Child Life Specialist - Full Time - Sioux Falls
Sanford Health
Summary
Develop, coordinate and implement the delivery of developmentally appropriate play activities, expressive arts, and special events for pediatric patients and their families within the health care setting, both at the bedside and in playroom settings.
Job description
Summary
Develop, coordinate and implement the delivery of developmentally appropriate play activities, expressive arts, and special events for pediatric patients and their families within the health care setting, both at the bedside and in playroom settings.
Job Description
Serves as the child's advocate when collaborating with the healthcare team to determine suitable therapeutic interventions. Utilizes expert knowledge of child development, family systems theories, and the developmental effects of stress and trauma on children to establish appropriate interventions to alleviate distress. Promotes family-centered care and facilitates the strengthening of positive coping and resiliency skills within the healthcare setting. Provides ongoing assessment of interventions used. Provides oversight and direction for utilization of volunteers in Child Life department. Possesses expert knowledge of medical diagnosis and procedures. Understands special needs of children with chronic or disabling conditions, with expertise in the use of play activities in a health care environment and in-depth knowledge of research regarding children in health care settings.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Child Development, Human Development, or related field required.
- Completion of Child Life internship required.
- Minimum two years experience working with various age groups of children is preferred.
- Experience working with pediatric population in a therapeutic setting desired.
- Certification as a Child Life Specialist (CCLS) is required or must be obtained within one year of hire.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required within six months of hire.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Child Life, Child Development, Human Development, or related field required.
- Completion of Child Life internship required.
- Minimum two years experience working with various age groups of children is preferred.
- Experience working with pediatric population in a therapeutic setting desired.
- Certification as a Child Life Specialist (CCLS) is required or must be obtained within one year of hire.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required within six months of hire.
Benefits
- Sign-on bonus
Company overview
Sanford Health is one of the largest integrated healthcare delivery systems in the United States, operating as a nonprofit organization headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Founded in 1894, the organization has grown into a comprehensive health system with 44 medical centers, 482 clinics, and more than 200 senior living facilities across 26 states and nine countries. Sanford Health provides a full spectrum of healthcare services including acute care hospitals, specialty clinics, senior care through the Good Samaritan Society, genomic medicine, global clinics, and the Sanford Health Plan insurance program. The system employs over 48,000 healthcare professionals including 1,400 physicians and delivers care through five Centers of Excellence: Cancer, Children's, Heart, Orthopedics/Sports Medicine, and Women's Health. Annually, Sanford Health handles approximately 5.3 million outpatient visits, 84,000 admissions, and 136,000 surgeries. The organization is also actively involved in medical research and education through partnerships with academic institutions, positioning itself as a regional healthcare leader in the Midwest with expanding international presence.