Detailed job description and main responsibilities

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The main working relationships that the post holder will be required to develop are:

• Internal relationships with other security officers and administrative staff
• Internal relationships with staff using the hospital facilities including departmental managers and ward based staff
• Close Links with patients and visitors using the hospital facilities including contractors 
• Close Links police and other emergency services 

KEY RESULT AREAS

Provide a security presence throughout all areas of the hospital in order to deliver a polite, efficient and compassionate service to patients, visitors and staff at all times 

.Arming and disarming intruder alarms. Monitor and report critical and medical alarms and alert relevant staff to emergency situations as required. Take a leading role in fire alarm procedures

.Dealing directly with individuals who disclose complex, sensitive and contentious information. The security officer will be required to be empathic (no matter what the patient is disclosing) and motivate the individual in a persuasive way to achieve a positive outcome for both the individual and the Trust. There maybe barriers to communication due to disagreement, mental state, substance misuse and language barriers. The security officers are expected to use the multiple facts relating to the situation in order to make the most appropriate judgement, where there maybe more than the one suitable option, to overcome these barriers.

Provide a first line quick and immediate response to distressed, violent and aggressive persons (including mental health patients) within the hospital, calming individuals using verbal and non verbal communication skills, where necessary physically restraining and escorting persons from site in order to maintain a safe environment within the hospital. 

In some cases detaining patients against their will at the request of and under the guidance of clinical personnel where appropriate from a legal and patient safety perspective. 

Responds to situations using physical effort frequently during a shift, individuals will on occasions need to exert intense physical effort e.g. restraining a violent individual. As a security officer the individual will use sudden explosive effort to ensure a quick response to situations. Security personnel frequently use intense physical effort without the use of mechanical aids. The security officer is expected to very quickly adapt to situations, the initial response to an incident may well be one of enforcement however within a very short space of time the security officer will need to decide whether enforcement or complete empathy is required e.g. physical intervention or a listening ear.