Security Officer - Fulton Mill Road

River Edge Behavioral Health Center; Macon (GA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health service provider in Georgia is seeking a Security Officer to ensure the safety and security of clients and staff at the Crisis Service Center. The role involves patrolling the facility, responding to emergencies, and implementing security measures. Successful candidates will hold a high school diploma or GED, have strong interpersonal skills, and experience in a healthcare security role is preferred. The job requires flexible shift availability and a commitment to ongoing education.

Qualifications

• Requires a valid driver's license.
• Completion of yearly continuing education is necessary.
• Must demonstrate human relations skills in crisis situations.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for on-site security at the Crisis Service Center.
• Patrols assigned areas and ensures safety for clients and staff.
• Responds to medical codes and assists clinical staff in emergencies.

Skills

De-escalation techniques

Human relations

Law enforcement principles

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

RIVER EDGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS SERVICE CENTER

SECURITY OFFICER

About River Edge Behavioral Health

Serving more than 10,000 Georgians, River Edge continues to be one of the state's leading resources for mental health, substance use disorder treatments, and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The full continuum of River Edge Behavioral Health services provides state‑of‑the‑art treatment and support services for more than 13,000 children, youth, families, and adults annually who experience mental illness, addiction, co‑occurring disorders, or developmental disabilities.

Under the supervision of the Lead Security Officer, this full‑time position is responsible for on‑site security at the River Edge Behavioral Health Crisis Service Center (BHCC) which consists of a Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) and Crisis Service Center (CSC). The Security Officer position protects and maintains a secure environment by enforcing rules and regulations to ensure the safety of staff, clients, visitors, and the facility.

The BHCC (CSU/CSC) is a community alternative to or diversion from inpatient hospitalization, offering psychiatric stabilization and detoxification services. The program provides medically monitored residential services to provide psychiatric stabilization and substance detoxification services on a short‑term basis.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Under general supervision, patrols assigned areas and ensures the safety of buildings and grounds for a residential facility that provides treatment for behavioral health clients in crisis for adults and children.
• Provides security measures during involuntary and voluntary admissions to the BHCC (CSU/CSC) to ensure the safety of staff and clients.
• Responds to pages to assist in de‑escalating clients and preventing physical confrontation.
• Assists in preventing violent outbursts by providing added security to the units before clients become combative.
• Responds to medical codes by escorting emergency staff and vehicles to the unit or site.
• Assists clinical staff in emergency crises to ensure the safety of clients and staff.
• Provides general security for the BHCC (CSU/CSC) to ensure the safety and security of buildings, clients, and staff.
• Escorts unauthorized visitors from BHCC (CSU/CSC).
• Monitors visitors to ensure they do not assist a client in escaping from the facility or bringing in unapproved items.
• Monitors visitors in the designated areas of the BHCC (CSU / CSC).
• Ensures the safety of staff that has been threatened by clients or their families.
• Assists community agencies (Macon‑Bibb County Fire Department, Macon‑Bibb County Sheriff Department, Ambulance Services, and other authorized agencies) in various duties when admitted to the BHCC (CSU / CSC) to ensure the safety of staff and clients.
• Be familiar with fire protection services, locations of pull stations, reset boxes, etc. to assist Fire Department in event of a fire alarm.
• Assist with evacuation of unit/building in the event of a safety emergency as directed by the Charge Nurse.
• Check fire extinguishers monthly to assure compliance.
• Patrols buildings and grounds by foot and vehicle to ensure personal and property safety.
• Works to support clinical staff on the unit and performs routine perimeter checks.
• Checks buildings for unlocked doors and windows; vandalism; fire and other hazardous conditions; and proper operation of the building systems.
• Reports any facility‑related maintenance items to the Charge Nurse.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Reporting Relationships

Does not supervise, but may provide work direction and training from the Lead Security Officer.

Challenges and Problems

Challenges include crisis intervention; responding to psychiatric and medical problems; making sound decisions under stressful situations; maintaining composure when dealing with physically and verbally abusive and assaulting individuals; maintaining a high degree of visibility and constant monitoring of the BHCC (CSU/CSC) and grounds area; responding quickly and responsibly to potentially dangerous and life‑threatening situations; resolving and calming clients and visitors that may be extremely agitated; and responding in and working in all types of weather conditions.

Decision‑Making Authority

Decisions include when and how to intervene in emergencies; what actions should be taken to maintain the security and safety of staff, clients, and visitors; whether to call local law enforcement to assist in a situation; interpreting and reset alarms on equipment; determining proper enforcement procedures to implement in any security situation; making appropriate system adjustments to equipment; when to initiate evacuation and/or emergency measures; prioritizing calls to determine most appropriate action, and analyzing a situation to determine if maintenance or administrative staff need to be contacted.

Contact with Others

Daily contact with clients during admissions, emergency code situations, and physical conflict; staff to assist in providing client safety, provide technical assistance regarding rules and regulations; law enforcement upon receiving admissions and assist in security matters; and the general public to provide information and assistance and give directions.

Working Conditions

The incumbent works with adult and juvenile psychiatric and chemical dependency clients who are unpredictable, unmanageable, and verbally and physically abusive both to other clients and employees. Physical assaults by clients are not unusual.

Knowledge and Skills

Requires well‑developed human relations and knowledge of:

• De‑escalation techniques.
• Psychiatric clients and/or disorders.
• Law enforcement and security principles and procedures.

Abilities

Work on shift with the ability to:

• Interpret and enforce facility rules and regulations.
• Function decisively and with authority in crises.
• Deal effectively with hostile individuals.
• Communicate information clearly and concisely to clients, staff, and the general public.
• Operate computer systems.
• Walk and stand for extended periods.
• Recall and record information concisely and accurately.
• Deal tactfully with coworkers, clients, and the general public.

Minimum Training & Experience

• High School diploma or GED.
• Valid driver's license.
• Requires completion of yearly continuing education.

Schedule Shift

• 6:00 pm‑6:00 am or 6:00 am‑6:00 pm Saturday‑Sunday Off Every Other Weekend.

Required Competencies

• Ability to work well with others.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Available shift is 6a‑6p.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of 1‑year experience in providing security services in a healthcare setting.
• Previous work in a behavioral health environment is a plus.

We at River Edge believe every employee has a right to a safe work environment. Therefore, we require full vaccination of all employees. Getting the vaccine, frequently washing your hands, sanitizing common areas, and wearing your mask continue to be the most effective way to fight COVID‑19.