Child Life Specialist jobs in Scranton, PA

Job Summary

Job Duties

**$5,000 Sign on Bonus for Qualified Applicants

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• Clinical Responsibilities Evaluates child's developmental stage, ability to understand and cope with the health care environment, temperament and emotional state.
• Develops a strategic plan to reduce the fear and anxiety a child experiences with the health care environment.
• Implements specialized services to best meet the individual child's needs including: medical play, preparation for procedures, operations or other medical events, teaching and implementing coping strategies, providing education about disease process and treatment to both the child and their family.
• Identifies patient and family coping strategies in daily routine and applies these strategies to assist patients and their families in coping with the stress of hospitalization, illness, death, and loss.
• Educates patient, family, and staff to other techniques to aid a child in coping and insures technique is age appropriate for the development, and emotional state of the child.
• Assists in the implementation of such techniques, monitors its effectiveness and alters the plan as necessary.
• Responsible for leading the child, staff and family through coping strategies during medical procedures.
• Educates and prepares patients and their families for medical procedures, disease processes and mastery of the healthcare environment using appropriate and therapeutic play activities as treatment tools.
• Interprets and communicates patient's perception of diagnosis and treatment as revealed through play and other means of communication, both verbal and nonverbal, to staff and family.
• Integrates Child Life services by providing consultation to other health care workers regarding developmental and behavioral issues which impact on patient care.
• Creates, implements and orients other health care staff to age appropriate behavior reward methods to promote a patient's adaptation to treatment and encourage patient cooperation.
• Creates and distributes resources about child health and safety in general as needed.
• Assures therapeutic and safe environments for individual and group play.
• Selects, purchases and maintains the safety and cleanliness of toys, games, and other equipment used in the play areas to comply with departmental infection control policies and procedures.
• Documents Child Life interventions in the patient's medical record in accordance with Geisinger policies and procedures.
• Participates in record keeping of vital statistics for the Child Life Department demonstrating which Child Life services have been provided to patients.
• Educates, and acts as resource for, health care professionals regarding the psychosocial issues of pediatric health care, and the impact of illness, injury, and hospitalization on patients and their families.
• Develops and schedules in-services as needed for multidisciplinary team members and community groups.
• Interviews, orients, coordinates, schedules and supervises Child Life volunteers in their daily work with patients in all patient care areas.

Work is typically performed in a clinical environment. Accountable for satisfying all job specific obligations and complying with all organization policies and procedures. The specific statements in this profile are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements considered necessary to successfully perform the job. Additional competencies and skills outlined in any department-specific orientation will be considered essential to the performance of the job related to that position.

Position Details

*** $5,000 Sign on Bonus for Qualified Applicants ***

• Career Ladder Opportunities

Position Details:

To learn more about Janet Weis Children's Hospital Child Life Services -

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• Must have completed a Child Life Internship (minimum 600 hours) under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist - is required
• Minimum of a bachelor's degree in Child Development, Education, or Psychology.
• Required to be eligible for professional certification by the Association of Child Life Professionals.
• We are seeking a highly independent and confident CCLS to implement Child Life Services at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center (GWV). Although independent role at GWV, this CCLS will be a part of the Child Life Team, share resources & the benefits of working on a team.
• Limited travel to Danville or other locations to attend Child Life Team meetings/planning days, staff training/conference.
• Professional Child Life Certification required, 2 years experience in general pediatric inpatient unit, NICU, car seat safety technician training- is preferred.
• The role may include occasional Saturday coverage determined by inpatient unit census.
• Membership to The Association of Child Life Professional and Certification Annual maintenance fees provided by Department.

We're proud to offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance that starts day one of employment -Medical, prescription drug, vision and dental coverage with a generous PTO package and much more that includes:

• Competitive 401k plan that includes automatic Geisinger contributions starting day one of employment
• MyHealth Rewards wellness program to enhance personal health and reduce health plan premiums for qualified individuals
• Tuition assistance (part time and full time roles only) Up to $5000 in tuition reimbursement per year
• Generous PTO packages that allows you to take the time you need to travel, rest, and care for and reconnect with friends and family.
• Professional opportunities for growth and advancement
• Support and mentorship from a full range of dedicated and experienced leaders
• Paid parental leave and Military Leave
• Family Support (Fertility and Adoption Support)
• Community Involvement through our Employee Resources Groups
• Employee referral incentive program

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