University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital is located on the West bank of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. We provide a broad range of pediatric programs from surgery, imaging and neonatal and pediatric intensive care to cardiac and oncology (cancer care) services and blood and marrow and organ transplantation.Our clinical staff apply innovative approaches to creating medical breakthroughs based their work with patients and on findings through research at the University of Minnesota. This has led to several firsts, including the first successful pediatric blood marrow transplant, infant heart transplant in Minnesota and cochlear ear implant surgery for a child.Through teamwork and collaboration, we respectfully address the physical, emotional, cultural and spiritual needs of pediatric patients and their families.

The Child Life Specialist provides services to pediatric patients and their families to support increased understanding and positive coping within the health care environment. The child life specialist work in pediatric inpatient, outpatient and ancillary service areas. This position is casual status. This position is to support coverage for staffing needs across the inpatient, outpatient and ancillary service areas.

Implements a therapeutic plan of care for direct patient services.

• Identify needs through assessment skills.
• Demonstrate and document complete assessment, recommended interventions, implementation and ongoing evaluation.
• Use developmental intervention strategies with children to facilitate their social, emotional, intellectual and physical growth.
• Provide education, instruction, distraction, and relaxation techniques to meet needs of children and caregivers.
• Support healthy family relationships.
• Plan, direct and implement activities for children and their families to minimize stress, maintain normalcy, and promote growth and development and peer interaction.

Develops and provides appropriate education and programming.

• Develop and provide developmentally appropriate educational materials to pediatric patients in clinic and in hospital.
• Advocate for child-friendly and family-centered care principles to a variety of audiences.
• Orient, supervise and evaluate interns and practicum students.

Acts as consultant for other health professionals and departments.

• Consult with other health professionals to initiate collaboration, offer direction, share insight and coordinate intervention activities.
• Develop educational programs for other departments focusing on needs and services for children and families.
• Consult with other department and services to ensure quality environments, services and care for patients and families.

Develops and provides educational and preparation services for children.

• Assesses the preparation needs of children and families and provides education and other interventions.
• Utilize and supervise volunteers for Child Family Life programs.

Develop and implement policies that encourage and support health and safety.

• Participate in professional growth and self-development activities to ensure accountability for own professional practice.
• Seek new knowledge, master the knowledge and translate the knowledge into service for children and families.
• 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/caregiver.

Required:

• Minimum of a BA/BS in child life, child development, child psychology, therapeutic recreation or related fields.
• Completion of a child life internship as outlined for certification with the ACLP.
• Must be eligible for certification as a CCLS (academic and internship requirements completed). If not certified at time of hire, certification must be obtained within first year of hire.
• Knowledgeable about play as a therapeutic intervention, teaching techniques with children and working with an interdisciplinary team.

Preferred:

• Master's preferred.
• 1 year previous clinical work experience preferred.
• Due to differences in scope of care, practice, or service across settings, the specific experience required for this position may vary.