Child Life Specialist Internship

VCU Health System

  • Richmond, VA
  • Training
  • Part-time
  • 1 month ago
***Application Requirements – Please Read Before Applying***To be considered for this internship opportunity, applicants must meet the following criteria:*You have successfully completed all ACLP internship eligibility requirements as outlined in the Common Application and Eligibility Assessment.*You are prepared to upload the completed ACLP Internship Common Application, saved in the required format: LastnameFirstnameSpring26.pdfApplications that do not meet these requirements will not be considered.The child life intern is a paid training experience (Externship) used to prepare the individual for the Child Life Professional Certification Exam and an entry level child life position. Through observation and supervised facilitation of child life interventions the intern will develop the skills used by child life specialists to minimize the negative psychological impact of trauma, hospitalization and illness on patients and families. Interns will learn to promote a healing environment that addresses emotional and developmental needs of patients and families through assessment, intervention, advocacy, and education. To meet certification requirements, internship placements will meet of minimum of 600 hours over no less than 15 weeks, in at least two clinical unis, with all work overseen by a qualified Certified Child Life Specialist.Essential Job StatementsPerformance Expectation: Child Life Educational DevelopmentDemonstrate an understanding of the practices of child life and be able to articulate an understanding of current issues and trends in child life practice.
  • Participation in weekly reflection meetings with supervisor.
  • Completion of all written assignments as assigned by preceptor, supervisor, or department manager.
  • Read assigned articles and provide summaries as required.
  • Attendance at seminar given by Child Life Specialists and other team members, as well as participation in inter-disciplinary meetings and other related learning opportunities.
  • Completion of special project as determined in collaboration with preceptors and supervisors.
Performance Expectation: Provision of Clinical and Therapeutic InterventionsUnder the supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist provision of the following:
  • Observation, participation, and facilitation of procedural preparations, distraction, coping, play, medical play, and family support.
  • Determine psychosocial needs of patients and families; and work with children and families to develop and implement care plans, based upon individual assessments and child life practice.
  • Demonstrate, explain, and provide developmentally appropriate and family centered medical education and procedural preparations for children, adolescents, and their families.
  • Demonstrate, explain, and provide developmentally appropriate and family centered distraction and coping techniques for children, adolescents, and their families.
  • Opportunity to observe and participate with trauma and bereavement support.
  • Collaboration with other disciplines in provision of care as appropriate.
  • Maintain daily statistics and chart all interactions in the medical chart.
Performance Expectation: Provision of Recreational and Therapeutic ActivitiesEngages in non-clinical interventions to enhance the patient family experience.
  • Plans, implements, and evaluates activities in playroom environments and at bedside to reduce the emotional stress of hospitalization for both patients and siblings.
  • Under supervision of CCLS, designs activities that are therapeutic or recreational in nature and appropriate for the psychosocial and developmental needs of the child.
  • Communicates with child life and medical staff through appropriate verbal and written methods.
  • Works with child life staff to ensure playrooms are appropriately stocked with supplies and toys.
  • Oversees cleaning and distribution of toys to patient rooms, ensuring infection control policies are followed to ensure patient and family safety.
Performance Expectation: Holidays and Special EventsAssists child life team in organizing hospital and unit wide special events.
  • Coordinates with unit and special events staff in providing appropriate activities for patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings, including screening external and internal group requests, communicating with volunteers, planning of events, and oversight of activities.
  • Coordinates with Child Life Zone staff for activities in Child Life Zone and Performance Space.
  • Assist child life staff in providing internal holiday celebrations on units to promote normalization of the hospital environment, including planning, and implementing events.
  • Coordinates with outside groups to ensure CHoR visitation, safety, and confidentiality policies are adhered to during special events, including hosting and monitoring visitors.
Performance Expectation: Administrative SupportAssists Child Life Supervisor and child life committees in the departmental administrative tasks.
  • Works with child life staff in overseeing the acquisition and organization of supplies including receiving and documenting in-kind donations and maintaining departmental storage areas.
  • Assist child life team in the selection, orientation, and supervision of child life volunteers as appropriate.
  • Checks playrooms of assigned units daily and ensures that they are cleaned and maintained according to institutional guidelines.
  • Other administrative tasks as needed and appropriate for role.
Performance Expectation: Miscellaneous Responsibilities
  • Performs other duties as assigned and/or participates in special projects to support the mission of VCUHS and the assigned areas.
  • Provides assistance to team members.
  • Accepts alternate assignments, as required, graciously.
Independent action(s) required:
  • Independent management of day-to-day interactions with patients and families, including daily rounding, provision of bedside activities, and facilitating playroom groups.
  • Independent management of department supplies and playroom (with input from child life supervisor)
  • Support the child life department and child life specialists as needed, with or without direct instruction.
Additional position requirements:
Some evening, weekend, and holiday hours may be required.Age Specific groups served:
All patients admitted to a pediatric service, with services also to their families.Patient Population: Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide equitable care appropriate to the age of the patients served on their assigned unit. Demonstrates knowledge and related competencies of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age, specific needs and to provide the equitable care needed as described in departmental policies and procedures. Neonates (0-4 weeks), Infant (1-12 months), Pediatrics (1-12 years), Adolescents (13-17 years), Adults (18-64 years), Geriatrics (65 years and older)Employment QualificationsRequired Education: In senior year working towards a bachelor’s or master’s degree and completion of all courses required sit for the child life certification exam as defined by the Child Life Certification Commission. A minimum of 3.0 GPA in both major and overall classes.Preferred Education: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in child life or a related major.Licensing/ CertificationLicensure/Certification Required: N/ALicensure/Certification Preferred: CPR certifiedMinimum QualificationsYears and Type of Required Experience: MINIMUM: One year of experience (paid or volunteer) with children in a healthcare related environment. Successful completion of ACLP internship eligibility requirements.PREFERRED: Completion of a child life practicum.Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required: N/ACultural Responsiveness: N/AOther Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred: N/AWorking Conditions: Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur. General office environment. May be exposed to physical altercations and verbal abuse. May be required to use physical restraints. May be exposed to high noise levels and bright lights. May be exposed to limited hazardous substances or body fluids. * May be exposed to human blood and other potentially infectious materials. * May have periods of constant interruptions. Prolonged periods of working alone.
  • Individuals in this position are required to exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and learn the policies concerning infection control.
Physical RequirementsPhysical Demands: Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs.), Push/ Pull (0-50 lbs.), Push/ Pull (50-100 lbs.), Stoop, Kneel, Squat, BalanceWork Position: Sitting, Walking, StandingAdditional Physical Requirements/ HazardsPhysical Requirements: Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination), Perform shift work, Maneuver weight of patients, Hear alarms/telephone/tape recorder, Reach above shoulder, Repetitive arm/hand movements, Finger Dexterity, Color Vision, Acuity – far, Acuity – nearHazards: Exposure to toxic/caustic/chemicals/detergents, Exposure to x ray/electromagnetic energy, Exposure to high pitched noisesMental/Sensory – EmotionalMental/Sensory: Strong Recall, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Hearing, Speak Clearly, Write Legibly, Reading, Logical Thinking, OtherEmotional: Fast pace environment, Steady Pace, Able to Handle Multiple Priorities, Frequent and Intense Customer Interactions, Noisy Environment, Able to Adapt to Frequent ChangeEEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran/41 CFR 60-1.4.

VCU Health System