The Children’s Services Manager facilitates and promotes clinical excellence for the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapies Team. The Children’s Services Manager acts as a facilitator/coordinator of the staff functions within the team, and as a point/resource person for staff.

Area Specific Job Accountabilities:

• Facilitates and leads the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapies team. Leads, directs and coordinates all aspects of this team. Leads team in improving, coordinating, and evaluating developmental programming. Leads Children's and Family Services in developing an environment that is welcoming and developmentally appropriate for the children and families served.
• Structures the environment and provides resources to assure clinical excellence. Collaborates with facilities design and construction re: ongoing physical assessment of plant/space needs.
• Utilizes team approach to develop collaborative relationships with Families Services, nursing, donors, volunteers and other groups.
• Directs and evaluates team based QI activities. Institutes changes based on findings from the monitoring and evaluation of QI process. Serves as a resource person, role model and resource person for Children’s Services staff.
• Assists staff in working with interdisciplinary team members in addressing the needs of patients and families. Assures compliance with hospital and Family Services policies and procedures and all regulatory requirements.
• Participates in operational planning process and facilitates delivery of appropriate clinical services. Plays active role as key member in short and long term strategic planning for Children’s Services within the cluster.
• Develops implements and monitors the effectiveness of the operational procedures in the area.
• Identifies opportunities for and develops interdependent teams: acts as a liaison between team and other areas within the Medical Center.
• Recognizes that response to the customer and the changing environment may involve going beyond the confines of the traditional job description. Develops standards for customer services and family centered care. Identifies, assesses, and responds to child/family needs; includes in this process age-specific developmental needs for patients, infants to adolescents, seen in a medical service.
• Develops and implements programs for patients and their families. Assures supervision for group activity sessions and special events.
• Implements systems to identify, assess, and respond to child/family needs; includes in this process age-specific developmental needs for patients, infants to adolescents.
• Selects, trains, directs, develops, evaluates and, when necessary, disciplines and discharges members of the team.
• Trains new Children’s Services staff to effectively provide high quality care on the floors, playgroups and other areas of responsibility. Provides for continued professional growth of staff members through education. Maintains an environment that encourages retention and development of staff, customer service, and family centered care. Coordinates and promotes positive staff involvement with community agencies, volunteers, donors, and other external customers.
• Manages staffing and coverage issues. Works with the Director to coordinate hiring and performance-appraisal processes. Leads development and implementation of Children’s Services internship program and/or volunteer programs. Coordinates, trains, and promotes staff involvement with volunteers, donors, and other external customers. Provides systems and leadership for team members to fulfill their basic job requirements.
• Develops strategies to cultivate and maintain relationships with donors, affiliated groups and other program supporters. With director, acts as liaison between hospital programs and donors. Manages toy and gift donations and donor relationships. May work closely with Public and Government Affairs to facilitate VIP events.
• Facilitates timely communication among leadership. Ensures adequate systems for the dissemination of information to area team. Facilitates communication and collaboration of the multi-disciplinary team. Remains aware of changes occurring within the hospital and communicates pertinent information to team members as necessary. Encourages and participates in hospital and Family Services committees and acts as a resource. Links team to Foundation activities.

Requirements:

Knowledge, skills, and abilities normally acquired through the acquisition of a bachelor’s or master's degree in human growth and development, education, child life, recreational therapy, the expressive therapies, or a related field.

Ability to coordinate and integrate complex processes and relationships in an evolving role. Continues to evaluate responsibilities and processes with recommendations for improvement.

Advances knowledge base through self-directed learning to maintain competency and advance in one's leadership role.

Demonstrates leadership skills by assisting and encouraging the team to participate in identification of problems, formulation of plans, and initiation of corrective measures and follow-up to make certain suitable action was taken.

Demonstrates ability to mentor team. Promotes positive work environment as evidenced by quality service provided and team’s positive attitude.

Demonstrates excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Demonstrates sound judgment and reasoning skills. Demonstrates ability to translate concepts into actions. Routinely makes daily operational decisions including emergency/urgent situations.

Understands how to get work done within organizations. Ability to think proactively, act creatively, and take initiative appropriately. Excellent communication, critical-thinking, and interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to work as a part of multiple teams.

Spanish language abilities and skills strongly preferred.