GOOD SHEPHERD HOSPICE

JOB POSTING

TITLE: Hospice Child Life Specialist REPORTS TO: Assistant Director of Bereavement Services - Full Time - This position require flexibility re: some nights and weekends

POSITION SUMMARY:

To carry primary responsibility for implementing a psychosocial Child Life and Bereavement program that fosters emotional, developmental, and intellectual growth of children consistent with the hospice patient and family’s needs and consistent with hospice philosophy, goals and objectives.

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provide a program of psychosocial care for hospice and community children and families designed to reduce stress related to the loss of a loved one, increase adaptive coping with loss, and enhance developmental integrity by offering opportunities to play, learn, and interact with others in an emotionally and physically safe environment.
2. Provide emotional support to children and their families and respond appropriately to the special needs of each group served specific to age, language, gender, culture, religion/spirituality, economic background, education or literacy, developmental or cognitive disabilities, physical and developmental disabilities.
3. Provide opportunities for and facilitate play and activities which promote self-healing, self-expression, understanding and mastery with respect to grief and bereavement issues.
4. Educate and prepare children and families for end of life and bereavement experiences including the dying process, funerals, memorial and other grief rituals.
5. Develop a plan of care based on assessment of child’s development, temperament, coping style, and available social support using therapeutic play.
6. Collaborate with Bereavement Specialists and other members of the Hospice Interdisciplinary Team to offer support and counseling to family members to assist with their adaptation to loss and bereavement.
7. Maintain a clean and organized work environment that supports the child and family, encouraging play and creative interaction in the playroom.
8. Provide consultation to hospice field staff to assist in their provision of support to hospice families with children in the community and other facilities.
9. Facilitate children’s bereavement support groups including screening of prospective group participants.  Fielding community requests for information and referral for group support and other services, as necessary. 
10. Provide education to Hospice staff, Catholic Health Service Staff and outside communities and organizations as appropriate.
11. Document appropriately in the medical record.
12. Collect child life and children’s bereavement statistics for collation and analysis.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

1. Baccalaureate or higher degree in Child Life, Child Development, Creative Arts Therapy or related field.
2. Completion of a 480-hour internship in Child Life.
3. One or more years supervised work experience in a healthcare or educational setting is preferred.
4. Eligible for and must obtain Child Life certification (C.C.L.S.) within 18 months of hire.
5. A thorough understanding of the psychological, emotional, cognitive, medical, social and behavioral sequelae of grief as well as professional training and prior clinical experience in providing individual, couples, family and group counseling.
6. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, along with the demonstrated ability to participate in and effectively contribute to and utilize a team approach to care.
7. Demonstrates initiative and is self-directed.
8. Demonstrates warmth, gentle humor, flexibility and a compassionate and professional attitude and demeanor toward both staff and patient and families.
9. Familiarity with the hospice concept and its implementation.
10. Willingness to travel and provide own transportation with a valid New York State driver’s license.
11. Willingness to work at least two nights per week and weekend days as needed by the program.
12. Freedom from major personal loss in the prior 1 ½ to 2 years.

APPLICANT MUST HAVE SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL/WORK RECORD AND GOOD ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTALITY.

Interested applicant should forward resume with letter of interest and salary requirements to Roxanne Unterschuetz, Human Resources Good Shepherd Hospice

Please email resume to:  GoodShepherdHospiceHR@chsli.org