senior child life specialist - Hackensack, NJ , USA, United States - Hackensack Meridian Health

    Hackensack Meridian Health
    Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack, NJ , USA, United States

    2 weeks ago

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    Full time
    Description

    Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It's also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community. Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

    The Sr Child Life Specialist utilizes child life interventions to provide a safe and nurturing environment where children and adolescents can enrich coping skills, address psychosocial needs, and increase understanding of issues related to medical experiences. The Senior Child Life Specialist is primarily responsible for development and implementation of child life programs in their assigned unit.


    A day in the life of a Senior Child Life Specialist at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

    • Assesses psychosocial and developmental needs of pediatric patients and develops care accordingly.
    • Counsels family members regarding issues related to child¿s development and ability to cope with hospitalization, diagnosis and medical treatment.
    • Addresses the emotional needs of children and adolescents facing the challenges of chronic, acute, life threatening illnesses and/or end of life.
    • Provides individual and /or group support to patients and siblings in inpatient or outpatient.
    • Provides child life services to patient and family members in accordance with the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) and defined and interpreted by supervisor.
    • Maintains records of practices and tracks trends for reporting as requested.
    • Works in collaboration and communicates with treatment team to enhance care to patients.
    • Completes timely documentation in EPIC as required.
    • Oversees Child Life volunteers.
    • Task supervises interns within Child Life/Creative Arts therapy Department.
    • Provides supervision to bachelors and masters level Child Life Interns in accordance with department, educational site and ACLP standards.
    • Maintains child friendly and safe playrooms as designated.
    • Participates and/or coordinates programming, i.e. task forces and committees within department or hospital.
    • Assists with Child Life and CH Foundation events.
    • Mentors team child life specialists.
    • Presents and or publishes child life information at in-services, conferences, ACLP publications, etc.
    • Identifies the needs of the patient population served and modifies and delivers care that is specific to those needs (i.e., age. Culture, hearing and/or visually impaired, etc.) This process includes communicating with the patient, parent and/or primary caregiver(s) at their level (developmental/age, educational, literacy, etc.).
    • Adheres to the standards identified in the Medical Center's Organizational Competencies.

    Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

    • Masters degree in child life, creative arts therapy, child psychology, special education, counseling, or the equivalent.
    • Minimum 3 years utilizing Child Life services with children/adolescent in a medical setting.
    • Knowledge of related skills, i.e. palliative care, creative arts, diagnosis specific, complementary medicine, etc.

    Licenses and Certifications Required:

    • Certified Child Life Specialist.

    Working Conditions:

    • Lifts a minimum of 5 lbs., pushes and pulls a minimum of 10 lbs. and stands a minimum of 6 hours a day.

    If you feel the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today