Security Officer

Position Summary:

The Security Officer is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for clients, staff, and visitors. They enforce facility policies, monitor access points, and respond to emergencies, ensuring the safety and security of the facility.

Essential Job Functions:

• Patrol the facility grounds, common areas, and entrance points regularly.
• Monitor security cameras and alarm systems to identify any suspicious activities or safety concerns.
• Manage access to the facility by verifying identification, authorizing entry for clients, visitors, and staff, and logging all entries/exits.
• Conduct bag and belongings checks as necessary to ensure compliance with facility policies.
• Respond quickly to incidents, including client behavioral escalations, intruders, or emergencies (medical, fire, etc.).
• Provide assistance during client interventions or de-escalation procedures, in coordination with facility staff.
• Contact emergency services (police, fire, medical) when needed.
• Ensure that facility policies and safety regulations are followed by clients, staff, and visitors.
• Document and report any rule violations, safety hazards, or incidents promptly to management.
• Assist in providing a calming presence during behavioral emergencies and collaborate with clinical staff to de-escalate situations.
• Escort clients to and from appointments or within the facility as needed.
• Participate in safety drills and ensure that evacuation procedures are understood and followed by all personnel and clients.

• Ensure that all safety equipment, including alarms and emergency lighting, is in good working order.
• Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision and goals of WestCare Foundation; and
• Perform any other duties as assigned.

Education:

• High School Diploma or equivalent is required.

Experience and Competencies:

• Previous experience in security or law enforcement, especially in healthcare or residential settings, is preferred.
• Physical ability to perform patrols and respond to emergencies.
• Excellent communication skills;
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion;
• Ability to work well in a team environment;
• Strong observation skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to remain calm and act quickly in high-stress situations.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, particularly when interacting with clients experiencing mental health crises.
• Adherence to the highest standard of ethical conduct, especially to standards governing confidentiality;
• Professional appearance and demeanor;
• Must be culturally/linguistically sensitive to populations served;
• Valid driver’s license and ability to obtain and maintain WestCare’s vehicle insurance is required

Working Conditions:

• Work is primarily performed in an office or residential treatment setting; and
• Some outdoor activities may be required.

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or

without accommodation:

Physical Demands:

• Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting and walking for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds.  Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files).  Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations through the use of approved physical de-escalation techniques.
• Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.  Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, clients, patients, and the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.
• Requires seeing: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance. This factor is required to complete paperwork for many of the employee’s essential job functions and to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility.

• The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues.  However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

Mental Demands:

• Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions. 
• Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels in order to exchange ideas, information, instructions and opinions. 
• Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings.
• The ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations through the use of approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques.