Forensic Security Officer Supervisor

Introduction

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Delaware Psychiatric Center (DPC) Jane

E. Mitchell (JEM) Security Officer Supervisor is tasked with overseeing security personnel. Security personnel provide security and safety for the (42) male and female clients from the Department of Correction (DOC) and 80 staff  JEM building is a 24-hour, 3 shift staffed facility. The federal government’s Bureau of Prisons uses a numbered scale from one to five to represent the security level of prisons and jails.

Level five is the most secure facility in the Criminal Justice System.

This class series uses three levels in the Protection and Security Services occupational group, Support Services occupational series and describes work providing protection and security services to staff, clients, and the general public within a level 5 secure state facility which houses mental health clients. Work includes monitoring and ensuring the security and safety of state property, staff and visitors. Client behavior can be combative and unpredictable.

Significant aspects of the work involve the possibility of dealing with crisis and/or emergency situations including the use of physical restraint, foot patrol of the resident units, conducting room/building searches, and monitoring clients in a day hall setting during meals and in group activities. It is important to note that employees work under the direction of clinical staff and while they are trained to recognize unusual or abnormal behavior, security officers do not provide clinical observation or services.

Note:

This career ladder series incorporates the Forensic Security Officer I and II. The Forensic Security Officer I level is to provide entry for hiring new employees into the class series but does not preclude hiring new employees at higher levels. Employees may be promoted through the career ladder in accordance with job requirements and promotional standards. Promotional standards, a selection document under separate cover, sets forth the criteria that defines and describes the requirements that must be met at each level.

Advancement of employees through the career ladder is dependent on an agency's/department's operational needs and distribution of work. The Forensic Security Officer Supervisor level, although not part of the career ladder, provides competitive opportunity for movement of employees.

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Maintains control of persons and property in compliance with policies relative to safety, security and orderliness.
• Monitors and ensures the safety of state property, as well as safety and location of staff and visitors by performing work such as controlling ingress and egress of people through a secure point of access, within the forensic building and units.
• Answers internal emergency call received via the facility emergency phone line, relays information to the appropriate authorities, and monitors internal alarm systems.
• Uses electronic intercom and closed-circuit camera systems to communicate with staff accurately identify and verify authorized access, granting sector by sector access from the control center.
• Observes the behavior of clients and alerts nursing and other clinical staff of behavioral changes; monitors conduct of visitors; and takes action to de-escalate potentially violent or disruptive situations.
• Responds to psychiatric emergencies involving combative clients and assists in detaining trespassers, violators and searching for missing clients.
• Responds to internal hazards, risks, fires or other emergencies.
• Makes regular rounds of the forensic buildings, units and perimeter and ensures that all safety devices on doors and windows are operable and secure.
• Conducts inspections and searches of clients, visitors, grounds and building perimeter for weapons or other contraband and takes client counts.
• Provides general information to forensic unit visitors and gives directions as required.
• May be required to prepare logs, statistical information, incident…