Child Life Specialist
Tower Health

Job Summary

Job Summary:

Child Life Specialist will apply knowledge of child development, special needs of the hospitalized child, therapeutic play techniques, and family dynamics to promote optimum development of children, to help them maintain normal living patterns, and to help minimize psychological trauma for children ages 0 - 21 years of age.

Skills & Abilities:

Must have an education of child development. Must be able to relate to children and families in supportive and therapeutic ways. Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must be able to lead play groups, and use play techniques to accomplish Child Life goals. Must have a knowledge of disease processes and types of treatment plans. Must be able to demonstrate and maintain competencies in preparation techniques, planning and facilitating developmentally supportive and therapeutic play with individual patients and in group settings, in assisting patients in coping with the stress of hospitalization, illness, death and/or loss and in planning and facilitating medical play sessions with individual patients and in group settings. Must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care based on physical, psychological, developmental, social, educational, safety and related criteria, appropriate to the age of the patients serviced in their service area.

#STC

Qualifications

Training & Education:

BA or BS degree in Child Life, Child Development or related discipline.

Experience:

Completion of 12 -15 week (minimum 480 hours) Child Life internship in a Child Life program, under the supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist. Must be eligible to sit for the Child Life Certifying exam.

Supervisory Responsibility:

Assists in supervising volunteers assigned to Child Life. Provide education and hands on experience for practicum and intern students assigned to Child Life.

Required Licenses:

Certified Child Life Specialist within 12 months of hire.

Overview

About the Organization

With more than 11,000 team members, Tower Health includes Reading Hospital, a teaching hospital based in West Reading; Brandywine Hospital in Coatesville; Chestnut Hill Hospital, a teaching hospital in Philadelphia; Jennersville Hospital in West Grove; Phoenixville Hospital in Phoenixville; Pottstown Hospital in Pottstown; and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. We also operate Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing & Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences, & we have a comprehensive physician network.

Collaboration across Tower Health enables our hospitals, providers, leadership & staff to leverage best practices across the health system. Our hospitals have received national recognition for advanced care in areas such as neurosurgery and stroke, cardiac & vascular surgery, trauma, hematology & oncology. Reading HealthPlex, which opened at Reading Hospital in October 2016, combines state-of-the-art technology and world-class design to make the HealthPlex one of the most sophisticated surgical centers & inpatient facilities in the region.

At Tower Health, we have a rich history of providing high-quality, cost-effective care in the communities we serve. As the healthcare industry continues to change, one thing remains steadfast: Tower Health's commitment to Advancing Health, Transforming Lives.

Why St. Christopher's Hospital for Children

St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, a partnership between Tower Health and Drexel University, is a 188-bed facility that provides exceptional care to children throughout the Greater Philadelphia area and surrounding counties.

St. Christopher's has more than 220 pediatric experts on staff, combining top-notch pediatric care with a wide array of pediatric specialties including Cardiology, Ear, Nose and Throat, Gastroenterology, Oncology, and Orthopedics. It houses the only Verified Pediatric Burn Center between New York City and Baltimore and is one of only three Level I Pediatric Trauma Centers in Pennsylvania. St. Christopher's is a Magnet® designated hospital and was recognized as a Women's Choice Award Best Children's Hospital.

In addition to its main location in Philadelphia, the hospital has a growing network of primary and specialty care locations throughout the Philadelphia suburbs and New Jersey so your child's health conditions can be treated close to home.