Public Safety Officer

Major Responsibilities:

• Provides security services with a customer-service approach, focusing on professionalism, fairness, and compassion even in challenging circumstances and in accordance with policies, procedures, and training.
• Inspires confidence in patients, visitors, and team members by presenting a professional, approachable, and service-oriented appearance and demeanor. Is alert, observant, and ethical. Complies with and enforces all safety and security rules and regulations. Maintains Department uniform and equipment in good repair.
• Performs routine responsibilities during interior and exterior patrols to ensure safety and security, including but not limited to inspections to identify vulnerabilities, hazards, and fire conditions, audits of Interim Life Safety Measures, patient valuables management, and thorough contraband searches. Assists team members, patients, and visitors by providing information, directions, and physical help. Ensures traffic control, monitors conduct of visitors on premises and confronts unauthorized persons for questioning.
• Prevents, responds to, and investigates workplace violence. Responds to service calls, such as combative or threatening patients or visitors and team member incidents.
• Serves as a primary resource for de-escalation, utilizing use of force when necessary (e.g. conducted electrical weapon (CEW), handcuffing.)
• Performs key responsibilities to plan, prevent, practice, and respond to emergencies such as lost or abducted infants/children, fire, and active threats.
• Responds immediately to emergency and crisis situations; physically intervenes in accordance with training to situations that have a potential for injury.
• Investigates incidents that occur on Advocate Health property and completes timely and accurate reports. Addresses and escalates complaints to the appropriate leader and provides supporting documentation.
• Performs liaison rounding duties to cultivate close partnerships with all departments and units. Delivers security awareness education to team members to leverage their assistance in the overall security of the site.
• Liaisons with federal, state, and local law enforcement and first responder agencies. Coordinates, briefs, and monitors every law enforcement prisoner patient guard to ensure policy compliance and prevent unsafe practices.
• Maintains current Department training standards in radio communications, verbal de-escalation, hemorrhage control (e.g. “STOP the BLEED”), CPR, application of clinical restraints, conducted energy weapon (e.g. TASER), to include training on any/all department-issued equipment and/or requirements identified in training academy and the Annual Training Plan.
• Assists with exterior traffic and crowd control, including parking enforcement, valet parking assist, and vehicular assistance.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• Security Officer Healthcare Certification (CHSO) issued by the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) must be obtained on a one-time basis within two years of appointment to this role. Recertification is not required.
• For North Carolina teammates, an Unarmed Guard License issued by NC Protective Services must be obtained within 1 year and maintained through training and competency assessments.
• Stop the Bleed Certification must be obtained within 1 year of hire date.
• A valid driver’s license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicle.
• Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) Card issued by the Illinois State Police or Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) license issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
• Certified in Conducted Energy Weapon (e.g. TASER) use within 90 days of hire and periodically thereafter.

Education Required:

• High school graduate or GED

Experience Required:

• Typically requires 1 year s of experience in a security, related public safety, or customer service area that includes experiences in responding to emergent situations and identifying and resolving issues that pose a potential risk to patients, visitors, teammates and/or property .

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• An above average level of emotional intelligence, including empathetic and compassionate responses to teammate, visitor, and patient incidents.
• The ability to function in a work environment in which we maximize teammate talent, treat each other with respect, and care for one another like family and with kindness.
• A daily commitment to patient-centered safety practices.
• Collaborative work with medical staff and external law enforcement, as appropriate.
• The ability to remain calm under pressure to support a safe, welcoming, and therapeutic environment for everyone in the facility.
• The ability to interact with peers with positive intent and create innovative solutions through collaborative relationships.
• Must successfully pass background investigation, drug screen, pre-placement physical post-offer, pre-employment and periodically thereafter.
• Illinois team members must have completed State of Illinois 20-hour Basic Security Officer course.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise mature judgment and sound reasoning while maintaining a courteous and tactful demeanor in dealings with teammates, visitors, and patients, even if they are verbally aggressive persons.
• Demonstrated experience in quickly assessing dangerous situations and taking appropriate action.
• Demonstrated ability in verbal and written communications.
• Ability to use a computer to document work (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, navigating a web page, and database entry).
• Ability to defend self-and/or others in case of physical confrontations when de-escalation efforts fail and there is cause to physically restrain a person against their will who is non-compliant and committing a criminal act or lacks capacity and is attempting to elope.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people; ability to hear radio and telephone communications at both high and low decibels.
• Ability to communicate via radio and telephone with clear diction without impediments.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Must sit, stand, walk, and drive throughout the workday and must lift up to 35 lbs. occasionally. Must be able to push/pull with 35 lbs. of force.
• Have 20/20 vision in both eyes or correctable to 20/20 with corrective lenses in both eyes.
• May be exposed to mechanical, electrical, chemical, explosive, and radiation hazards. Protective clothing must be worn as necessary.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.
• Frequent exposure to aggressive behavior and emotionally charged situations.
• Must be able to handle personal stress and possible violence.
• Must be physically fit and able to walk all areas of the facilities and grounds, to restrain those who need restraint and be able to assist clinical teammates with lifting patients of all sizes.

Preferred Job Requirements

• Behavioral Threat Assessment knowledge
• Use of Force Review
• Crime through environmental design awareness
• Ability to present material and facilitate meetings

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.