Job Description
Position Title: Hospital Dog Coordinator- University of Oklahoma Medical Center
Department: Child Life and Therapeutic Programs - Adult
Job Description: General Description: Under minimal supervision, determines, develops and implements hospital dog program to support patients, families and staff through animal assisted therapy, acting as primary dog handler/caregiver during both working and non-working hours.
Essential Responsibilities: Responsibilities listed in this section are core to the position. Inability to perform these responsibilities with or without an accommodation may result in disqualification from the position.
- Represents an innovative hospital therapy/comfort/service dog program at OU Health to the hospital and the community.
- Develops and implements programming for facilitating dog support to patients, families and staff.
- Supports dog program in clinical settings, urgent needs, long-term patients, chronic diagnoses and other high-need populations, as well as play and events that impact patient's socio-emotional needs.
- Creates opportunities for public relations interest, outreach events, fundraisers and educational presentations about both the hospital dog program and volunteer-based pet therapy dog program.
- Collaborates on grants for sustainability of the program.
- Maintains and initiates partnerships in the community.
- Coordinates hospital dog support for health care team.
- Works collaboratively on team and across hospital departments, including collaboration with volunteer-based pet therapy team.
- Serves as primary dog handler/caregiver, responsible for all food, shelter, grooming, veterinary, transportation and daily care needs of the hospital dog both during work and non-work hours (in and out of the facility), in collaboration with a secondary handler.
- Fulfills contract obligations and remains in good standing with Canine Assistants and/or similar oversight organizations.
General Responsibilities: Performs other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications: Education: Bachelor's Degree in Child Life, Psychology, Child Development, Social Work, Public Health, Communication, Public Relations or related field
Experience: At least three (3) years of experience working in hospital setting and/or working with patient's and families
Or an equivalent combination of education and experience License(s)/Certification(s)/Registration(s) Required: None.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: - Excellent verbal and writing skills to include excellent interpersonal communication skills. Excellent public speaking and instruction skills.
- Awareness of sensory experiences of the hospital environment.
- Knowledge of animal assisted therapy and/or service dog evidence-based practices, research and theory.
- Working knowledge of patient and family needs and ability to perform basic patient and family assessments.
- Working knowledge of trends and opportunities in outreach, fundraising, health education programming and public relations.
- Good technology skills.
- Ability to care for a dog.
Current OU Health Employees - Please click HERE to login. OU Health is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including PTO, 401(k), medical and dental plans, and many more. We know that a total benefits and compensation package, designed to meet your specific needs both inside and outside of the work environment, create peace of mind for you and your family.
Job Tags
Contract work, Immediate start,