Public Safety Officer, SCOP, Third Shift

Valley Health System•Winchester, VA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Public Safety Officer, SCOP (Special Conservator of Peace), under the supervision of Public Safety leadership, is stationed at the Winchester Medical Center campus. The Public Safety Officer, SCOP is part of the Mental Health Custody and Transportation (MCAT) team who obtains registration from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and appointment from the Winchester Circuit Court as a Special Conservator of the Peace with specific legal authority on VH property. The Public Safety Officer, SCOP will have the primary responsibility of assuming custody of individuals brought to the hospital in law enforcement custody pursuant to an Emergency Custody Order and/or Temporary Detention Order and maintain that custody until a treatment facility has been identified to accept custody of the individual for further mental health treatment. The Public Safety Officer, SCOP will also be a part of a transportation team responsible for the safe delivery of individuals lawfully detained pursuant to a TDO to another mental health facility within the Commonwealth of Virginia when an alternative transportation order is issued by a magistrate. The officer will ensure all legal documents for the ECO or TDO have been properly filled out and will have the authority to serve certain court issued legal detention orders related to mental health evaluations to patients. When not engaged in functions associated with the MCAT program, the Public Safety Officer, SCOP will perform the duties and functions of a public safety team member to include being assigned areas of the Medical Center to identify and/or respond to unsafe conditions and emergencies. In addition, the officer will answer calls for service pertaining to unauthorized or illegal activity within the building or campus grounds. All officers respond to emergencies and calls to assist with combative patients or visitors, fire alarms, infant/child abduction, active shooter etc. On a routine basis, each officer will perform inspections for hazards and unusual situations, lock or unlock doors, handle trespassing issues, property receipt and issue, deceased patient transport, etc. Officers are routinely assigned the task of testing and inspecting Public Safety and safety equipment throughout the campus monthly. Each officer properly and completely documents all rounds by completing the necessary reports about all incidents and submits reports by the end of the shift during which the pertinent incident occurred. Officers must be proficient in the use of the RMS Public Safety incident system and the Valley Health System (VHS) Risk Management system. Officer must know when to communicate information confidentially and which method of communication should be used for the type of communication being given. Each officer immediately corrects problems or writes appropriate work orders/memos and reports problem to safety officers and others when safety related problems are observed. Public Safety Officer, SCOPs inspect fire extinguishers and eye wash stations and conduct or assist others in conducting other safety and Public Safety inspections such as Environment of Care Rounds as assigned; test and check alarm system equipment and other equipment as assigned to make sure they are functioning correctly; perform fire watches when requested; and monitors camera systems, infant abduction systems, fire alarm systems, medical gas alarms, and generator alarms. This position investigates reports of loss, damaged property and criminal activity and assists law enforcement with in-custody individuals as needed. Each officer is required to have a strong working knowledge of the facility assigned, campus grounds and all related buildings on campus; analyze and coordinate responses to all alarms on the property; respond to emergency incidents and provide physical public safety to command location; perform inspection of building doors (interior and exterior) to make sure they are opened on time and secured after the regular business day and pick up cash deposits and deliver to the cashier’s office daily. Officers are requested periodically to search patient rooms and patient property for contraband and if found to take the proper safety steps to render them safe. This position also provides safety and security during helicopter landings and take offs. Each officer is courteous to the public (patients, visitors, employees, doctors, sales and service people, neighbors and passers-by, etc.) and shows a professional attitude consistently. Officer provides detailed directions when requested by a visitor or patient; provides escorts to staff members when requested on off business hours; provides patient and staff safety by providing security assistance on Human Resources matters, TDO hearings, and escorts disgruntled individuals from the building or property. The Public Safety Officer, SCOP responds to emergency calls for service consistently in a prompt manner (i.e.: fire, biological, mass casualty, hospital lock-down, radiation emergencies and active shooter); uses sound judgment and discretion in handling such calls 100 percent of the time; assists special needs patient population; assists in transporting patients to behavioral health services (BHS); monitors ECO/TDO patients; intervenes in patient, visitor or family disputes and maintains order. The officer also provides assistance to staff when they are working with an aggressive person and intervenes as necessary before staff are injured. When quick response is not possible because of matters of higher priority, officer promptly notifies person or department requesting services. Public Safety Officer, SCOP may be exposed to chemicals and persons with various illnesses, and individuals with aggressive behaviors.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED
One year of previous, law enforcement, public safety, college and/or fire departments preferred.
Valid driver’s license
BLS Certification (Basic Life Support) - American Heart ‘Healthcare Provider’ (HCP) - AHA approved required. For new hires, certification prior to completion of orientation is required.
Passing of International Association for Healthcare Public Safety and Safety Basic Exam is required within 1 year of hire.
ASP baton, handcuff, and aggression management training is required within 6 months of hire.
Unarmed SCOP training is required within 6 months of hire.
Must obtain DCJS registration as a SCOP appointed by the Circuit Court with specific legal authority on VH property within 90 days of hire.
Crisis Intervention Team training is required within 6 months of hire.
Must be able to work well with all levels of individuals ranging from administrators and physicians to indigent patients.
Must be able to think quickly on their feet, apply common sense, local, state and federal laws, VH policies and be problem solvers.
Must exhibit customer excellence at all times and model the VH mission, vision and values.
Good public relations and communication skills required.
Competent to successfully interact with individuals of varying backgrounds and ethnicities.
Must be able to work with individuals with special needs which may apply based on the age, mental capacity etc.
Ability to display compassion when the situation calls and always look for ways to be of help to others required.
Ability to help ease pain and suffering and help others required.
Available for duty assignment at any Valley Health System facility required (assignments may be temporary or permanent, dependent upon the needs of the VHS organization).
Ability to work on alternate shifts and flex schedule required.
Ability to work on holidays and weekends required.
Ability to sit, walk, and stand for extended periods of time.
Ability to work in a variety of outside environments to include heat, cold, rain, snow, and wind.

