Pediatric Psychologist

La Rabida Children’s Hospital provides specialized, family-centered health care to children with medically complex conditions, disabilities, and chronic illness. Through expertise, compassion, and advocacy we help children and their families reach their fullest potential, regardless of their ability to pay.

Our not-for-profit hospital, licensed for 49 beds, helps transition children from neonatal or pediatric intensive care to home, by providing medical, rehabilitative and developmental care, and by training families to continue treatments and manage the necessary equipment in the home. La Rabida also provides extensive rehabilitation for those recovering from wounds or burns and treatment for exacerbations of chronic conditions.

The hospital’s enhanced pediatric patient-centered medical home provides primary care to children with complex medical conditions and their siblings. Children with medical homes elsewhere come to La Rabida for specialty services. La Rabida offers a wide range of specialty services provided to children with sickle cell disease, diabetes, and many others. Children are supported in their emotional and developmental growth, particularly in cases where such growth has been interrupted by accident or disease.

Finally, La Rabida provides forensic and treatment services for children exposed to abuse and neglect, comprehensive assessments for youth in care, early intervention for children between 0 and 3 years of age. Care coordination services for medically complex children are also provided for those who are covered by a health plan and receive care from providers in Cook County

SUMMARY: Functions in an independent and professional manner to provide high-quality, trauma informed, psychological services to inpatients, outpatients and their families.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Clinical Responsibilities 70%

· Applies knowledge and expertise of therapeutic techniques to assist children, adolescents, and their families cope adaptively. Behavioral problems include attentional disorders, learning and school problems, trauma exposure and symptomology, behavioral problems, and others. Techniques may include, but are not limited to, individual psychotherapy, family therapy, group therapy, short term therapy, long term therapy, and crisis intervention.

· Provides consultation/liaison services and follow up care to patients being seen during outpatient medical appointments a minimum of 7 hours per week.

· Consults and collaborates with the multidisciplinary outpatient health care team to ensure psychological services are integrated into patient’s treatment.

· May be required to develop and implement specific diagnostic programs and/or treatment programs (“clinics”) for specific patient populations (e.g., incontinence, pain management).

· Provides short term and long term evidence based behavioral health services to patients and their families, including individual, family and group therapy. Minimum of 14 scheduled sessions per week.

· Usage of evidenced based models of care (CBT, TF-CBT, ARC, CPP, MI, ST, SFBT, play therapy, relationship based therapy)

· Independently conducts clinical intake assessments and assigns DSM 5/ICD-10/DC:0-5 diagnosis

· Issues and scores various scales and measures to evaluate functioning and for diagnostic clarification.

· Administers psychological and psychoeducational tests as needed, formulates reports and treatment plans. Initiates the interpretation of results to medical, nursing, and Pediatric Psychology staff. Based on the psychological evaluation, clinical interview(s), and other data, develops a comprehensive treatment plan. Minimum of 8 hours per week in direct work with inpatient children.

· Responsible for case management of patients so that appropriate psychological and psychosocial services are delivered within the hospital and/or via community resources. Maintains follow-up contact with the patient, the family and other agencies to assure that the required and recommended services are obtained by the patient and/or the family.

Teaching Responsibilities 20%

· May be involved in education and training programs for other students and staff members, both inside and outside of the Division of Behavioral Health.

· Conducts in-service training and educational seminars for hospital staff, parents and/or community agencies as required.

· Provides supervision to interns, externs and post-doctoral fellows (when licensed in Illinois).

· Plays an active role in the recruitment of trainees (interns, externs and post-doctoral fellows).

· Serves as a member of the Pediatric Psychology training committee.

Clinical Impact Standard

· A minimum of 70% of work must be in direct patient/family contact.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS: 10%

Performs other duties as assigned.

· Maintains accurate and up-to-date records and statistical reports

· Has scheduled evening hours to meet the needs of patients

· May have weekend hours should the need arise

· Supports new program development to provide innovative care to children served by La Rabida Children’s Hospital

· Other duties as required and/or assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Ph.D. or Psy.D. in Clinical (child or pediatric) Psychology

Related Work Experience: APA internship in child or pediatric psychology and must have training/experience in pediatric health psychology. Experience working with children in a medical setting, part of a multidisciplinary medical team, a pediatric psychology fellowship, training in neuropsychological assessment, training in operant and cognitive behavioral techniques, experience with child abuse victims, chronically ill children, supervisory experience and a strong research background are highly desirable.

Licensure/Certification: Current Illinois Registration/licensure in Clinical Psychology or eligible and able to attain within 90 days of hire.

CPR required: Only certifications issued by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross will be accepted.

La Rabida Children’s Hospital is very proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

La Rabida is a place unlike any other. We understand the needs of families with children dealing with the most serious or complicated of conditions. With teams of the best healthcare providers in Chicago, we give continuous, comprehensive care, education, and support, helping families face their unique obstacles head-on.   

La Rabida Children’s Hospital is very proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.