Summary:

Under the general supervision of the Director of Child Life/Child Development, interacts with patients and families, and provides children with a variety of appropriate and purposeful developmental experiences that will elevate their quality of life during their healthcare visit and enhance their personal development. Oversees inpatient playroom operations through program development, play facilitation, and management of materials.

Responsibilities:

• Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
• Develops and implements programming that promotes optimal development for children in the healthcare setting and supports family members.
• Implements planned and purposeful play activities /interventions which are supportive and dependent on the child?s age, developmental level, and needs during the health care visit by developing adaptive play materials and teaching tools to be used by patients and by coordinating events or unique opportunities for a designated population.
• Documents interactions with patients and families per department policy.
• Plans for, orders, and collects needed materials and equipment to support the therapeutic and educational activities within budgeted guidelines and in consultation with the Child Life Director. Finds innovative tools/resources to save money without adversely affecting programming.
• Serves as a resource to patients, families, and other healthcare team members regarding services available through child life and the community such as participating in team meetings, serving on a hospital committee, serving as an advocate for children, and developing educational tools for patients and families.
• Evaluates Child Life Programming in collaboration with the Director by participating in 1:1 and monthly staff meetings and quarterly rounding.
• Supervises and orients Child Life volunteers. Occasional coordination with student programming.
• Demonstrates competence to perform assigned patient care responsibilities in a manner that meets the population-specific and developmental needs of patients served by the department. Continuously strives to improve own knowledge and skills by attending conferences or workshops, obtaining additional certifications, and participating in research.
• Appropriately adapts assigned patient care assessment, treatment, and/or care methods to accommodate the unique physical, psychosocial, cultural, age-specific and other developmental needs of each patient served.
• When requested, serves as a liaison for community partners and donors.
• Promotes a family-centered environment.
• Ensures delivery of safe patient care.
• Demonstrates adherence to the CORE values of CHRISTUS Health.
• Successfully completes annual competencies established for the Job, in including age-specific and other special needs of patients and families served by the department.
• Attends in-services and seeks opportunities for professional development.
• Attends and presents (as needed) at staff meetings.
• Completes all HealthStream, Genesis, and Child Life Competencies.
• Maintains reports/productivity data. Contributes to the annual report.
• Participates in various department responsibilities.
• Meets monthly with an assigned mentor for the first year of employment.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Must have knowledge of growth and development, patient/family reactions to hospitalization, and coping strategies.
• Must possess interpersonal skills and communicate effectively.
• Must have a working knowledge of educational development.
• Must understand hospital policies and medical terminology/procedures.
• Must also be able to problem solve, be creative, take initiative, and work independently.
• Bilingual ? English/Spanish is preferred.

Job Requirements:

Education/Skills

• Bachelor?s degree is required

Experience

• Previous experience working with children is required
• Previous experience with therapeutic use of play materials/activities is required
• 1 ? 3 years of work experience with children is preferred

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications

• BLS certification is required

In accordance with the CHRISTUS Health License, Certification and Registration Verification Policy, all Associates are required to obtain the required certifications for their respective positions within the designated time frame.

Work Schedule:

5 Days - 8 Hours

Work Type:

Full Time

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About CHRISTUS Health

CHRISTUS Health is an international faith-based, not-for-profit health care system based in Irving, Texas, with more than 60 hospitals in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. CHRISTUS Health is made up of 50,000 Associates providing compassionate and individualized care at more than 600 centers, including community hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities and health ministries. Sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of Houston, Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of San Antonio and the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, our mission is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to every individual we serve.

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