Child Life Specialist (FT), Child Life Program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire

Job Description:

The Child Life Program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock has an opening for a Child Life Specialist to serve the children of our adult patients with the main points of services being post trauma, bereavement, and to support conversation around diagnosis and treatment.  This person will work closely with the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, palliative care, the Jack Byrne Center and the ICU teams.

Our program is a regional service providing programming throughout central and southern New Hampshire.  Our goal is to help children and families acclimate to the healthcare environment and to understand and manage challgening and stressful situations.  Patients and their families are our number one priority.

The post holder provides and supports the psychosocial development of children who are hospitalized or children of a patient who is hospitalized. Provides developmental activities or creates treatment plans compatible with medical and psychosocial needs, interests, and capabilities to assist in the adjustment to a hospital environment or setting.

To be considered for this position, you must have completed a 600-hour child life clinical internship under the supervision of a Certified Life Specialist.  Completion of the internship is required before you can sit the exam to become certified.  Certification must have been received, or is pending. 

 

Responsibilities: A listing of the key responsibilities:

1. 
   Assesses and interacts with patients and families using theories of human growth and development, family systems, and cultural background.
   


2. 
   Provides a therapeutic and safe environment for individuals and groups aged 18 and under.
   


3. 
   Assists patients in coping with the stress of hospitalization, illness, new diagnosis, death and/or loss.
   


4. 
   Participates in patient and family teaching.
   


5. 
   Integrates the Child Life Program into the health care team.
   


6. 
   Represents, communicates, and documents child life and psychosocial issues of pediatric health care to others.
   


7. 
   Oversees child life interns and volunteers.
   


8. 
   Develops, implements, documents, and evaluates child life services.
   


9. 
   Meets with the others on the Child Life Program team to review daily activities and patient care needs.
   


10. 
    Perform other duties as required or assigned
    

Minimum Qualifications:

• 
  Bachelor of Science/Arts in the field of Child Life, Human Resources, Child Development or Psychology, with a focus on the hospitalized child.
  


• 
  Excellent interpersonal communication skills essential.
  

 
Required Licensure/Certification Skills:

• 
  Child Life certification or pending preferred. 
  

Apply Now