Child Life Specialist

Ref #:930031

Specific Department and Program:Maternal Newborn/Paediatrics

Location:Oakville

Posted Date:Apr 11, 2024

Posting #:

Non-Union

Position : Child Life Specialist

Department : Maternal Newborn/Paediatrics Program

Status : Permanent Full-time

Hours : 7.5-hour shifts, Monday to Friday, Days - 0800-1600 (Hours subject to change based on operational requirements)

Site : Milton

Halton Healthcare’s vision of Exemplary patient experiences, always, goes beyond just the patient experience; it has shaped our entire culture and remains at the core of every interaction in our organization, from our patients & families to our staff, physicians and volunteers. We believe in exemplary PEOPLE experiences always!

At Halton Healthcare you will thrive in a healthcare culture and environment that embraces inclusion, diversity and belonging with ‘exemplary patient care, always’ at the heart of everything we do.

We empower our people to be the very best they can be so they can make a difference for our patients and the communities we serve.

Halton Healthcare takes great pride in providing quality, compassionate healthcare services to our rapidly growing communities. As a progressive and vibrant healthcare organization, we are committed to being an innovative center of excellence in community hospital care.

This is what you’ll be doing:

The Child Life Specialist contributes to excellence in paediatric care by providing psychosocial assessments and support for infants, children, youth and families in hospital. As part of a large inter-professional team, the Child Life Specialist also supports program development and paediatric education across departments and sites.

• Plan and implement a range of developmentally-appropriate interventions to promote effective coping and optimum development.
• Provide education and support to paediatric healthcare teams regarding the implementation and maintenance of child-friendly environments and developmentally-appropriate care.
• Support adaptation to the hospital environment and an understanding of medical experiences by providing therapeutic play and healthcare play opportunities.
• Prepare children, youth, and families cognitively and emotionally for medical and surgical procedures through in-person and virtual programming. Provide procedural support and accompany patients in the Operating Room and diagnostic testing.
• Coordinate and supervise students, volunteers, special visitors and events, including seasonal and holiday planning. Manage and maintain Child Life resources, including toys, educational materials and donations (in collaboration with the Foundation).
• Evaluate and integrate research into practice, and provide knowledge translation resources for staff, physicians, volunteers and families. Develop and maintain policies and procedures for the Child Life Program, and review and adjust as needed.
• Observe, document, and report relevant information relating to patients as it pertains to Child Life services, and work in collaboration with the family and healthcare team to support the patient’s plan of care. Participate and contribute to inter-professional committees that impact paediatric health-related practice.
• Provide in-service and community education as requested.

This is what you’ll need to do it:

Halton Healthcare is seeking individuals who are competent in their chosen profession; patient/customer focused; team players; effective communicators; caring and respectful and are fiscally responsible.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development, Child and Family Studies, Psychology or related field, or Master’s Degree with Child Life courses
• Current Child Life Specialist Certification through the Association of Child Life Professionals, or eligibility and willingness to obtain and successfully complete certification within one year
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of child and adolescent development, family dynamics, play, and psychosocial assessments and interventions is essential
• Proven ability to work collaboratively, and independently, in an inter-professional setting
• Excellent professional communication with patients and families, as well as inter-professional teams
• Possess effective conflict resolution, problem-solving, organizational, and prioritization skills
• Experience working in a multi-site, multi-program setting is an asset
• Minimum of 3 years related clinical experience is an asset
• Satisfactory employment and attendance record is required

Date Posted: April 11, 2024

Internal Applicants due by: April 18, 2024

Please apply if you are passionate about what you do, motivated by a job well done, and as committed to excellence, quality and patient satisfaction as we are. Please submit your application via our website at directly to this posting and include a current copy of your resume.

W e thank all those who apply but only those individuals selected for further consideration will be contacted.

In accordance with Directive #6, Halton Healthcare has implemented a COVID-19 Vaccination and Management Policy. All new hires must be fully compliant with our Policy as a condition of employment with Halton Healthcare. Successful applicants will be required to provide proof of vaccination or proof of a documented medical exemption as part of the hiring process.

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code, Halton Healthcare will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process. If you require an accommodation, we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs to ensure your equal participation.

All personal information is collected under the authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Halton Healthcare is a smoke free facility in and around all three sites. Smoking is not permitted on hospital properties. We thank everyone who works at or visits our hospitals for respecting this healthy initiative. We are also a scent-free environment for all employees and visitors to accommodate individuals’ health concerns arising from exposure to scented products. We ask for everyone's cooperation in our efforts to accommodate health concerns.

All Halton Healthcare staff, professional staff and volunteers are encouraged to be vigilant about identifying and reporting safety incidents in their everyday practice. They also have a role in analysis, recommendations and follow through to implementation.