Child Life Specialist

Description

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Child Life Specialist needed for UNC Health Youth Behavioral Health (YBH), in Butner, North Carolina. Youth Behavioral Health Hospital (YBH) is a 56-bed, 24-hour, locked psychiatric facility located in Butner, North Carolina. There will be four units dedicated to serving children and adolescent with mental health diagnoses, dual diagnosis, substance misuse and complex behaviors. YBH philosophy is grounded in a milieu-based, trauma-informed and therapeutic setting. This facility aims to serve patients with a complex history, including aggression and psychosis. Safety is the key component of the care provided as well as introduction of positive coping skills, healthy living and positive leisure activities. Therapy services will work among a large interdisciplinary team including Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, and Nursing Services. We areseekingdynamic,motivatedand team-oriented Child Life Specialistswith excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with multidisciplinary providers and teammates in effective, collaborative practice. Qualified candidates will work directly with the Mental Health Team Therapy Services Managers at the Medical Center and Youth Behavioral Health team in addition to meeting the day-to-day coping and adjustment needs of pediatric patients and families, the Child Life Specialist teaches, supervises, and evaluates the work of volunteers and child life student interns. The incumbent may also serve as a resource and an advocate on child development, family-centered care, multicultural awareness, and the impact of various health care experiences on pediatric patients and families.

This position is 40 hours/week, Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend and holiday coverage requirements.

Summary:
Assesses and provides developmentally appropriate treatment of pediatric physical, cognitive, social, emotional, leisure/play and life skill needs. Educates family on effective methods and strategies to improve pediatric patient's quality of life. Provides community outreach education and programmatic services to enhance children's quality of life.

Responsibilities:
1. Evaluates patient progress towards treatment goals and responses to treatment interventions, adapts as necessary in compliance with departmental performance expectations
2. Initial assessment and evaluation--Individually assesses/evaluates patient formulates clinical impressions and recommendations for treatment, referral for other services or provision for no service based upon the analysis of assessment data, and reports assessment findings to appropriate individuals in compliance with departmental performance expectations
3. Internship management--Recruits, screens, interviews, selects, supervises and evaluates child life interns in accordance with department performance expectations
4. Outreach--Develops and facilitates community outreach programs that promote the Children's Hospital and the health and wellbeing of children in accordance with departmental performance expectations
5. Planning--Interprets assessment data accurately, determines appropriate treatment goals in conjunction with the overall treatment plan, designs treatment plans and individualized treatment interventions for assigned patient population to meet their treatment needs in compliance with departmental performance expectations
6. Plans for all needed resources, coordinates program scheduling and plans and facilitates group and individual treatment interventions with co-workers and other disciplines in compliance with departmental performance expectations
7. Plans for patient discharge and recommends continued service or aftercare in accordance with departmental performance expectations
8. Program development--Develops new or revises existing programs & interventions to reflect current patients' needs, interests and abilities and to promote safety in compliance with departmental performance expectations

Education Requirements:
* Bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation, Child Life or a related field that meets the Child Life Council's recommendation for coursework concentration in Child Life.
Licensure/Certification Requirements:
* Certification by the Child Life Certifying Commission within twelve (12) months of hire.
Professional Experience Requirements:
* No prior experience required.

Legal Employer: STATE

Entity: UNC Medical Center

Organization Unit: UNCH YBH Recreational Therapy

Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Salary Range: $20.88 - $30.02 per hour (Hiring Range)

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Onsite

Work Schedule: Day Job

Location of Job: Butner:NC:27509

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: No

This is a State position employed by UNC Health Care System with UNC Health benefits. If, however, you are presently an employee of another North Carolina agency and currently participate in TSERS or the ORP, you will be eligible to continue participating in those plans at UNC Health.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email applicant.accommodations@unchealth.unc.edu if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.