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UPMC Hamot, part of the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh network, is hiring a Child Life Specialist to support our Pediatrics department!

This role involves helping pediatric patients cope with their medical experiences, supporting children in understanding their illness or injury, and easing discomfort during hospital visits through behavior modification plans, education, therapeutic play, and family support.

T** **he position is full-time, primarily day shift, but flexibility with hours is required to meet the needs of pediatric patients in the community.

**Purpose:** Responsible for providing developmentally appropriate education, preparation and programming which optimizes growth and development of children, supports and maintains normal living patterns and minimizes psychosocial trauma associated with healthcare experiences. Support the strategic plan of the organization and clearly communicates the Mission and Vision to the Child Life Program staff. Provide support and education to Child Life Specialists.

Responsibilities:

+ Involvement with Hospital Committees/Department Committees. Contribute to the on-going evaluation of the Preceptor Program.

+ Lead staff in the development, organization, provision and evaluation of Child Life programs, services and activities designed to support patients and their families undergoing inpatient and outpatient treatment of medical conditions.

+ Play an active role in developing, implementing, and evaluating changes on the units, within the Child Life Program and within the Hospital

+ Lead the development, innovation and evolution of department services to meet the needs of patients and families improve the patient and family experience.

+ Assume a leadership role with hospital-related committees and projects. Develop, implement and coordinate new and existing specialty programs and teaching opportunities under the supervision of the Child Life Manager.

+ Involved in Leadership/Coordinator of specialty programs within the Child Life Department. Assume a leadership role with staff, promotes skills in others and orients new staff members.

+ Recognized as a Child Life resource for clinical practice and operational systems. Respected by hospital personnel for opinions on issues related to child development, the effects of hospitalization and the provision of family centered care in meeting the psychosocial needs of children and their families.

+ Maintaining Contributions to the Child Life Field (e.g. Conducting Research, Community-Based Programming, Adjunct Professor, Presenting Nationally, ACLP Committee Member, Publications)

+ Lead the Child Life Department within the framework of CHP's patient care model; patient and family centered care, to achieve CHP?s mission and strategic goals.

+ Master's degree in either:

+ child Life

+ Child Development,

+ Child and Family Studies,

+ Psychology or a Child Life related major

+ Or 6+ years of equivalent experience.

+ Minimum of 5 years' experience as a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS), with 1 year of experience at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

+ Maintain knowledge/practice of the Association of Child Life Professionals guidelines (ACLP). Maintain the standards of a Level II CCLS Member of the ACLP. **Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:**

+ Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire.

+ Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS). Certified Child Life Specialist by the ACLP.

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran