SECURITY THERAPY AIDE TRAINEE
About The Position
The Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery is hiring a Security Therapy Aide Trainee at Elizabeth Packard Mental Health Center in Springfield, Illinois. For six to twelve months, the trainee receives training and on-the-job experience providing therapeutic custodial care to adults in a secure residential care forensic unit. The role includes learning interpersonal relationship and counseling techniques, assisting higher-level staff with patient care, learning patient escort and behavior observation and intervention methods, and transporting patients to appointments and court appearances. The position requires travel in the performance of job duties and involves variable shifts in a fully in-office setting.
Requirements
- Knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of high school.
- Ability to physically restrain patients as necessary to prevent injury to the patient or others.
- Ability to walk and stand for significant periods, including stooping, bending, and lifting.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to acquire and maintain a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate.
- Ability to work after business hours, weekends, and holidays.
- Valid driver's license.
- Ability to travel in the performance of job duties.
- Ability to pass standard Physical Agility testing.
- Ability to pass the IDHS background check.
- Ability to pass a drug screen for drugs prohibited from recreational use under Illinois law.
Responsibilities
- Receive training and on-the-job experience providing therapeutic custodial care to adults in a secure residential care forensic unit for six to twelve months.
- Receive training in implementing interpersonal relationships and developing a counseling role with selected patients.
- Assist higher-level staff in overall patient care on various units within the facility.
- Learn and assist with escorting patients to meals, recreation areas, therapy locations, consultations, hearings, and inter-institutional transfers.
- Learn methods for observing and intervening in patient behavior using aggression management techniques, and assist higher-level staff in physically restraining patients with behavior problems.
- Receive training and, with guidance, administer simple oral medications.
- Assist in making periodic counts of patients.
- Transport or drive patients to court appearances, medical appointments, and other needs outside the facility.
- Perform other duties as assigned or required that are reasonably within the scope of the role.
Benefits
- Pension program
- Competitive group insurance benefits, including health, life, dental, and vision insurance
- 3 paid personal business days annually
- 12 paid sick days annually, with unused days carrying over from year to year
- 10–25 days of paid vacation annually, including 10 days in the first year of employment
- 13 paid holidays annually, and 14 in even-numbered years
- 12 weeks of paid parental leave
- Deferred compensation supplemental retirement plan
- Optional pre-tax programs, including Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) and Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)
- Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility
- GI Bill training/apprenticeship benefits eligibility for qualifying veterans
- Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
