Child Life Practice Leader-Stead Family Children's Hospital
Within the Division of Children’s and Women’s Services and Patient Care, the Child Life Practice Leader is an expert child life specialist who leads evidence-based, patient- and family-centered clinical care of children and families. The Child Life Practice Leader focuses on improving outcomes for children by leading child life practice and patient care within the Child Life program and throughout CWS and SFCH, including, but not limited to Medical Center University and Medical Center North Liberty campuses, IRL, and UICC pediatric clinics. The CLPL provides leadership based on systematic evaluation, evidence-based practice, and research. This person assures delivery of high quality, safe care based on established and evidence-based standards of care and competency of child life and other health care staff across inpatient and outpatient settings.
Position Responsibilities |
· Clinical Practice: Maintains and advances her/his own clinical knowledge and expertise by regularly providing direct patient care throughout all patient care areas as assigned by the Child Life program manager.
· Education: Leads/provides advanced health education and development of SFCH health care staff, including child life specialists, child life assistants, nurses, providers, pharmacists, technicians, and other health care team members involved in the care of children.
o Assures child life staff competency by leading/coordinating child life staff orientation and onboarding, as well as leading/conducting ongoing competency/training programs.
o Collaborates with colleagues on the SFCH health care team (e.g. NPL, CPL, nurse clinicians, practitioners, etc., to develop, assess, and assure competency in caring for children of all ages, developmental levels, and abilities.
o Coordinates/leads Child Life internship program.
o Coordinates/leads Child Life practicum student experiences as part of the UI Health academic mission.
o Communicate detailed, complex medical and technical information to a variety of audiences.
· Quality, Safety, Evidence-based Practice, and Research:
o Support the conduct of research and translate findings from evidence-based research into clinical practice.
o Lead evaluation and implementation of clinical technologies and other evidence-based strategies within the Child Life program and throughout the SFCH health care team that support patient care.
· Compliance and Regulatory: To ensure safe and effective delivery of care to children:
o Assures CL staff compliance with CWS, SFCH, UI Health Care, and University policies.
o Provides educations and training to assure CL staff compliance with external regulatory standards (e.g., TJC, IDIA, etc.)
o Lead development and implementation of procedures and share responsibility for Quality Improvement (QI) plan with Child Life program manager and other relevant CWS/SFCH leaders.
· Human Resources:
o Use expert knowledge to observe/mentor care delivery by child life staff, interns, practicum students, and nurses (in collaboration with CWS nursing leaders -e.g. NPL, CPL).
o Provided evaluative feedback and recommendations regarding staff competency and performance to the Child Life Program manager.
o Assures/monitors Child Life staff compliance and qualifications.
· Data Collection and Management
o Child Life metrics – collate/monitor daily metrics submitted by staff; share with CL manager to inform strategic planning.
Position Responsibilities |
· Clinical Practice: Maintains and advances her/his own clinical knowledge and expertise by regularly providing direct patient care throughout all patient care areas as assigned by the Child Life program manager.
· Education: Leads/provides advanced health education and development of SFCH health care staff, including child life specialists, child life assistants, nurses, providers, pharmacists, technicians, and other health care team members involved in the care of children.
o Assures child life staff competency by leading/coordinating child life staff orientation and onboarding, as well as leading/conducting ongoing competency/training programs.
o Collaborates with colleagues on the SFCH health care team (e.g. NPL, CPL, nurse clinicians, practitioners, etc., to develop, assess, and assure competency in caring for children of all ages, developmental levels, and abilities.
o Coordinates/leads Child Life internship program.
o Coordinates/leads Child Life practicum student experiences as part of the UI Health academic mission.
o Communicate detailed, complex medical and technical information to a variety of audiences.
· Quality, Safety, Evidence-based Practice, and Research:
o Support the conduct of research and translate findings from evidence-based research into clinical practice.
o Lead evaluation and implementation of clinical technologies and other evidence-based strategies within the Child Life program and throughout the SFCH health care team that support patient care.
· Compliance and Regulatory: To ensure safe and effective delivery of care to children:
o Assures CL staff compliance with CWS, SFCH, UI Health Care, and University policies.
o Provides educations and training to assure CL staff compliance with external regulatory standards (e.g., TJC, IDIA, etc.)
o Lead development and implementation of procedures and share responsibility for Quality Improvement (QI) plan with Child Life program manager and other relevant CWS/SFCH leaders.
· Human Resources:
o Use expert knowledge to observe/mentor care delivery by child life staff, interns, practicum students, and nurses (in collaboration with CWS nursing leaders -e.g. NPL, CPL).
o Provided evaluative feedback and recommendations regarding staff competency and performance to the Child Life Program manager.
o Assures/monitors Child Life staff compliance and qualifications.
· Data Collection and Management
o Child Life metrics – collate/monitor daily metrics submitted by staff; share with CL manager to inform strategic planning.
Position Qualifications
Master’s degree in Child Life or related field is required.
CCLS - Current certification as a Child Life Specialist (ACLP) is required.
Experience Requirements
Considerable clinical experience (3-5 years) in direct patient care as a child life specialist is required.
Demonstrates knowledge and experience with:
Staff education and development
Evidence-based practice
Outcomes based practice and quality improvement
Demonstrates strong leadership including:
Analytical thinking/problem solving.
Self-starter and motivated; takes initiative.
Serves as change agent; leads change process including implementation of EBP.
Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills and collaboration with interdisciplinary team. Demonstrates team leadership.
Demonstrates excellent verbal communication skills, including ability to articulate issues professionally, yet assertively and persuasively.
Demonstrates excellent written communication skills.
Role models professional practice and has reputation for clinical and service excellence
Demonstrates knowledge and experience with public speaking, developing and delivering formal presentations to groups – internal and external stakeholders
Proficient in computer software applications
Highly Desired Qualifications
Experience as a child life specialist in a children’s hospital/system setting.
Clinical experience (direct patient care) in an academic health care setting
Member/active participation in professional organization(s) (ACLP at a minimum)
Demonstrated experience planning curriculums, teaching in a formal classroom setting (in person and virtual)
Demonstrated experience working with/supervising/mentoring health care undergraduate or graduate students
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)
Equal opportunity employer
The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.
Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, (319) 335-2660 or fsds@uiowa.edu. For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543.
