Non-Acute - Senior Public Safety Officer

About the Role

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.

Responsibilities

• Performs routine interior and exterior patrols to ensure safety and security, including inspections for vulnerabilities, hazards, fire conditions, audits of Interim Life Safety Measures, patient valuables management, and contraband searches.
• Assists team members, patients, and visitors by providing information, directions, and physical help.
• Ensures traffic control, monitors visitor conduct, and confronts unauthorized persons for questioning.
• Prevents, responds to, and investigates workplace violence; responds to service calls involving combative or threatening patients/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).
• Plans, prevents, practices, and responds to emergencies such as lost/abducted infants/children, fire, and active threats; physically intervenes in crisis situations to prevent injury.
• Investigates incidents on Advocate Health property and completes timely, accurate reports; addresses and escalates complaints with supporting documentation.
• Performs liaison rounding duties to cultivate partnerships with all departments and units; delivers security awareness education to team members.
• Liaisons with federal, state, and local law enforcement and first responder agencies; coordinates and monitors law enforcement prisoner patient guards to ensure policy compliance.
• Serves as a training resource for the Department, including precepting probationary officers, maintaining training records, and training competencies for all officers.
• Prepares lesson plans for officers not meeting training expectations; maintains instructor-level certifications and provides training in accordance with standards.
• Maintains current Department training standards in radio communications, verbal de-escalation, hemorrhage control (e.g., “STOP the BLEED”), CPR, clinical restraints, and conducted energy weapon (e.g., TASER).
• Assists with exterior traffic and crowd control, including parking enforcement, valet parking assist, and vehicular assistance.
• Utilizes Interview and Interrogation tactics to uncover incident details; completes patrolling with a community-oriented approach.

Requirements

• High school graduate or GED.
• Typically requires 4 years of experience in security, related public safety, or customer service, including responding to emergent situations and resolving risks.
• Security Officer Healthcare Certification (CHSO) issued by the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) must be obtained within two years of appointment (recertification not required).
• Valid driver’s license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles.
• For Illinois teammates: Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID) issued by the Illinois State Police.
• For Wisconsin teammates: 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.
• Illinois team members must have completed the State of Illinois 20-hour Basic Security Officer course.

Skills & Abilities

• Above-average emotional intelligence, including empathetic and compassionate responses to incidents.
• Ability to function in a collaborative, respectful, and patient-centered work environment.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and support a safe, therapeutic environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to document work using Microsoft Word, Excel, and databases.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise mature judgment and sound reasoning in dealings with teammates, visitors, and patients.
• Experience in quickly assessing dangerous situations and taking appropriate action.
• Ability to defend self/others in physical confrontations when de-escalation fails, including restraining non-compliant individuals.
• Ability to communicate effectively via radio and telephone with clear diction.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Must sit, stand, walk, and drive throughout the workday; lift up to 35 lbs. occasionally and push/pull with 35 lbs. of force.
• 20/20 vision in both eyes or correctable to 20/20 with lenses.
• May be exposed to mechanical, electrical, chemical, explosive, and radiation hazards; protective clothing required as necessary.
• Frequent exposure to aggressive behavior and emotionally charged situations; must handle personal stress and possible violence.
• Must be physically fit to walk all facility areas, restrain individuals, and assist with lifting patients of all sizes.

Preferred Qualifications

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

Must successfully pass background investigation, drug screen, pre-placement physical, and psychological screening assessment post-offer, pre-employment, and periodically thereafter. Teammates already employed in Public Safety Officer positions prior to 7-28-24 have 18 months to comply.