Child Life Specialist - Hospice

The Child Life Specialist provides emotional support and develops coping strategies to terminally ill pediatric patients and their families within a medically approved plan of care. Assists patients and families in understanding hospice medical needs.

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Accountability:

Reports to: Director of Nursing - Pediatrics

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Essential Job Functions:

1. Fosters and maintains an effective working relationship between co-workers, patients, and other professional members of the community
2. Follows an individualized Plan of Care established by the interdisciplinary team for each patient 
3. Assesses emotional factors related to terminal illness and loss
4. Immediately reports any changes to the RN Case Manager and interdisciplinary team
5. Involves the patient and family in the care planning process
6. Addresses patient/family questions and issues within scope of practice
7. Reports unusual conditions, observations, and pertinent information to the RN Case Manager
8. Understands/provides basic principles of palliative care/pain management within the Scope of Practice
9. Complies with all documentation policies/procedures
10. Completes appropriate documentation in a legible and timely manner
11. Participates in Performance Improvement activities as requested
12. Works hand in hand with the Bereavement Coordinator/Chaplain/Spiritual Counselor and assists with the bereavement program as needed
13. Focuses on the mental, emotional, and social needs of the pediatric hospice patient through use of therapeutic relationship building
14. Normalizes the pediatric hospice patient’s feelings, typically in their natural setting, and normalizes the abnormal in this case the death of a child
15. Creates legacy projects
16. Encourages therapeutic play, play-based communication, and artistic therapies for coping to meet the developmental needs of the individual patient/sibling/son or daughter 
17. Provides individualized support and guidance for siblings, or younger children of the adult hospice patient
18. Offers education and/or facilitates end-of-life discussions with a child
19. Helps children and their families process and cope with medical situations by using a variety of tactics to help them better understand processes and procedures
20. Advocates for the special needs of the patient and their families
21. Works to assist in fulfilling a patient's final wishes through wish foundations and community support
22. Assesses needs and provide CCLS support to the interdisciplinary team
23. Provides staff education on an as needed basis
24. Administrative duties, include but not limited to, writing emails, collaboration, and communication with team, organizing toys and donation items, attend regular IDT team meetings
25. Assists supervisor with program development
26. Other duties as assigned

Specific to Job Position:

1. Adheres to patient rights, abuse reporting and confidentiality policies
2. Attends scheduled staff meetings and or in-service trainings
3. Adheres to the departmental dress code requirements related to personal grooming and attire
4. Demonstrates reliability by making every attempt to report to work on time, providing proper notification for absence or tardiness and participating in required meetings
5. Demonstrates ability to problem-solve and make decisions by assessing situations and considering alternatives, seeking guidance and direction as necessary, utilizing proper chain of command
6. Demonstrates effective time management skills by coordinating activities to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency
7. Willing to adjust or revise work schedules as requested
8. Assumes responsibility for on-going personal development and continuing education
9. Stays current with all mandatory agency and regulatory requirements
10. Pursues professional networking opportunities to stay current in the fields of social work and hospice
11. Completes assigned projects within specified time frames
12. Assists with supervision and guidance of agency social work assistants and student interns as directed

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Physical/Safety Requirements:

1. Must have the strength and endurance required for standing, walking, lifting, bending, and pushing on a consistent basis, at least 20 lbs.
2. Must use appropriate body mechanics for social worker duties as identified in the scope of practice
3. This position is Category 2 for potential exposure to blood/body fluids. (Does not usually require the performance of procedures or other tasks in the work routine that involve exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues, but Category 2 tasks may require the unexpected performance of these procedures)
4. Must use appropriate PPE as needed
5. Follows the designated plan of action in the event of a fire or other emergency
6. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles, work-related stresses, and driving hazards
7. The individual may be required to drive to meetings with clients, health care professionals or patients’ homes
8. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. 

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the employer will provide reasonable accommodations to meet the work environmental and physical demands listed above.

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Qualifications and Experience: 

1. Must be a graduate from an accredited post-secondary institution in Child Life studies
2. Bachelor's degree required; master’s degree preferred
3. Must maintain certification as a Child Life Specialist (CCLS) 
4. Prefer 1 year experience as a child life specialist within a hospice setting
5. Successful completion of a background check pursuant to NRS 449.188 and NRS 179A.100 along with a pre-employment drug screen and physical, TB testing, previous employment and reference checking, and an MVR (may include verification of education)
6. Must be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language
7. Must be able to handle frequent interruptions
8. Must be able to cope with emotionally charged situations encompassing patients, families, and other caregivers
9. Must have reliable transportation required and maintains current auto insurance 
10. Must have CPR/BLS Certification 

BENEFITS

Paid Time Off

NV Paid Leave

Uniforms

Paid Holidays

Floating Holiday

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

Ancillary Insurance Benefits

Matching 401k

Referral Bonuses

Company Discount Program