Child Life Specialist - Behavioral Health & Wellness Center

Overview

Now hiring for the region's first-of-its-kind Behavioral Health & Wellness Center. A place where innovation meets compassion. Positions are anticipated to start in October of 2025.

The Behavioral Health & Wellness Center at Children’s Nebraska will be a world-class facility providing the full spectrum of pediatric behavioral and mental health services for children and their families. Located on our main hospital campus to provide a convenient continuum of care, the center will offer a crisis assessment center, behavioral health urgent care, 40 single-occupancy inpatient beds, a partial hospitalization program and outpatient services – all guided by our innovative, trauma-informed model of care.

• Provide a therapeutic, educational, and recreational program for patients. Plans and implements developmentally appropriate activities which promote normal growth and development, in conjunction with supporting the psycho-social needs of the patients and their families throughout the course of their testing/treatment or hospitalization. Hours in keeping with typical patient need in assigned area as approved by supervisor.
• Provide preparation and support to patients undergoing medical procedures and treatments through pre-procedural teaching and assess coping skills and adjustment to hospitalization, surgery and/or chronic illness on a daily basis.
• Use formal and informal assessment techniques to accurately determine patient’s developmental and emotional states.
• Use developmentally appropriate and medically accurate teaching aids and techniques to increase knowledge and support emotional needs.
• Advocate for the needs of patients and families by communicating important information with the appropriate health care professionals.
• Write concise, objective, and accurate clinical notes, documenting pertinent information in a timely manner.
• Facilitate interaction with patients, siblings, and parents.
• Recognize and address the importance of therapeutic play in facilitating child’s mastery of and coping with the health care experience.
• Incorporate family’s involvement into their child’s care, identify family needs and views.
• Communicate with patients and families using theories of human growth and development, family systems and cultural background.
• Actively advocate patient needs to medical team members and ancillary services. Seek appropriate/alternative approaches to care which may minimize the impact of the healthcare experience.
• Communicate concisely with other professionals, integrating theory and evidence based practice to obtain and share pertinent information.
• Demonstrate respect for the viewpoints of other professionals.
• Coordinate child life services with families and professionals.
• Promote child life within own department/area using creative ways and approaches with staff and families.
• Coordinate and participate in educational programs that explain Child Life Services.
• Actively participate in the New Employee Orientation of new hires.
• Coordinate school re-entry programs or support groups as needed.
• Actively involved in providing a safe learning environment for our intern and practicum students.
• Participate in the volunteer program and assist in modifying the process as needed.
• Coordinate outreach programs, pre-op preparation education and/or support groups.
• Recognize verbal and nonverbal cues and adapt teaching accordingly.
• Assess knowledge, misconceptions, previous experiences and unique socio-cultural learning needs.
• Provide educational information to various groups within the hospital and community when relevant.
• Maintain play area in a safe, orderly, and child friendly condition and ensure that toys are appropriately cleaned and kept in good condition.
• Follow Infection Control and safety procedures and policies.
• Maintain playroom in a safe and orderly manner.
• Toys are maintained and cleaned using an approved cleaner.
• Assure availability of toys for various age ranges and developmental levels.
• Maintain current knowledge regarding development, trends, and techniques in Child Life.
• Incorporate Child Life trends and best practices into care delivery.
• Identify resources and opportunities for professional…