Child Life Specialist, Child and Youth Therapeutic Services - BC Children’s Hospital

Child Life Specialist, Child and Youth Therapeutic Services

BC Children’s Hospital

Vancouver, BC

The Child Life Specialist reports operationally to the Director, Professional Practice and the designated Program Leader and professionally under the practice supervision of the Practice Leader, Child Life.

The role provides activities that further the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development of children and youth.

The Child Life Specialist functions as a member of Child & Youth Therapeutic Services and as a member of an assigned health care team and in accordance with the professional standards of practice of the Association of Child Life Professionals.

What you’ll do

• Conducts screening and assessment of patients utilizing established standards and guidelines, identifies and obtains data relevant to child life including child / family goals of care.
• Develops and implements care plans incorporating individual patient needs cultural, religious, learning, social, and economic factors.

Supports children, youth and caregivers throughout the challenges of hospitalization and illness by identifying and encouraging effective coping techniques, and provides recommendations to the health care team.

• Provide preparation, alternate focus, and coping skills coaching for patients undergoing medical procedures and providing psychosocial support to minimize stress and anxiety during hospitalization
• Plans, initiates, and supervises activities that foster continued growth and development in children and youth, including therapeutic and medical play opportunities that promote development and adaptation to the hospital environment and their health care condition.
• Monitors patients to determine if the plan is meeting the established goals.
• Documents assessments, care plans, recommendations and interventions at each stage of care according to established format, policy, timelines and legal requirements in the health care record and / or via reports.

Completes and maintains appropriate records for activities including workload statistics as required.

Access and leverage technology (including laptops, tablets and handheld devices), applicable software and related applications as required to provide support to children, youth and families.

What you bring

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in an area related to Child Development with required coursework for child life certification
• Meets the eligibility requirements to write the Child Life Certification Examination.

You will also have

• Demonstrated ability to assess and interact with patients and families applying theories of human growth and development, family systems, and cultural diversity.
• Demonstrated ability to represent and communicate the role of child life to others.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize work.
• Demonstrated ability work as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability work effectively with others.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
• Commitment to develop knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan : A First Nations Case Study and how they intersect across the health care system.
• Commitment to upholding the shared responsibility of creating lasting and meaningful reconciliation in Canada as per TRC (2015) and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019).
• As a strong asset for consideration, we are looking for our successful candidate to have : Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).

What we bring

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future.

That’s why we’re focused on your care too offering health, wellness, development programs to support you at work and at home.

• Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
• Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
• PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

Location : 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver BC, V6H 2N9

Applications will be accepted until position is filled.

Hours of Work : Tuesday to Friday; 0800 - 1600

Requisition # 171111E

What we do

BCCH) provides care for the most seriously ill or injured children and youth from across British Columbia.

BCCH is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

The Provincial Health Services Authority () plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province.

Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include : Respect people Be compassionate Dare to innovate Cultivate partnerships Serve with purpose.

Learn more about PHSA and our programs :

PHSA and BCCH are committed to employment equity, encouraging all qualified individuals to apply. We recognize that our ability to provide the best care for our diverse patient populations relies on a rich diversity of skills, knowledge, background and experience, and value a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.

PHSA is committed to equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems.

PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and / or persistently marginalized groups identified under the Human Rights Code.

One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level.

We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and / or contact the Sanya'kula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at .

Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and marginalization faced by Indigenous peoples.

These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and self-determination of Indigenous communities.

PHSA must uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents such as including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan : A First Nations Case Study.