Child Life Specialists provide professional mental, emotional and social guidance, education and consultation to pediatric patients and their families during the patient's healthcare and hospitalization experience. The Department of Pediatrics is looking for experienced Child Life Specialists, ideally a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS).

Duties

As a GS-0101-12 Child Life Specialist your duties may include but are not limited to the following: Assessing and prioritizing the psychosocial acuity of each patient and establishing age-appropriate strategies and treatment plans of care in collaboration with the medical team to meet patient/family psychosocial needs. Revising plans and interventions, as necessary, to respond to changing patient needs and treatment and procedures. Developing individualized and new alternative approaches to respond to the patient's and family's needs while ensuring continuous engagement with the patient and family. Supporting patients and their families by providing evidence-based, developmentally appropriate interventions including therapeutic play, preparation, and education to reduce fear, anxiety, and pain. Supporting pediatric patients and families by providing education, counseling, and developmentally appropriate coping techniques during the patient's illness, medical procedures, and stresses of hospitalization. Serving as an advocate for the patient and the family. Functioning as a member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team, integrating goals and plans to promote optimal patient care that is family-centered and developmentally appropriate. The incumbent is under closer supervision and receives more detailed instructions at GS-11 level. As the incumbent progresses, the amount of supervision will gradually be reduced. This position has a full performance level of GS-12.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
• Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
• Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• If selected, you must pass a pre-employment medical examination.
• Must obtain and maintain Child Life Specialist certification (CCLC).
• Must obtain and maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Applicants for all grades must meet the requirements described in paragraphs A, B or C below: A. have a bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in the behavioral or social sciences, or related disciplines appropriate to this position. OR B. have a combination of education and experience that provided you with the knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. OR C. have four years of appropriate experience demonstrating that you have acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. In addition, in order to qualify for a Child Life Specialist, 0101 at the GS-11 level, you must have: A. completed 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or, have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a related field; OR B. at least 1 year of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 level in the Federal Government obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: Supporting patients and their families by providing evidence-based, developmentally appropriate interventions including therapeutic play, preparation, education, counseling, and coping techniques to reduce fear, anxiety, and pain related to patient's illness, medical procedures, and stresses of hospitalization; establishing age-appropriate treatment plans of care to meet patient/family psychosocial needs; responding to changing patient needs and treatments and procedures; responding to patient and family needs while ensuring continuous engagement with patients and families; and functioning as a member of an interdisciplinary healthcare team, integrating goals and plans to promote optimal patient care that is family-centered and developmentally appropriate; OR C. a combination of graduate education and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. In addition, in order to qualify for a Child Life Specialist, 0101 at the GS-12 level, you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following types of tasks: Providing evidence-based, developmentally appropriate interventions including therapeutic play, preparation, education, counseling, and coping techniques to reduce fear, anxiety, and pain related to patient's illness, medical procedures, and stresses of hospitalization; assessing and prioritizing the psychosocial acuity of patients and establishing age-appropriate strategies and treatment plans of care to meet patient/family psychosocial needs; revising plans and interventions to respond to changing patient needs and treatments and procedures; developing individualized and new alternative approaches to respond to patient and family needs while ensuring continuous engagement with patients and families; and functioning as a member of an interdisciplinary healthcare team, integrating goals and plans to promote optimal patient care that is family-centered and developmentally appropriate. You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12277382

Education

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades). Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education.

If you qualify based on education in lieu of specialized experience, you are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application packages. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education.

Contacts

• Address National Institutes of Health 6701 Rockledge Drive Bethesda, MD 20892 US
• Name: NIH HR Service Desk Branch E
• Email: [email protected]