Safety and Security Technician-Transportation

Title: Safety and Security Technician-Transportation

State Role Title: Direct Service Associate III

Hiring Range: $42,503 Salary to commensurate with experience

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location: Central State Hospital

Agency Website: https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/csh/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Central State Hospital (CSH) is a 277 bed Joint Commission accredited psychiatric inpatient facility located in Petersburg, Virginia. CSH has proudly been serving citizens of the Commonwealth since 1870, when we opened our doors as the first psychiatric hospital in the country dedicated to the treatment of African Americans. A new and modern CSH is currently under construction on the same property, with a scheduled completion date of 2027.

CSH maintains the only maximum-security treatment facility in the state (111 beds). We also have 166 beds available for individuals in the community who need inpatient care, as well as individuals in the criminal justice system. We believe that treatment should be holistic and focused on the person’s individual needs, recognizing that recovery is not linear or the same for every person. Treatment modalities may include medication, evidence-based group and individual therapy, peer support, psychosocial rehabilitation, vocational training, preparation for court, and treatment for substance use.

Central State Hospital is recruiting a Safety and Security Technician - Transportation to transport patients housed in the Maximum Security Unit safely and securely to various destinations on and off campus. Also, to provide therapeutic and physical interventions when needed.

Job Duties Include:
• Transport and escort patients safely and securely to destinations both on and off campus.
• Maintain a professional demeanor at all times while transporting patients.
• Ensures all vehicles and clients are properly searched before transport.
• Properly apply metal transport restraints and or flex cuff restraints as needed.
• Ensure that patients are properly restrained while out of the unit.
• Maintain proper coverage with patients while out of the unit.
• Report any and all problems immediately to the shift supervisor.
• Ensures that only authorized persons enter and exit your areas of control.
• Ability to drive long distances, on highways, narrow roadways, tunnels, bridges and areas of high altitude and low altitude.
• Operates electrically controlled doors to allow access into and out of secure areas.
• Screen all staff and visitors by metal detector before entering the unit.
• Properly check all bags, purses, brief cases, etc. that all persons bring into the unit.
• Supervise and observe patients at assigned posts.
• Follow key control policy.
• Ensure that all vehicles are properly scanned and searched prior to allowing access into the gates.
• Work various security posts as needed while following post orders
Communicate with patients, staff and visitors in a positive manner.
• Build rapports and therapeutic relationships with patients
• Provide monitoring and assistance to activities in order to maintain a safe therapeutic environment
• Engage in activities with patients in order to build rapports and professional relationships
• Use safety plans to deescalate situations without the use of physical intervention
• Use communication skills to avoid the use of restrictive measures
• Promote positive behavior by serving as a role model.
• Make rounds throughout the unit to ensure a safe environment
• Maintain a professional and respectful demeanor at all times when interacting with patients.
• Respond in a professional manner to various incidents and emergencies and assist as directed by the on duty charge person.
• Make rounds and monitor patient activities.
• Properly monitor special staffing assignments
• Monitor and Assist with hearings held by the judge inside the Unit.
All others duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

- Driver’s License required
- Security Experience and Mental Health experience

KSA's Required to Perform the Job:
Requires basic knowledge of state laws, Driving skills.
Requires the ability to: Communicate both orally and in writing, Use good judgment, Lift heavy objects, bend at waist and knees, walk or stand a minimum of 90% of the time on the shift, use upper extremities (hands) to hold, grasp and manipulate work materials, administer CPR, to