Nice To Haves

One year of previous, law enforcement, public safety, college and/or fire departments preferred.

Responsibilities

Assume custody of individuals brought to the hospital in law enforcement custody pursuant to an Emergency Custody Order and/or Temporary Detention Order and maintain that custody until a treatment facility has been identified to accept custody of the individual for further mental health treatment.
Be part of a transportation team responsible for the safe delivery of individuals lawfully detained pursuant to a TDO to another mental health facility within the Commonwealth of Virginia when an alternative transportation order is issued by a magistrate.
Ensure all legal documents for the ECO or TDO have been properly filled out and serve certain court issued legal detention orders related to mental health evaluations to patients.
Perform duties and functions of a public safety team member, including identifying and/or responding to unsafe conditions and emergencies.
Answer calls for service pertaining to unauthorized or illegal activity within the building or campus grounds.
Respond to emergencies and calls to assist with combative patients or visitors, fire alarms, infant/child abduction, active shooter situations.
Perform inspections for hazards and unusual situations, lock or unlock doors, handle trespassing issues, property receipt and issue, deceased patient transport.
Test and inspect Public Safety and safety equipment throughout the campus monthly.
Document all rounds by completing necessary reports about all incidents and submit reports by the end of the shift.
Communicate information confidentially and use appropriate methods of communication.
Immediately correct problems or write appropriate work orders/memos and report safety-related problems to safety officers and others.
Inspect fire extinguishers and eye wash stations and conduct or assist others in conducting other safety and Public Safety inspections.
Test and check alarm system equipment and other equipment to ensure they are functioning correctly.
Perform fire watches when requested.
Monitor camera systems, infant abduction systems, fire alarm systems, medical gas alarms, and generator alarms.
Investigate reports of loss, damaged property and criminal activity.
Assist law enforcement with in-custody individuals as needed.
Analyze and coordinate responses to all alarms on the property.
Respond to emergency incidents and provide physical public safety to command location.
Perform inspection of building doors (interior and exterior) to ensure they are opened on time and secured after the regular business day.
Pick up cash deposits and deliver to the cashier’s office daily.
Search patient rooms and patient property for contraband and take proper safety steps if found.
Provide safety and security during helicopter landings and take offs.
Be courteous to the public and show a professional attitude consistently.
Provide detailed directions when requested by a visitor or patient.
Provide escorts to staff members when requested on off business hours.
Provide patient and staff safety by providing security assistance on Human Resources matters, TDO hearings, and escort disgruntled individuals from the building or property.
Respond to emergency calls for service promptly (e.g., fire, biological, mass casualty, hospital lock-down, radiation emergencies and active shooter).
Use sound judgment and discretion in handling emergency calls.
Assist special needs patient population.
Assist in transporting patients to behavioral health services (BHS).
Monitor ECO/TDO patients.
Intervene in patient, visitor or family disputes and maintain order.
Provide assistance to staff when they are working with an aggressive person and intervene as necessary before staff are injured.
Promptly notify person or department requesting services when quick response is not possible due to higher priority matters.

Benefits

A Zero-Deductible Health Plan
Dental and vision insurance
Generous Paid Time Off
Tuition Assistance
Retirement Savings Match
A Robust Employee Assistance Program to help with many aspects of emotional wellbeing
Membership to Healthy U: An Incentive-Based Wellness Program
Health savings account
Flexible spending account for childcare
Life insurance
Short-term and long-term disability
Professional development
Discounts to on-campus dining