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Find your path in health care. We want to change the lives of those in our care ??? and the people who choose to take on this challenge. If you???re ready to change lives, we want to hear from you.

The Child Life department at Banner Children's Hospital at Banner Thunderbird exists to prevent psychological trauma for children undergoing medical treatment.?? Our sole focus is to provide family-centered, developmentally appropriate care, within a learning and nurturing environment.???? Each child???s hospital room is a private room and considered to be their ???Home??? while they are with us.

As a??Child Life Specialist??you will be responsible for preparing children for tests, surgeries and other invasive medical procedures to assist in easing fears and anxiety of children and parents. You will have the opportunity to make procedures more manageable for all involved, and reduce the time required by physicians and nurses to complete procedures. Child Life Specialists are also trained to support children and families confronting loss and grief before, during and after stressful events. Your interventions have a positive effect on the patient experience on many levels, in ways that greatly assist with cooperation, coping and efficient treatment. This is a registry position will support the inpatient and outpatient settings.

POSITION SUMMARY
This position addresses the unique developmental needs of children from birth to 18 years of age, and their families, to reduce the stress accompanying hospitalization by providing child-friendly, family-centered care.

CORE FUNCTIONS
1. Provides opportunities for and facilitates a variety of play and activity forms, which promote self-healing, self-expression, understanding and mastery. Uses developmentally appropriate methods in preparing children and families for diagnostic and treatment procedures.

2. Extends support and offers counsel to family members, with respect to their own stress and needs. Supports family bonds and utilizes family strengths in the care of the child. Offers counsel specific to the impact of health care experience.

3. Provides consultation on the impact of environmental factors on the child???s adaptation to hospitalization and treatment. Utilizes stress reduction techniques to facilitate adaptive coping. Provides emotional support during identified stress points.

4. Provides child health care education. Provides or cooperates with programs, which assure continuity in the child???s normal life experience, e.g. school programs, personal and holiday celebrations.

5. Provides inter-disciplinary in-service on child development and the impact of illness, injury, and hospitalization on children and families.

6. Provides consultation to the health care team regarding the developmental status and individual needs of children to promote adaptation to treatment. Documents Child Life services in the patient???s care record, as well as program service statistics.

7. Although based in Pediatrics, incumbent may be assigned to serve in the Emergency Department, the Preioperataive Areas, or the Outpatient Treatment Center, in addition to general Pediatrics and Pediatric Intensive Care. Incumbent may also be called to consult in any area of the hospital where there are children. The position will serve one facility, but will consult with other facilities at any time in keeping with the purpose of the position. The internal customers served by this position are the patients and their families, as well as volunteers. The external customers are individuals and groups in the community who contact the department with requests, or offers of assistance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
This position requires a Bachelor???s degree in Child Life or related field, and a completed 480 hour Child Life internship supervised by a CCLS. Requires Professional Child Life Certification, or eligibility for Certification. Those without current Child Life Certification will be required to obtain Certification within one year of hire.

The incumbent must possess strong skills in the following areas: growth and development, play and activities, the learning process, coping, assessment, interventions to prevent emotional trauma, collaboration with other health professionals, and a basic understanding of children???s illnesses and medical terminology.

Must be proficient with commonly used office software.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Additional related education and/or experience preferred.