be obtained or completed within a period of time) :

Level to which this Job r eports : ​MGR​

Does this job have direct r epor ts: ​No

Does this job have indirect r eports : ​No

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS ANALYSIS

For assistance with Lifting/Carrying and Pushing/Pulling Measurements

EMAIL employeeSafety@fairview.org

EEO Statement

EEO/AA Employer/Vet/Disabled: All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to any lawfully protected status