Child Life Specialist (Casual/Part-Time)

Casual Child Life Specialist position for 1-2 evening shifts per week (Tuesdays and/or Thursdays, 5-8pm). Child Life Specialist to facilitate normative group evening programming for patients and their families. Additional opportunities for casual hours on weekdays or evenings depending on the open shifts. Possible days and hours could be Monday- Friday 6:30am- 8:00pm. These shifts are in our St. Paul hospital and clinic locations.

Child Life has two main goals for each child entering the healthcare setting:

1. to reduce the stress and anxiety related to medical events; and


2. to promote normal growth and development

These goals are expected to help the child cope with their medical experience and return home.

Compensation & Benefits 

The hourly wage for this opportunity is $26.68/hour to $40.05/hour, with a median wage of $33.36/hour. This position is also eligible for shift differential pay of $1.75/hour for weekends, $2.35/hour for evenings. Pay is dependent on several factors including relevant work experience, education, certification & licensure, and internal equity. Hourly pay is just one part of the compensation package for employees. Gillette supports career progression and offers a competitive benefits package that includes a retirement savings match, tuition and certification reimbursement, paid time off, and health and wellness benefits for .5 FTE and above. 

Primary Job Responsibilities

• Conducts assessments of normal growth and development and emotional reactions of children to the healthcare setting.


• Provides appropriate interventions to facilitate adjustment to the healthcare setting.

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  • Provides developmentally appropriate play, medical play, active listening, advocacy for a non-threatening environment.
  
  
  • Prepares for procedures, provides support during procedures, and emotional support to patient and families.
  
  
  • Documents in patient’s medical chart within 24 hours of intervention.
  
  
  
  


• Serves as a resource to staff by providing information on topics such as normalization, growth & development, reactions to healthcare, coping and therapeutic play.
  
  
  
  • Participates in interdisciplinary meetings to communicate information, identifies needs and coordinates service delivery.
  
  
  • Respects and uses expertise of other team members and accepts fair share of work load.
  
  
  
  


• Supports the family and patient by providing focused patient/family care.
  
  
  
  • Supports the family as having the central role in the child’s life.
  
  
  • Interacts with families in ways that show sensitivity and respect for diverse family styles, cultural values and belief systems.
  
  
  • Supports sibling’s adjustment and coping in the healthcare environment by providing preparation, education, and diversional activities.
  
  
  • Available as a resource to families re: topics such as normalization, growth and development, reactions to healthcare, coping and therapeutic play.
  
  
  • Applies knowledge of growth and development in provision of play resources and in conveying information to staff.
  
  
  
  


• May also be asked to complete administrative tasks, such as triaging referrals or consults, serving as a team member’s proxy in the EHR, onboarding new employees, responding to departmental phone calls or faxes, or working on efforts toward process or practice improvement. Additionally, if the discipline has a practicum student, intern, or fellow, the employee may be asked to help oversee, supervise, or otherwise contribute toward that individual’s work.

Qualifications

Required

• BS in Child Life, Child Development, Child Psychology or related field


• Internship (professional) in Child Life Program


• CL certification or certification eligible within one year of hire


• Current CPR certification (BLS through American Heart Association) required, or must obtain certification within 90 days of hire.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of child development & children’s coping mechanisms


• Knowledge of family systems


• Knowledge of the effects of hospitalization and healthcare at different developmental stages


• Knowledge of basic medical terminology


• Knowledge of preparation issues at different developmental levels and techniques to use to prepare and accompany children for procedures and healthcare experiences.


• Experience with children and adolescents at all developmental levels and various abilities


• Ability to build rapport with children and families


• Ability to manage resources

At Gillette Children’s, we foster a culture where every team member feels a sense of belonging and purpose. We are dedicated to building an environment where all feel welcomed, respected, and supported. Our values are embedded at the heart of our culture. We act first from love, embrace the bigger picture, and work side-by-side with our patients, families, and colleagues to help every child create their own story. Together, we work to ensure patients of all backgrounds and abilities reach their full potential.

Gillette Children's is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of an individual's race, color, creed, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status, familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation or gender identity, military status or any other class protected by federal, state or local laws.

Gillette Children’s is a global beacon of care for patients with brain, bone and movement conditions that start in childhood. Our research, treatment and supportive technologies enable every child to lead a full life defined by their dreams, not their diagnoses.

To learn more about working at Gillette Children's, please visit https://www.gillettechildrens.org/careers.

Gillette Children's participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) E-Verify program which is an internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Gillette will give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS or the Social Security Administration (SSA) to resolve the issue before Gillette takes any further action. Please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/ for further details regarding e-verify.