Public Safety (Security) Officer - Unarmed

Advocate Health

10d • $22 - $33 • Onsite

About The Position

The Public Safety (Security) Officer provides security services in a healthcare setting using a professional, fair, compassionate, and customer-service-oriented approach. The officer helps create a safe, welcoming, and therapeutic environment for patients, visitors, and teammates while enforcing safety and security rules and maintaining department uniforms and equipment.

The role includes interior and exterior patrols; inspections for security vulnerabilities, hazards, and fire conditions; traffic and crowd control; responding to workplace violence and other service calls; de-escalating incidents and using force when necessary; and preparing timely, accurate incident reports. The officer also supports emergency preparedness and response, including incidents involving lost or abducted children, fires, and active threats.

The officer partners with departments and units through liaison rounds and security-awareness education, and works with federal, state, and local law enforcement and first responders. The position requires current training in radio communications, verbal de-escalation, hemorrhage control, CPR, clinical restraints, conducted energy weapons, and department-issued equipment. The schedule is first shift, 7:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., 40 hours per week.

Requirements

• High school graduate or GED.
• Typically one year of experience in security, related public safety, or customer service, including responding to emergent situations and identifying and resolving issues posing potential risks to patients, visitors, teammates, or property.
• Obtain the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety Security Officer Healthcare Certification (CHSO) within two years of appointment; one-time certification, with no recertification required.
• Valid driver’s license issued by a Division of Motor Vehicle.
• For Illinois teammates: completion of the State of Illinois 20-hour Basic Security Officer course.
• For Illinois teammates: Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID) issued by the Illinois State Police.
• For Wisconsin teammates: Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) license issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
• Certification in conducted energy weapon (e.g., TASER) use within 90 days of hire and periodically thereafter.
• Demonstrate above-average emotional intelligence, including empathetic and compassionate responses to teammate, visitor, and patient incidents.
• Ability to function in a respectful, kind, collaborative work environment and commitment to patient-centered safety practices.
• Ability to collaborate with medical staff and external law enforcement as appropriate.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and support a safe, welcoming, and therapeutic environment.
• Ability to interact with peers with positive intent and develop solutions through collaborative relationships.
• Successfully pass a background investigation, drug screen, and pre-placement physical after offer, as part of pre-employment screening.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and drive throughout the workday; occasionally lift up to 35 pounds; and push or pull with 35 pounds of force.
• Have 20/20 vision in both eyes or vision correctable to 20/20 with corrective lenses in both eyes.
• Ability to operate all equipment necessary to perform the job.
• Ability to handle personal stress and possible violence, frequent exposure to aggressive behavior and emotionally charged situations, and the physical demands of walking facility areas and grounds, restraining individuals when needed, and assisting clinical teammates with lifting patients of all sizes.
• Wear protective clothing as necessary when exposed to mechanical, electrical, chemical, explosive, or radiation hazards.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of Behavioral Threat Assessment.
• Knowledge of Use of Force Review.
• Awareness of crime through environmental design.
• Ability to present material and facilitate meetings.

Responsibilities

• Provide security services with professionalism, fairness, compassion, and a customer-service approach.
• Maintain an alert, observant, ethical, professional, approachable, and service-oriented presence; comply with and enforce safety and security rules and regulations; keep department uniform and equipment in good repair.
• Conduct interior and exterior patrols and inspections to identify vulnerabilities, hazards, and fire conditions; audit Interim Life Safety Measures; manage patient valuables; and conduct thorough contraband searches.
• Assist teammates, patients, and visitors with information, directions, and physical help.
• Control traffic, monitor visitor conduct on premises, and question unauthorized persons.
• Prevent, respond to, and investigate workplace violence; respond to service calls involving combative or threatening patients or visitors and teammate incidents.
• Serve as a primary resource for de-escalation and use force when necessary, including conducted energy weapons and handcuffing.
• Plan for, prevent, practice, and respond to emergencies such as lost or abducted infants or children, fires, and active threats.
• Respond immediately to emergency and crisis situations and physically intervene according to training when there is potential for injury.
• Investigate incidents on Advocate Health property and complete timely, accurate reports; address and escalate complaints to the appropriate leader with supporting documentation.
• Conduct liaison rounds to build partnerships with departments and units, and provide security-awareness education to teammates.
• Liaise with federal, state, and local law enforcement and first responder agencies.
• Coordinate, brief, and monitor law enforcement prisoner-patient guards to ensure policy compliance and prevent unsafe practices.
• Maintain required training in radio communications, verbal de-escalation, hemorrhage control, CPR, clinical restraints, conducted energy weapons, department-issued equipment, and other training requirements.
• Assist with exterior traffic and crowd control, parking enforcement, valet parking, and vehicular assistance.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off programs.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
• Adoption assistance and paid parental leave.
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
• Educational Assistance Program.
• Competitive compensation, including potential premium pay, incentive pay for select positions, and opportunity for annual performance-based increases.
• Career development programs and well-being programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED