Job Description

The Child Life Specialist (CLS) is responsible for providing a program of developmentally appropriate play and activity, preparation and emotional support designed to help pediatrics patient and their families cope with the stress of illness or injury, hospitalization, treatments and procedures. As an integral part of the health care team, the CLS is an advocate for the needs of children and families and a resource for other professionals.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provides developmentally appropriate play and activities to support normal growth and development.
• Designs and implements individual interventions based on assessment of a patient’s development, coping style, diagnosis and treatment, and psychosocial supports.
• Uses medical play and developmentally appropriate language and teaching tools to ensure adequate preparation for medical interventions and encourage understanding and mastery of diagnosis, medical care and experiences.
• Uses therapeutic/diversional techniques to support patients during treatments and procedures.
• Communicates pertinent information concerning patient care at appropriate rounds, case conferences and in the medical record.
• Offers support to parents and family members; uses developmentally appropriate interventions in supporting siblings.
• Encourages continuity of normal life experiences by preparing birthday and holiday celebrations, arranging for educational tutoring when appropriate, and using resources to accommodate cultural needs and bridge differences.
• Provides training and supervision for Child Life and child development students and volunteers.
• Assists in managing supplies, cleaning and maintaining toys and equipment, and recording census and intervention data.
• Maintains collaborative, team relationships with peers and colleagues in order to effectively contribute to the working groups achievement of goals, and to help foster a positive work environment
• Performs other similar and related duties as required or directed.

Qualifications

JOB KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Demonstrates understanding of child growth and development and the impact that medical experiences can have on this process.
• Demonstrates competency in working with infants, toddlers, preschool and school age children, and adolescents in developmentally appropriate ways.

EDUCATION:

• A Bachelors degree in Child Life, Child development, or a closely related field.
• Masters Degree in Child Life/Family Studies preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

• A minimum of a 600-hour Child Life internship.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience, which provides proficiency in the areas of responsibility listed above, may be substituted for the above education and experience requirements.

LICENSES, ETC.:

• Child Life Certification or eligibility to apply for certification preferred.
• Child Life Certification must be achieved within first year of employment.

AGE SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:

• Possesses and applies the skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process. This includes:
• Knowledge of growth and development
• Ability to interpret age specific data and response to care
• Provide age specific communication

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Inpatient and/or outpatient pediatric clinical care areas.
• Continuous exposure to sick patients and bodily substances. Occasional exposure to hazardous chemicals.
• Work requires occasional typing/computer keying, frequent lifting/assisting/positioning patients, and lifting/positioning materials, frequent cleaning of equipment and materials and frequent patient transport.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES STATEMENT:

Must be able to perform all essential functions of this position with reasonable accommodation if disabled.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed, as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Tufts Medical Center reserves the right to modify position duties at any time, to reflect process improvements and business necessity.

COVID-19 POLICY:

Please note that effective October 1, 2021, as a condition of employment at Tufts Medical Center, all employees and new hires must have received their complete dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, unless they have been granted an exemption.