Director of Maximum Security

Texas Health & Human Services Commission•Vernon, TX

12d•$4,523 - $7,254•Onsite

About The Position

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage. Would you thrive in an environment where you learn and grow personally and professionally all while helping make a positive impact on people’s lives? Do you appreciate being around others like yourself who are dependable, trustworthy, hard workers who believe in the value of teamwork? HSCS is dedicated to building an atmosphere where employees feel valued and supported while providing specialized care for Texans in need. HSCS is comprised of ten psychiatric hospitals, two youth residential treatment facilities, and thirteen state supported living centers. The psychiatric hospitals are a hub of excellence for forensic mental health and complex psychiatric care, with all facilities accredited by The Joint Commission. They provide state-of-the-art treatment that is recovery-oriented and science-based. If providing hope and healing through compassionate, innovative, and individualized care interests you, we welcome your application for the position below. Program Supervisor IV (Director of Maximum Security) works a day shift from Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM in the Security Department of Vernon State Hospital. The Director of Maximum-Security reports directly to the Director of Risk Management and is responsible for administering all the operations of the Vernon State Hospital Security Department. Performs complex managerial work directing and coordinating all security activities. Supervises management staff to carry out the Mission of the Security Department. Responsible for the fiscal and administrative management of the Maximum-Security Department resources. Implements and administers a comprehensive Security program to ensure the safety and wellbeing of individuals, employees, and the public, protects state and personal property and prevents unauthorized departures of individuals served. Coordinates investigations as required. Serves on the Quality Improvement Council (QIC) working with other members of the hospital’s key leadership team in establishing organization goals, planning, and implementing quality care as well as contributing to planning processes related to resource allocation and distribution. The Director of Security is on call 24 hours a day or assures a subordinate is available to call. The Director of Security participates in hospital or HSCS committees as requested. The Director of Security serves as a liaison with law enforcement agencies in the community. Operates the Security Department, ensuring compliance with Vernon State Hospital standards, Security Department policy and procedures, Joint Commission, IOP and Life Safety codes. Maintains a current Security Management Plan that describes the department, establishes goals, objectives and standards to guide the direction of the department, and measures and improves performance. Attends work on a regular basis and may be required to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned. Measures and monitors performance improvement and other data. Reports are presented in a manner useful for analysis and problem-solving. In formal data reports, data is presented in tables and graphs as appropriate; data is analyzed using statistical process control; identifies patterns, causes, and/or conclusions based on data analysis; and action plans are developed for undesirable data as applicable. Addresses problems related to attendance, job performance and conduct in a manner that is consistent with the Performance and Conduct Management System; remembering that the goals of PCM are to correct problems and retain employees; and to use PCM as a management tool to promote good morale and performance efficiency. Applying concepts through counseling sessions, written documentation aimed at problem solving while maintaining the dignity and self-respect of individuals involved. Ensures that all employees under chain of command have a current position description and performance evaluation and are current with required training to adhere with established agency and Human Resource requirements. Provides leadership and operational oversight for the Clinical Security Officer positions by ensuring staffing, training, and performance standards across all areas of the hospital. Coordinates with nursing, clinical, and administrative teams to align CSO duties with patient safety needs and maximum-security requirements. Coordinates investigations on any issue, which poses a threat to the security of Vernon State Hospital (patients, employees, or visitors) to ensure a secure environment for the hospital and the public. Maintains a current policy and procedure manual to facilitate the organized, efficient, and effective operation of the Security Department and provide a resource for staff to reference information. At the request of the Superintendent, assists in executive and senior level administrative matters such as program design; systems analysis; program evaluations and/or evaluations of facility policies and procedures; serves on assigned task forces. Manages, implements, and continuously improves the facility's Workplace Violence Program by developing policies, conducting risk assessments, analyzing incident trends, and coordinating multidisciplinary prevention efforts. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Requirements

