Psychiatric Security Specialist Part-time

State of Iowa•Cherokee - 51012 - Cherokee County, IA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of State-Operated Specialty Care, Bureau of Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders (CCUSO) is seeking a Part-time Psychiatric Security Specialist to join our team! This is a part-time position with a varied schedule and strong opportunity for advancement, growth, and development. The Psychiatric Security Specialist provides direct-care services of both a security and treatment nature at CCUSO. This position assists mental health staff and performs a wide range of security functions in creating a maximally therapeutic environment for the care and treatment of individuals with mental abnormalities and/or personality disorders who were convicted of a sex offense. The part-time Specialist supervises approximately 120 residents, works 20-24 hours per week, and provides coverage to various treatment activities throughout the assigned shift. The position also provides back-up for full-time staff to ensure adequate protection is in place for the safety and security of the institution. CCUSO provides a secure, long-term, and highly structured setting to treat sexual offenders who have served their prison terms, but, in a separate civil trial, have been found likely to reoffend. The facility provides state-of-the-art treatment to patients to lower their risk of re-offending and to release them from confinement as quickly as possible. There is a full range of diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitative services focused on addressing the conditions impacting a patient’s likelihood of re-offending.

Requirements

Graduation from high school, GED, or equivalency
Ability to pass a background investigation
Within a period of time after hire, as determined by the appointing authority, persons in this class may be required to complete security training and treatment program training.

Responsibilities

Supervision of various patient activities at the CCUSO facility
Facilitation of psycho-educational group activities
Documentation of patient behaviors
Operation of the master control center
Conducting basic physiological assessments such as taking blood pressure
Administering basic first aid
Supervision of patients on medical trips outside of the facility
Maintaining strict confidentiality with regard to program and patient matters
Calmly deescalating patients as needed
Provides back-up for full-time staff to ensure adequate protection is in place for the safety and security of the institution