Public safety K-9 Armed Officer

Advocate Health; Winston-Salem (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health in Winston-Salem is seeking a Public Safety Officer to protect patients, visitors, and staff. You will patrol entrances, EDs, EMS areas, and corridors, responding to incidents with professional de-escalation and rapid action.

Responsibilities include coordinating with local law enforcement, maintaining training and equipment, and ensuring adherence to safety protocols. A High School diploma or GED is required, with firearm certification and background clearances.

Qualifications

• 4 years in security/public safety or 30 college credits plus 3 years' work in security, with 1 year in safety.
• Willingness to carry a department-authorized firearm on duty.
• Must pass background, drug screen, medical and psychological screening post-offer; compliance required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct patrols at hospital entrances, Emergency Departments, EMS areas, parking structures, and public corridors to identify threats and escalate per Public Safety procedures.
• Assist EMS offloads and high-risk clinical scenarios providing a Public Safety presence.
• Support general Public Safety Operations including alarms, escorts, suspicious persons/property, and safety calls.
• Maintain training and utilization for all deployments, alerts and incidents in accordance with policies.

Skills

Public Safety

Emergency Response

De-escalation

Verbal Communications

Incident Documentation

Team Collaboration

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Radio Communications

Job description

Major Responsibilities:

• Conduct person-borne firearm-detection patrols at hospital entrances, Emergency Departments, EMS areas, parking structures, and public corridors, ensuring threats are neutralized and escalated through proper Public Safety procedures.
• Assistduring EMS offloads and high-risk clinical scenarios providing anadditionalPublic Safety presence.
• Support general Public Safety Operations including alarms, escorts, suspicious persons/property, and response to safety calls.
• Maintainaccuratetraining andutilizationfor all deployments,alertsand incidentsin accordance withdepartmental policies and procedures.
• Maintain all assigned canine-related equipment andcompany-assigned vehiclesconsistent with departmental management policies.
• Performs liaison rounding duties to cultivate close partnerships with all department and units. Delivers security awareness education to team members toleveragetheirassistancein the overall security of the site.
• Liaisons with state and local law enforcement and first responder agencies. Coordinates, briefs, andmonitorsevery law enforcement prisoner patient guard to ensure policy compliance and prevent unsafe practices.
• Maintains current Department training standards in radio communications, verbal de-escalation, stabilization, CPR, application of clinical restraints, conducted energy weapon (Taser), to include training on any/all department-issued equipment and/or requirementsidentifiedin the Annual Training Plan.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• K-9 Certification through International Police Work Dog Association with assigned canine, with at least 16 hours of monthly K-9 related maintenance training(Certification must be received within the first 3 months from hire date.)
• Security Officer Healthcare Certification (CHSO) issued by the International Association for Healthcare Security andSafety (IAHSS) must be obtained on a one-time basis within two years of appointment to this role. Recertification is notrequired.
• For North Carolina teammates, an Armed Guard License issued by NC Private Protective Servicesmaintainedthrough training and competency assessments.
• 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).
• For Illinois teammates,mustmeet State of IL Department of Financial and Professional Regulation licensing requirements andbe ableto obtain a Firearm Control Card (FCC) for Proprietary Personnel within90 daysof hire.
• A valid driver’s license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicle.
• Certified in Conducted Energy Weapon (e.g.TASER) use within90 daysof hire and periodically thereafter.

Education Required:

• High School Diplomaor GED

Experience Required:

• 4 years of experience in a security or public safety role that includes experiences in responding to emergent situations and identifying and resolving issues that pose a potential risk to patients, visitors, staff and/or property; or completion of 30 credit hours in a Criminal Justice, Police Science, or similar course of study from an accredited college or university and 3 years' work experience with 1 year of experience in a security/safety role

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Illinois team members must have completed the State of Illinois 40-hour armed course with semi-automatic pistol endorsement.
• Willingness to carry a department authorized firearm while on duty.
• Illinois team members must annually achieve a passing score of 70% or greater on the State of IL Mandatory Annual Active Duty and Retired Officer Handgun Qualification Course of Fire, un-assisted. Probationary Officers must completerangequalification within their 90-day probationary period and must attend the first qualification date within their probationary period.(Only reflects Illinois requirements.)
• Demonstrated ability to exercise mature judgment and sound reasoning whilemaintaininga courteous and tactful demeanor in dealings with employees, visitors, and patients, even if they are verbally aggressivepersons.
• Demonstrated experience in quickly assessing dangerous situations and takingappropriate action.
• Demonstrated ability in verbal and written communications.
• Ability to use a computer to document work (Microsoft Word, Excel, navigating a web page, and database entry).
• “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 position prior to “7-28-24” will have18 monthsto comply.”
• Ability to defendself and/orothers in case of physical confrontations when de-escalation efforts fail and there is cause to detain a non-cooperative person who is committing a criminal act or fleeing andpossessthe ability to physically restrain a person against their will.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people; ability to hear radio and telephone communications at both high and low decibels.
• Ability to communicate via radio and telephone with clear diction without impediments.
• Must have the ability to interact appropriately with all team members,patientsand visitors, especially under difficult circumstances.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Have 20/20 vision in both eyesorcorrectable to 20/20 with corrective lenses in both eyes.
• May be exposed to mechanical, electrical, chemical, explosive, and radiation hazards. Protective clothing must bewornas necessary.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.
• Frequent exposure to aggressive behavior and emotionally charged situations.
• Must be able to handle personal stress andpossible violence.
• Mustbe physically fit and able towalkall areas of the facilities and grounds, to restrain those who need restraint and be able toassistnursing staff with lifting patients of all sizes.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.