SECURITY OFFICER

Description

JOB SUMMARY

Under general supervision, the Security Officer provides a safe, secure, welcoming and supportive environment for patients, families, visitors, team members, physicians and contractors at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital. The Security Officer performs patrol, access-control, customer-service, emergency-response and documentation duties while supporting the hospital's pediatric, patient- and family-centered mission.

The Security Officer functions primarily at the post and line-officer level and performs assigned duties in accordance with established post orders, departmental procedures, hospital policies, training and applicable law.

The Security Officer has limited independent decision-making authority and is expected to use sound judgment within the scope of assigned responsibilities, training and policy. This position does not have supervisory, managerial, disciplinary, scheduling, performance-management or leadership authority over other employees.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF POSITION

• Conducts interior and exterior patrols to identify safety hazards, security concerns, suspicious activity, unsecured doors, environmental risks and policy violations.
• Operates hospital vehicles when assigned and authorized, in accordance with hospital policy, applicable law and insurance requirements.
• Maintains assigned posts and performs duties in accordance with post orders, departmental procedures and hospital policies.
• Provides professional, compassionate family-centered assistance, directions, escorts and information to patients, families, visitors and staff.
• Responds promptly to dispatched calls for service, including disturbances, behavioral-health concerns, missing or elopement-risk patients, suspicious persons, access-control concerns, medical emergencies and fire or life-safety events.
• Uses approved verbal de-escalation and crisis-intervention techniques and assists clinical staff with disruptive, combative or emotionally distressed patients or visitors within training and policy.
• Supports emergency operations, including fire alarms, evacuations, shelter-in-place actions, severe-weather events, utility interruptions and other emergency-management procedures.
• Enforces hospital policies concerning visitor management, restricted areas, parking, smoking, weapons, contraband and conduct on hospital property.
• Operates and monitors assigned security technology, including radios, email, computer-aided dispatch, electronic report-writing platforms, access-control systems, duress alarms, CCTV/video-management systems, visitor-management tools and other department-approved equipment; documents and promptly reports system issues or deficiencies.
• Controls access to restricted areas and reports access-control, alarm, door, camera or equipment deficiencies promptly.
• Conducts preliminary fact-finding by obtaining statements, preserving relevant information, documenting observations and notifying a Corporal or Shift Supervisor when escalation is needed.
• Completes accurate, timely, factual, and objective incident reports, security logs, shift activity reports, and other required documentation.
• Maintains confidentiality and protects patient, employee, and organizational information in accordance with applicable privacy requirements and hospital policy.
• Participates in required training, drills, competency assessments, and department meetings.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Educational Requirements

High School Diploma/Equivalent preferred.

Licensure, Certification and Registration

Valid driver's license issued by the state of residence and the ability to maintain eligibility to operate hospital vehicles, when assigned, in accordance with hospital policy and applicable insurance requirements.

Work Orientation and Experience

• Prior experience in hospital security preferred.
• Experience in military, industrial security, law enforcement, emergency services, or corrections considered.
• Must be customer service oriented.
• Prior healthcare security, security, customer service, military, emergency-services, or law-enforcement experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods while conducting interior and exterior patrols, maintaining assigned posts, responding to calls for service, and providing escorts.
• Ability to sit for periods while monitoring CCTV, access-control, duress-alarm, dispatch, and other security systems; preparing reports; and completing required documentation.
• Ability to move quickly and safely throughout the hospital campus, including patient-care areas, stairwells, parking areas, exterior grounds, and other assigned locations during routine and emergency conditions.
• Ability to bend, kneel, crouch, reach, climb stairs, and maintain situational awareness while conducting patrols, inspecting facilities, responding to incidents, or assisting with emergency operations.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull equipment, supplies, doors, barriers, and other work-related items at moderately strenuous levels, consistent with hospital policy and safe-work practices.
• Ability to use hands and fingers to operate radios, telephones, computers, access-control systems, alarm-monitoring systems, CCTV equipment, keys, locks, and other assigned security equipment.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in person, by radio, telephone, and through electronic communication systems, including email, computer-aided dispatch, and electronic report-writing platforms.
• Ability to observe and respond to visual and audible conditions, including alarms, radio traffic, calls for assistance, suspicious activity, safety hazards, and other emergency indicators.
• Ability to observe and respond to visual and audible conditions, including alarms, radio traffic, calls for assistance, suspicious activity, safety hazards, and other emergency indicators.
• Basic computer proficiency, including the ability to use email, computer-aided dispatch (CAD), electronic report-writing systems, alarm-monitoring platforms, CCTV/video-management systems, access-control systems, and other department-approved security technology.

Other Requirements Specific to Assigned Area

• Employees must maintain all required licenses, certifications, competencies, and training requirements throughout employment.
• The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Security Officers may be required to respond during fire alarms, evacuations, shelter-in-place events, severe weather, utility interruptions, mass-casualty incidents, and other emergency conditions.
• The position may require work on rotating shifts, weekends, holidays, overtime, and during emergency operations or other periods of operational need.
• Ability to obtain and maintain required hospital security, de-escalation, CPR, and emergency-response training within established time frames.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with children, families, visitors, and staff in stressful or sensitive situations.
• Ability to write clear and objective reports.
• Must have no criminal record.
• Must possess good verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be physically and mentally able to assist with the control of violent and/or disruptive patients, visitors and staff.
• Must have full visual, audio, and vocal acuity.
• Must be able to work all shifts, Emergency Response.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Supervision Received

Reports to the Security Shift Supervisor.

Supervision Exercised

None.

INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Directly interacts with all levels of hospital staff, patients, visitors, medical response personnel and law enforcement.

TOOLS/EQUIPMENT USED

Two-way, multi-channel radio. Computer. CCTV. Detex System. Golf type cart. Multi-function telephone. Over-head page system. Fire alarm panel and fire extinguisher

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT/WORKING CONDITIONS

The work environment described below is representative of conditions the Security Officer may encounter while performing the essential duties of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work is performed in a healthcare environment that includes patient-care areas, public areas, administrative offices, entrances, parking areas, loading areas, exterior grounds, and other hospital locations.
• The position may involve frequent interaction with patients, families, visitors, employees, physicians, contractors, vendors, and law-enforcement or emergency-services personnel.
• The Security Officer may be exposed to stressful, emotionally charged, unpredictable, or rapidly changing situations, including behavioral-health events, disruptive conduct, aggressive behavior, verbal threats, emergencies, and serious safety or security incidents.
• The Security Officer may encounter individuals who are emotionally distressed, confused, combative, impaired, or otherwise experiencing a behavioral or medical crisis. Officers must use approved de-escalation techniques and request appropriate supervisory, clinical, or law-enforcement assistance consistent with their training and authority.
• The position may involve potential exposure to bodily fluids, infectious diseases, bloodborne pathogens, and other healthcare-related hazards. Officers are expected to follow applicable infection-prevention practices, personal protective equipment requirements, safety procedures, and hospital policy.
• Exterior patrol and response duties may require work in varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, snow, wind, darkness, and other seasonal conditions.
• The work environment may include frequent alarms, radio traffic, emergency announcements, construction noise, equipment noise, and other audible distractions.

This job description identifies the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not to be considered an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties or skills required of an incumbent.

Updated 08/18/2026