Crisis Prevention Officer (CPO)

Position Overview

Western State Hospital, part of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), seeks a full-time Crisis Prevention Officer (CPO) to maintain safety and milieu management of the resident population and staff at Western State Hospital. The CPO will ensure consistent and positive interactions with patients on the unit, maintain unit safety, provide therapeutic and physical interventions, and lead the safety culture and initiatives on the unit.

Key Responsibilities

• Responds in a professional and therapeutic manner to various incidents and emergencies as trained.
• Conducts walk-throughs as designated by Administration on the units to help provide a safe and secure environment and milieu for patients and staff.
• Responds to the scene of fires, disasters, duress alarms, or other emergencies and assists as needed.
• Conducts searches on the units as required.
• Escorts residents safely and securely to destinations within the facility.
• Responds to all Code calls on all forensic units.
• Completes documentation as assigned and submits to the supervisor within the timeframe noted by the supervisor.
• Exhibits dependability in attendance, including promptness in reporting for duty.
• Demonstrates good negotiation skills in de-escalating problematic patient behaviors.

Qualifications

• Valid Virginia Driver’s License with an acceptable driving record.
• Experience in law enforcement, corrections, psychology, or related fields, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Additional Considerations

• A high school diploma or equivalent.
• An associate degree in Criminal Justice is preferred.
• Bilingual or veteran/veteran spouse status is considered an asset.

Benefits

• Retirement with cash match.
• Paid time off, sick time, family/personal time, and community service time.
• Health, vision, and dental insurance.
• Life insurance.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Valid Virginia Driver’s License with acceptable driving record.
• Experience in law enforcement, corrections, psychology, or related fields, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Application Requirements

Applications and résumés for this position are accepted electronically through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Electronic Recruitment System only. Interview decisions will be based solely on the information provided in your electronic application and/or résumé. Please ensure you clearly and specifically detail all relevant work experience; we will not make assumptions about your qualifications.

Background Investigation

All applicants are subject to an extensive background investigation and a pre-employment drug screening. This investigation may include fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI), local agency checks, Department of Social Services/Child Protective Services checks, employment verification, and verification of education relevant to the position.

Equal Opportunity

The Commonwealth of Virginia is committed to conducting all aspects of human resource management without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.

Veteran Preference

DBHDS is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified employer and provides hiring preference to qualified veterans and service members. We strongly encourage veterans, active members of the Virginia National Guard, and U.S. Military Reserve members to apply to the state application and respond accordingly.