Public Safety (Security) Officer - Armed

Advocate Health Care; Oak Lawn (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health Care seeks a Public Safety Officer I - Armed at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, IL. This full-time, 3rd shift role (10pm–6am) involves patrolling, rapid response to incidents, and maintaining a secure environment for patients and staff.

The position requires completion of Illinois armed training, a valid driver’s license, FOID/CCW, FCC within 90 days, and TASER certification within 90 days.

Qualifications

• Illinois 40-hour armed course with semi-automatic pistol endorsement.
• Valid driver’s license (state of IL).
• FOID or CCW license required or obtainable.
• Firearm Control Card (FCC) must be obtained within 90 days of hire.
• Certified in Conducted Energy Weapon (Taser) use within 90 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Provide security services with professionalism and enforce safety rules and regulations.
• Patrol interior and exterior areas to identify hazards, protect property, and assist patients and visitors.
• Respond to and de-escalate workplace violence and emergencies; assist with crisis management.
• Investigate incidents on Advocate Aurora property and document findings clearly.
• Coordinate with law enforcement and first responders to ensure policy compliance.

Skills

De-escalation

Verbal communication

Crisis response

Security operations

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

It's More Than a Job, It's a Calling!

Position: Public Safety Officer I - Armed

Location: Christ Medical Center; Oak Lawn, IL.

Full Time; 3rd Shift

~Hours of 10pm-6am

• 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.

It's More Than a Job, It's a Calling!

Position: Public Safety Officer I - Armed

Location: Christ Medical Center; Oak Lawn, IL.

Full Time; 3rd Shift

~Hours of 10pm-6am

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).
• Must meet State of IL Department of Financial and Professional Regulation licensing requirements and able to obtain a Firearm Control Card (FCC) for Proprietary Personnel within 90 days of hire.
• Certified in Conducted Energy Weapon (Taser) use within 90 days of hire and periodically thereafter.

Education Required:

High School Diploma or GED

Experience Required

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 40-hour armed course with semi-automatic pistol endorsement.
• Willingness to carry a department authorized firearm while on duty. The firearm and level III holster must be purchased upon hire, supplied, and maintained by the Officer as outlined in the Public Safety Firearms Policy and approved by the Department Range Masters.
• Required annually to 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 complete range qualification within their 90-day probationary period and must attend the first qualification date within their probationary period.
• 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 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 have 18 months to comply.”
• 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. Must possess the hand strength, dexterity, and ability to safely operate a firearm. Must perform all functions of operating, loading/un-loading, breaking down and cleaning a firearm un-assisted and without assist devices.
• 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.