The University of Iowa Health Care, The Stead Family Children's Hospital is seeking a Child Life Specialist This position is located in Iowa City, IA.

Within the Stead Family Children’s Hospital plan, develop, implement and evaluate comprehensive child life therapy treatment programs for pediatric and neonatal patients with complex and/or specialized needs. Provide quality educational experiences to staff and students.

Position Responsibilities:

• Provide high quality patient care for children with complex or specialized needs including evaluation, assessment and treatment appropriate for patient’s condition and age.
• Serve on committees and actively participate in meetings to collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team in coordinating therapeutic programs for individuals and groups of patients.
• Demonstrate a cooperative, flexible and innovative problem-solving approach.
• Serve as a clinical resource for others.
• Create, participate in and conduct in-service training sessions to staff and students.
• Evaluate patient progress and document results.
• Perform routine and assigned clinical and administrative tasks in an efficient manner.
• Adhere to institutional and departmental standards.
• Maintain effective working relationships with faculty, staff, students and the public.
• Maintain confidentiality of patient information.
• Exhibit a commitment to quality and process improvement including participation in the Quality and Safety Rounds on home unit.
• Perform other special projects and tasks as assigned.

• Demonstrate respect for all members of the University community in the course of performing one’s duties and in response to administrators, supervisors, coworkers, and customers.

• Represent the interests of the University and of unit leadership in the use of resources to meet service and productivity demands within unit goals and budgets; strive to promote continual process and quality improvement.
• Seek opportunities to enhance one’s own professional knowledge, skills, and abilities as they relate to one’s current position and/or to prepare for potential future roles and overall career development.

Percent of Time: 100%

Location: Iowa City

Required Qualifications:

• Certification as a certified child life specialist is required within one year of hire date.
• Completion of a clinical child life internship (600 hours minimum) under the supervision of a certified child life specialist
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.
• Experience in providing procedural support to pediatric patients for a variety of medical experiences.

Education Requirements:

• A Bachelor’s degree in a field related to the practice of activity therapy or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

Desired Qualifications:

• Completion of a child life internship within a recognized children’s hospital is highly desired.
• 6 months - 1 year experience as a child life specialist in a pediatric child life program within an academic medical center is desired.
• A Masters Degree in Child Life is desired
• 1-2 years professional experience as a child life specialist is desired.

Application Process: Successful candidates will be subject to a criminal background check and education/credential verification. Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.

This position is not eligible for university sponsorship for employment authorization.

In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as a “Relevant File” to the submission:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended.

For additional questions, please contact Lydia Messer at lydia-messer@uiowa.edu

Benefits Highlights

• Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans
• The University of Iowa offers a generous benefits package, including paid vacation and paid sick leave. Complete information regarding the full benefits package may be viewed at: Benefits | University Human Resources - The University of Iowa (uiowa.edu)