Behavioral Health Safety Officer: Crisis De-Escalation

Optimacare; Cedar Grove (NJ); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Alaris Health Behavioral Health Unit in Cedar Grove, NJ is seeking a Safety Officer to maintain a safe, therapeutic environment for residents and staff. The role emphasizes continuous observation, de-escalation using CPI guidelines, incident reporting, and collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.

Responsibilities include supervising resident activities, conducting safety rounds, screening visitors, assisting with transfers, and ensuring secure facility operations.

Qualifications

• Crisis Prevention Intervention training and ability to demonstrate advanced behavioral techniques.
• Experience with complex behavioral residents and de-escalation.
• Recognize escalating behaviors and provide calm redirection.
• Work with mentally ill residents with special needs.
• Knowledge of behavioral interventions and applied behavior analysis.
• Knowledge of behavior management strategies for challenging residents.
• Knowledge of aggressive behavior in mentally ill residents.
• Coordinate and supervise nursing functions effectively.
• Empathetic attitude toward residents and ability to gain trust.
• Understand and follow oral and written English instructions.
• Recognize symptoms and make quick emergency decisions.
• Train subordinates and organize training activities.
• Positively interact with staff, residents, families, visitors and agencies.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Organized written and verbal communication.
• Knowledge of Long Term Care regulations.
• Team-oriented work approach.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a safe, secure, and therapeutic environment for residents and staff.
• Provide continuous observation and de-escalation per CPI guidelines.
• Report incidents promptly and document in logs per policy.
• Assist with resident supervision and one-to-one observation as ordered.
• Screen visitors, inspect packages, and monitor security of the unit.
• Conduct safety rounds and identify environmental hazards.
• Escort/transport residents to programs and activities as needed.
• Complete end-of-shift reports to the oncoming Safety Officer.
• Remain assigned to the BHU during scheduled shifts.
• Inspect fire doors, locking systems, and exterior gates for function.
• Communicate professionally with residents, families, and staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.

Skills

CPI training

De-escalation

Interpersonal skills

Written & verbal comms

Education

High school diploma or GED

Experience as safety officer in healthcare/behavioral health preferred

Job description

Alaris Health Behavioral Health Unit in Cedar Grove, NJ is seeking a Safety Officer to maintain a safe, therapeutic environment for residents and staff. The role emphasizes continuous observation, de-escalation using CPI guidelines, incident reporting, and collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.

Responsibilities include supervising resident activities, conducting safety rounds, screening visitors, assisting with transfers, and ensuring secure facility operations.