Clinical Facility Dog Handler – Child Life

Join Cleveland Clinic’s Main Campus where research and surgery are advanced, technology is leading-edge, patient care is world class and caregivers are family. Here, you will work alongside a passionate and dedicated team, receive endless support and appreciation, and build a rewarding career with one of the most respected healthcare organizations in the world. 

As a Facility Dog Handler, you will utilize goal-directed Animal-Assisted Therapy interventions to support patients, their families and Cleveland Clinic caregivers with various healthcare needs. With compassion and empathy, you will provide emotional, behavioral, receptive/expressive, cognitive and physical support, using the Facility Dog to facilitate a fun way to engage patients in their treatment throughout Northeast Ohio. This role offers an excellent opportunity to not only enhance the continuum of care but also grow your skills in behavioral health, animal handling and direct patient interactions. 

A caregiver in this position works days from 8:00AM – 4:30PM.

A caregiver who excels in this role will:  

• Utilize the facility dog to provide therapeutic interventions in a variety of clinical settings, including the inpatient units and outpatient areas. 
• Function as a key member of the healthcare team, communicating all relevant developmental and psychosocial information to other team members via charting, participation in team meetings, etc. 
• Participate in the planning and implementation of special events and programming that involve the facility dog. 
• Develop and assist with projects addressing the needs of patients and families in line with the goals of the facility dog program and are identified by the Child Life, Therapy Services, and/or other teams. 
• Develop and implement educational seminars that address psychosocial needs and challenges of hospitalization and the clinical benefits of utilizing a facility dog. 
• Maintain all requirements for dog handling set out by the placement facility dog organization regarding weight management, vet care, home environment, grooming, recurrent teaching and reporting. 
• Assess the needs of the dog throughout the work shift to provide adequate rest and down time. 
• Maintain program statistics to assess and evaluate the quality of programming and to make necessary adjustments. 
• Facilitate animal care and activities in a manner that ensures cleanliness and prevention of infection. 
• Document interactions and program validity accurately in medical and other records as needed. 
• Collaborate with clinical staff to create opportunities for the facility dog to be included in applicable research. 
• Attend approved events with the facility dog. 
• Assess the developmental, social and physical needs of assigned population and provide appropriate interventions, such as preparations and therapeutic play integrating the facility dog. 
• Provide supervision to volunteers, students and interns. 
• Participate in individual and clinical group supervision. 
• Facilitate patient and parent adjustment to the healthcare environment utilizing the facility dog as appropriate. 
• Assume responsibility and accountability for assigned administrative tasks. 
• Contribute to planning and control processes of the budget by participating in the development and maintenance of inventory. 

Minimum qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:  

• Bachelor’s Degree in Child Life, Recreational Therapy, Child Development or a related field 
• Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) Certification through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation OR active Child Life Certification (CCLS) through the Association of Child Life Professionals 
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification through the American Heart Association (AHA) certification within 90 days of hire 
• Completion of required training with certification from the Facility Dog Training Placement Organization 
• Comfort working with children and animals

Preferred qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:  

• Five years of experience as a Certified Child Life Specialist or Recreational Therapist in a pediatric healthcare setting 
• Specialist in a pediatric healthcare setting 

Our caregivers continue to create the best outcomes for our patients across each of our facilities. Click the link and see how we’re dedicated to providing what matters most to you: https://jobs.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-2/      

Physical Requirements:

• Requires full range of body motion including but not limited to handling and lifting patients, handling a facility dog, manual and finger dexterity, and eye-hand coordination.
• Requires standing and walking for extended periods of time.
• Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range.
• Requires working under stressful conditions and irregular hours. Exposure to communicable diseases and/or body fluids.
• Medium Work – Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Follows Standard Precautions using personal protective equipment as required for procedures