Must be skilled in the following areas:
Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to a business function, division, or department; and of the principles and practices of public administration and management.
Knowledge of Joint Commission and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service standards.
Ability to manage business function, division, or department activities; to establish goals and objectives; to devise solutions to administrative problems; to develop and evaluate administrative policies and procedures; to prepare reports; to communicate effectively; and to plan, assign, and supervise the work of others.
Skill in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Skill in communicating both in writing and orally.
Excellent writing skills and ability to prepare reports, policies, procedures
Ability to prioritize and manage tasks independently.
Ability to demonstrate a high level of discretion and decision-making autonomy when addressing urgent, sensitive, and complex security matters.
Working knowledge of Code of Criminal Procedure, Mental Health commitment procedures/processes.
Knowledge of current issues in forensic mental health law and programming.
Knowledge of, and ability to apply the principles of recovery and trauma informed care in service of psychiatric inpatients.
Must possess a valid Texas driver's license or obtain it no later than 90 days after hire date.
Applicants with an out-of-state driver's license must provide an original certified driving record from the state of driving licensure.
Eligible driving record required based on HHSC Fleet Management policy.
Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aid, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct, List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE).
Males between the ages of 18-25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility.
Compliance with HHSC immunization policy and state hospital operating procedures related to immunizations is required.
Applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree from an accredited college is preferred.
Supervisory Experience.
5 Years of Experience Leading a Security department.
Experience writing policy, procedures, reports, or plans.
Experience with one or more of the following: Security, Emergency Management, Life Safety Code, Hazardous Materials Management, and Medical Equipment Management.

Responsibilities

Administering all the operations of the Vernon State Hospital Security Department.
Performing complex managerial work directing and coordinating all security activities.
Supervising management staff to carry out the Mission of the Security Department.
Responsible for the fiscal and administrative management of the Maximum-Security Department resources.
Implementing and administering a comprehensive Security program to ensure the safety and wellbeing of individuals, employees, and the public, protects state and personal property and prevents unauthorized departures of individuals served.
Coordinating investigations as required.
Serving on the Quality Improvement Council (QIC) working with other members of the hospital’s key leadership team in establishing organization goals, planning, and implementing quality care as well as contributing to planning processes related to resource allocation and distribution.
Being on call 24 hours a day or assuring a subordinate is available to call.
Participating in hospital or HSCS committees as requested.
Serving as a liaison with law enforcement agencies in the community.
Operating the Security Department, ensuring compliance with Vernon State Hospital standards, Security Department policy and procedures, Joint Commission, IOP and Life Safety codes.
Maintaining a current Security Management Plan that describes the department, establishes goals, objectives and standards to guide the direction of the department, and measures and improves performance.
Attending work on a regular basis and may be required to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performing other duties as assigned.
Measuring and monitoring performance improvement and other data.
Addressing problems related to attendance, job performance and conduct in a manner that is consistent with the Performance and Conduct Management System.
Ensuring that all employees under chain of command have a current position description and performance evaluation and are current with required training to adhere with established agency and Human Resource requirements.
Providing leadership and operational oversight for the Clinical Security Officer positions by ensuring staffing, training, and performance standards across all areas of the hospital.
Coordinating with nursing, clinical, and administrative teams to align CSO duties with patient safety needs and maximum-security requirements.
Coordinating investigations on any issue, which poses a threat to the security of Vernon State Hospital (patients, employees, or visitors) to ensure a secure environment for the hospital and the public.
Maintaining a current policy and procedure manual to facilitate the organized, efficient, and effective operation of the Security Department and provide a resource for staff to reference information.
Assisting in executive and senior level administrative matters such as program design; systems analysis; program evaluations and/or evaluations of facility policies and procedures; serving on assigned task forces.
Managing, implementing, and continuously improving the facility's Workplace Violence Program by developing policies, conducting risk assessments, analyzing incident trends, and coordinating multidisciplinary prevention efforts.
Actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.
Fiscally managing program resources in a manner to meet the department goals and provide support services in a cost-efficient manner.
Applying concepts through counseling sessions, written documentation aimed at problem solving while maintaining the dignity and self-respect of individuals involved.
Reporting data in a manner useful for analysis and problem-solving, including tables and graphs as appropriate, analyzed using statistical process control; identifying patterns, causes, and/or conclusions based on data analysis; and developing action plans for undesirable data.
Participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.