Child Life Specialist Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

The UHealth System at the University of Miami has an exciting opportunity for a Child Life Specialist to support our Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

The Child Life Specialist facilitates the design and implementation of pediatric programs, therapies, and activities among young patients. Additionally, the incumbent supports and nurtures children and their families through the emotional and physical aspects of hospitalization. Moreover, the Child Life Specialist works with families to assist in caring for childhood hospitalizations or disabilities, and monitors child development to ensure normal progression. The Child Life Specialist also provides in-depth care for the more urgent cases.

Core Job Functions:

Formulates and revises child life patient care plans to develop appropriate strategies for child life care in conjunction with other health team members.
Helps young patients and their families cope with medical conditions and the worries of being hospitalized.
Provides developmental, educational, and therapeutic interventions for children and families under stress.
Supports children through difficult medical circumstances and strives to provide some sense of normalcy.
Maintains apprised of each child’s condition and treatment regimen to keep their families informed. Develops, implements, and evaluates child life care plans and programs to encourage optimum growth and development of children and adolescents, and facilitate functional family interactions. Maintains an age-appropriate supply of therapeutic play materials and evaluates equipment and supply needs.
Provides interdisciplinary in-service education on child development and the impact of illness, injury, and healthcare on patients and their families.
Supports growth and development while recognizing family strengths and individuality and respecting different methods of coping.
Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.

Department Specific Functions:

Provide a comprehensive depiction of the pediatric surgery process from registration through recovery.
Utilize dolls or toys to explain staff roles.
Identify a comfortable, private space for conversations with families, especially during emotional breakdowns.
Offer snacks and games in pediatric waiting areas.
Provide photos of children walking through a clinic visit or surgery
Provide tour and help facilitate clinic visits and the surgery process (pre-operative evaluation, ambulatory surgery unit, recovery room, return to unit).
Serve as liaison to perioperative and anesthesia team.
Advocate for autistic children, especially if they do not respond to visual cues.
Provides age-appropriate therapeutic assessment and interventions Establish therapeutic relationship with parents to alleviate anxiety and training to understand a child’s disability.
Provide training to staff on how to interact with and accommodate autistic children, those with emotional disorders or multiple sensory disabilities.
Develop medical play for low vision/visually impaired children.
Assist with referrals for mental health services for parents, patients, and siblings.
Provides timely documentation and reporting
This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as necessary.

Core Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in relevant field

Certification and Licensing:

Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS)

Experience:

Minimum 1 year of relevant experience