This position plans and provides therapeutic intervention and appropriate psychosocial developmental care utilizing a hospital facility dog with pediatric patients and their families, assisting them in coping with the stress and anxiety of healthcare experiences, and maximizing the growth and development of infants, children and adolescent patients. Serves as the primary handler of a facility dog in every day work.

• Primary handler of a Child Life facility dog.
  
  • Utilizes the facility dog to enhance clinical practice and meet patient goals within the child life specialist professional scope of practice. Assesses the development of patient and other situational factors in order to individualize facility dog interventions to meet patient goals.
  • Actively participants in interdisciplinary rounds and evaluations as a member of the treatment team. Collaborates and co-treats with interdisciplinary staff to provide therapeutic animal-assisted interactions that will assist the patient and family with coping related to hospitalization and/or illness. Provides teaching and psychological preparation for potentially stressful experiences with infants, children, adolescents, and families.
  • Collaborates with staff and volunteers in the Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) program, accepting/coordinating referrals from the AAT Coordinator and referring requests to the AAT program.
  • Assesses both the animal and patient for stress signals and any discomfort during facility dog interventions. Maintains safety of the facility dog and others at all times in challenging and stimulating environments.
  • Prioritizes high workload effectively and adapts to frequently changing priorities. Engages in marketing and media activities for the AAT program while adhering to all hospital policies.
  • Takes possession of the facility dog under the supervision of the service dog organization field trainer. Maintains the safety, health, grooming, and behavior of the facility dog according to hospital policy and guidelines.
• Plans, implements, and evaluates individual patient goals, based upon assessment findings. Provides a safe, therapeutic, and healing environment for infants, children, adolescents, and families.
  
  • Utilizes Psychosocial Risk Assessment in Pediatrics (PRAP), Emotional Safety screener, and other validated assessment tools.
  • Utilizes critical thinking skills and comprehensive assessment to develop individualized treatment plans.
  • Provides teaching and psychological preparation for potentially stressful experiences with infants, children, adolescents, and families.
  • Facilitates developmentally appropriate therapeutic play, medical play, and self-expression activities to support coping and understanding of medical care.
  • Provides both formal and informal support and guidance to other department team members on unfamiliar and/or higher acuity interventions
  • Actively participates in interdisciplinary rounds and evaluations as a member of the treatment team.
  • Has the ability to recognize, anticipate, and adapt therapeutic interventions to address subtle psychosocial changes.
  • Demonstrates advanced clinical practice through independently assessing, prioritizing and supporting patients according to psychosocial acuity across multiple areas of coverage.
  • Documents patient assessments, interventions, and outcomes in the medical record.
• Engages in activities related to professional responsibility of a Certified Child Life Specialist and demonstrates leadership qualities through interpersonal interactions and professional development activities.
  
  • Demonstrates leadership through participation in department shared governance or interdisciplinary committees.
  • Leads skill-based continuing education sessions and remains abreast of advances in child life and programs for hospitalized children.
  • Participates in the training, supervision, and evaluation of students and volunteers.
  • Participates in mentoring or precepting new staff and supports orientation for incoming team members.
  • Actively participates in process improvement projects within the department.
  • Demonstrates a high level of skill in communicating with peers, leaders, and interdisciplinary teams.
  • Exhibits positive influence on team dynamics through self-reflection and feedback that supports overall team function and growth.
  • Independently uses multiple sources of information to solve complex problems.
• Performs miscellaneous job related duties as requested.
  

To advance hope, healing and the best healthcare for children and their families

Phoenix Children's will be the leading pediatric health system in the Southwest, nationally recognized for exceptional care, innovative research and advanced medical education.

We realize this vision by:

• Offering the most comprehensive care across ages, communities and specialties
• Investing in innovative research, including emerging treatments, tools and technologies
• Advancing education and training to shape the next generation of clinical leaders
• Advocating for the health and well-being of children and families

• We place children and families at the center of all we do
• We deliver exceptional care, every day and in every way
• We collaborate with colleagues, partners and communities to amplify our impact
• We set the standards of pediatric healthcare today, and innovate for the future
• We are accountable for making the highest quality care accessible and affordable