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About Duke University Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. The largest of Duke Health's four hospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

Job Code: 5450

Pay Target: E1

Supervisory Responsibility: Yes

General Description of the Job Class

Plan, coordinate and administer activities within assigned program areas; develop, coordinate and evaluate recreational programs. Provide patient interventions to promote coping skills, emotional health and overall wellbeing within the hospital setting.

Duties and Responsibilities of this Level

• Responsible for tasks including, but not limited to planning, scheduling, and evaluating special events and therapeutic entertainment and assisting in departmental clinical tasks. Develop and adapt all volunteer materials, training tools and schedules for volunteers. This person will work collaboratively with internal and external partners, frequently, to successfully plan and execute special event functions. Collaborate with hospital staff to develop the resources and logistics necessary for successful events, recommend and implement modifications for improvement. 
• Screens potential visitors/entertainers for appropriateness, educational and therapeutic value.
• Communicates the psychosocial and developmental needs of patients to potential visitors/entertainers to provide programs that are therapeutic and entertaining and protect the privacy and confidentiality of patients and families.
• Plan, coordinate and administer activities of assigned programs to include developing, implementing, and supervising related procedures, processes, services and systems.
• Ensures all appropriate patient consents and media is coordinated, as well as completion of post events follow up.
• Facilitates efficient written and verbal communication with volunteers prior to, during and upon ending their role after the events.
• Provide volunteer leadership, including interview, hire, train volunteers and other aspects associated with maintaining appropriate volunteers. Work with DUHS Volunteer Services to coordinate volunteers as needed.
• Maintain liaison with other programs, offices and departments at Duke to coordinate program business and to accomplish program objectives; interface with external organizations as appropriate to ensure cooperative efforts are enhanced and available resources are utilized.
• Work with Child and Adolescent Life Manager to prepare budgets for programs and ensure appropriate use of expenditures.
• Participate in programs for professional training and development to enhance job performance.
• Participate in activities to support family-centered and comprehensive care. Maintain on-going communication with physicians, nurses, unit and clinical staff to ensure a coordinated approach to patient care.
• Assess the emotional and medical needs of assigned patients and families to determine the support needed during the medical experience. Formulate a plan of interaction based on assessment of patient and family and present plan to team members. Document all interactions in the medical record. Provide play/recreational activities for assigned patients consistent with developmental needs to normalize the environment and facilitate assessments.
• Conduct individual and group activities to enhance patient function and patient satisfaction. Utilization of group dynamics to achieve patient goals. Activities may be held in the evening, on the weekend, and/or outside of the hospital.
• Perform other administrative and related duties incidental to the work described herein.

Education

Work requires analytical, communication and organizational skills generally acquired through completion of a bachelor's degree program. Certified Child Life Specialist or Certified Recreation Therapist. 

Experience

Work requires three years of experience working in the hospital environment with patients and families. Possess skills necessary to plan, coordinate, implement and evaluate a varsity of program activities and events.   OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/O R EXPERIENCE

Degrees, Licensures, Certifications

CCLS or CTRS 

Knowledge, skills, and abilities 

• Work independently
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Effective relationships with patients, families, interdisciplinary team, volunteers, donors, and the public
• Manage projects independently
• Demonstrates sound judgment, diplomacy and professionalism

Distinguishing Characteristics of this Level

• Ability to work interdependently
• Team-oriented
• Flexibility
• Works well with patients and families
• Strong written and spoken communication skills
• Demonstrated passion for a wide variety of sports
• Supports the engagement of student athletes with pediatric patients

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends onthe robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.