Public Safety Officer

Advocate Health; Sheboygan (WI); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health is seeking a dedicated Security Officer to safeguard patients, staff, and visitors across hospital facilities in Wisconsin. You will perform patrols, respond to incidents, and enforce safety policies with professionalism and compassion.

Candidates must meet state requirements, pass background checks, and be prepared for de-escalation, emergency response, and collaboration with local law enforcement.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Typically requires 1 year of security/public safety experience.
• Security Officer Healthcare Certification or state-required training is expected.

Responsibilities

• Provides security services with professionalism, fairness, and compassion in challenging circumstances.
• Performs patrols to identify vulnerabilities, hazards, and ensure safety following policies.
• Responds to and de-escalates workplace incidents and emergencies.
• Conducts investigations and reports incidents on Advocate Aurora property.
• Liaisons with local law enforcement and first responders as needed.
• Maintains training standards for radio communications, CPR, and safety equipment.

Skills

Judgment & reasoning

De-escalation

Verbal communication

Written communication

Computer literacy

Emergency response

Radio communications

Self-defense

Education

High School Diploma or GED

1 year security/public safety experience

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides security services with professionalism, fairness, and compassion in even 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. Is alert, observant, and ethical. Complies with and enforces all safety and security rules and regulations. Maintains Department uniform and equipment in good repair.
• Performs routine responsibilities during interior and exterior patrols to ensure safety and security, including but not limited to inspections to identify vulnerabilities, hazards, and fire conditions, audits of Interim Life Safety Measures, patient valuables management, and thorough contraband searches. Assists team members, patients, and visitors by providing information, directions, and physical help. Ensures traffic control, monitors conduct of visitors on premises, and confronts unauthorized persons for questioning.
• Prevents, responds to, and investigates workplace violence. Responds to service calls, such as combative or threatening patients or visitors and team member incidents. Serves as a primary resource for de-escalation.
• Performs key responsibilities to plan, prevent, practice, and respond to emergencies such as lost or abducted infants/children, fire, and active threats. Responds immediately to emergency and crisis situations; physically intervenes in accordance with training to situations that have a potential for injury.
• Investigates incidents that occur on Advocate Aurora property and completes timely and accurate reports. Addresses and escalates complaints to the appropriate leader and provides supporting documentation.
• Performs liaison rounding duties to cultivate close partnerships with all department and units. Delivers security awareness education to team members to leverage their assistance in the overall security of the site.
• Liaisons with state and local law enforcement and first responder agencies. Coordinates, briefs, and monitors every 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 requirements identified in the Annual Training Plan.

License/Registration/Certification Required:

• Security Officer Healthcare Certification (CHSO) issued by the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) must be obtained on a one-time basis within two years of appointment to this role. Recertification is not required.
• A valid driver’s license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicle.
• Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) Card issued by the Illinois State Police or Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) license issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ). This is needed in order to carry a taser at work.
• Certified in Conducted Energy Weapon (Taser) use within 90 days of hire and periodically thereafter.

Education Required:

High School Diploma or GED

Typically requires 1 year of experience in a security, related public safety, or customer service area 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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Illinois team members must have completed State of Illinois 20-hour Basic Security Officer course.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise mature judgment and sound reasoning while maintaining a courteous and tactful demeanor in dealings with employees, visitors, and patients, even if they are verbally aggressive persons.
• Demonstrated experience in quickly assessing dangerous situations and taking appropriate action.
• Demonstrated ability in verbal and written communications.
• Ability to use a computer to document work such (Microsoft Word, Excel, navigating a web page, and database entry).
• Must successfully pass background investigation, drug screen, pre-placement physical post-offer, pre-employment and periodically thereafter.
• Ability to defend self and/or others 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 and possess the 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, patients and visitors, especially under difficult circumstances.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• Must sit, stand, walk, and drive throughout the workday and must lift up to 35 lbs. occasionally. Must be able to push/pull with 35 lbs. of force.
• Have 20/20 vision in both eyes or correctable to 20/20 with corrective lenses in both eyes.
• May be exposed to mechanical, electrical, chemical, explosive, and radiation hazards. Protective clothing must be worn as 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 and possible violence.
• Must be physically fit and able to walk all areas of the facilities and grounds, to restrain those who need restraint and be able to assist nursing 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.