Position Summary:

The Security Officer and K9 provide and maintain a safe and secure environment for patients, visitors, employees, and volunteers. This position is responsible for assisting in security response efforts, assigned service duties, as well as routinely patrolling all buildings and grounds. This individual will possess a strong interest toward working with K9s in a public safety capacity. Applicants must be willing to submit to fingerprinting for a background check.

Experience:

• 1+ years in institutional security, preferably in a health care facility or a similar setting.
• Preferred experience as an investigator in law enforcement or security. Working knowledge of the different departmental functions within a hospital or health care facility.
• Working knowledge of state and federal security regulations affecting hospitals. Must be experienced in effectively interacting with people. Must possess excellent written and oral communications skills.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid Driver’s License
• PA Security Guard Registration (Guthrie will assist in obtaining if needed since travel across state lines is sometimes required).
• NYS Security Guard License (Guthrie will assist in obtaining for eligible applicants if needed since travel across state lines is sometimes required).
• K9 Handling Certificate (training provided within specified timeframe)
• Achieve and maintain certification in CPR and CPI (training provided)

Education:

• High School Diploma or equivalency required, further Educational Degree preferred.
• Classroom training in a field relevant to security functions with course work in the behavioral sciences is strongly preferred.

Essential Functions:

The K9 Team:

• Patrols facilities and grounds to maintain safety. The K9 team assists in Security response efforts, as well as carrying out activities relating to the safety and security of patients, visitors, employees, and volunteers.
• The K9 Officer provides 24/7 care for his/her K9 including feeding, exercising, grooming, medical care, cleaning of the K9’s kennel, maintaining a healthy home environment, scheduling yearly examinations by the department selected licensed veterinarian, and ensuring the K9 is treated immediately for any sickness or injury.
• Ensures K9’s fitness through training and exercise to ensure an acceptable level of readiness.
• May participate in joint K9 events and activities in conjunction with local law enforcement and agencies.
• Maintains and ensures the safety of the K9 during all activities both on and off-duty/shift and will utilize best judgement during calls for service as to the utilization of the K9 paying close attention to all things that may affect, or stress, their dog and act immediately to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the K9.
• The K9 will be trained in scent detection, area searches, and de-escalation of potentially dangerous situations by acting as a psychological deterrent while being exposed to a variety of environments and situations on Guthrie properties including but not limited to screening persons and areas for hazardous or prohibited items and substances, protecting hospital patients, visitors, employees, volunteers and property against crime, and handling disruptive individuals and other illegal or unauthorized activities.
• Regularly interacts with patients, visitors, and staff.
• Prepares and maintains complete, and comprehensive reports and logs relating to training, utilization, care, feeding, deployment and inflicted injuries of the K9.

Officer:

• Safeguards confidential information.
• Must maintain a neat appearance.
• Be willing to care for and house the K9 at their residence.
• May be required to work an “on call” schedule and nontraditional hours (i.e. weekend community events), rotating shifts, nights, evenings, days, and on holidays, weekends, or shifts other than that which is considered as the normal work shift. May also be required to work overtime.
• Participates in security training and continuing education programs including, but not limited to, mandatory K-9 training, Training in First Receiver Decontamination, Completion of NIMS 100, 200, 700 & 800, International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety IAHSS Basic, Psychological First Aid and Stop the Bleed.
• Tours Guthrie sites on a frequent basis ensuring that: All open and functioning departments are secure and safe for patients, visitors, and personnel. All departments that are closed are locked and secure from intruders. All perimeter entrances and exits are secure at designated hours. Unauthorized persons do not enter the buildings during non‐visiting hours or congregate on the grounds. Will maintain a high degree of visibility in the hospital emergency department.
• Responds promptly and courteously to calls for assistance by hospital /campus personnel.
• Required to restrain patients, visitors, or employees when necessary to protect personnel or property, or when advised by nursing personnel to assist in treatment of a patient.
• Completes detailed reports of incidents occurring during work shift and submits same to supervisor. Completes a minimum of eight (8) hours continuing education per year on security related issues.
• Completes all required K9 training within specified timeframe.
• Maintains desired attendance level, arrives on time at start of scheduled shift and returns promptly after breaks and lunch periods.
• Complies with requirement for annual physical assessment within appropriate timeframe.
• Attends annual update and review education session and departmental activities.

Skills:

• Utilizes time efficiently and coordinates tasks in a manner that helps achieve high quality work and services and maximize productivity. Performs other duties as assigned.
• Exhibits initiative in performing all duties, regularly assists coworkers, consistently strives to be a productive caregiver.
• Consistently demonstrates good judgment, ability to assess situations, consider alternatives, and select appropriate course of action. Consults supervisor as appropriate.
• Able to articulate the role and purpose of the K9 program.
• Further competencies will be designated by the Regional Security Director as changes in technology and patient care requirements occur.

Other Duties:

• Travel for this position is sometimes required. May be deployed to any Guthrie location. Some attendance at community events is expected.
• Infection Control Procedure, Safety Fire/Disaster; OSHA, Policies and Procedures; Departmental Administrative; Human Resources, Emergency Preparedness
• Must act in a courteous and friendly manner toward patients, visitors, employees, with all personnel always.
• It is understood that this description is not intended to be all inclusive and that other duties may be assigned as necessary in the performance of this position.

Working Conditions:

• Tight work area. Limited space in some areas.
• Frequently exposed to disagreeable sights, sounds, odors, body waste, etc.

Mental Demands:

• Non-routine duties requiring independent judgement.
• Requires problem-solving skills and the ability to concentrate on details.
• Routine duties requiring judgement in priorities and decisions with defined problems.
• Adaptable to stressful, ever-changing situations.
• Must be able to make decisions based on established policies, procedures or guidelines.
• Critical thinking skills and an ability to assess, evaluate and/or teach are required.
• Daily stress associated with the care of chronic patient population.
• Occasional stress due to departmental pressure.
• Requires the ability to communicate effectively and be self-directed to a large degree.
• Routine, repetitive duties with minor variations under close supervision.
• Good concentration, ability to interact with all age, social and economic levels.
• The ability to multi-task and manage multiple project by planning and organizing own work.
• Semi-routine duties with a variety of difficulty under general supervision and guidelines.
• Daily stress related to patient care and/or management of a professional nursing division.
• Attention to detail over an extended period of time is required.

update 12-24-24

The pay for this position ranges from $23.59-$36.82 per hour.

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Joining the Guthrie team allows you to become a part of a tradition of excellence in health care. In all areas and at all levels of Guthrie, you’ll find staff members who have committed themselves to serving the community.

The Guthrie Clinic is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Guthrie Clinic is a non-profit, integrated, practicing physician-led organization in the Twin Tiers of New York and Pennsylvania. Our multi-specialty group practice of more than 500 physicians and 302 advanced practice providers offers 47 specialties through a regional office network providing primary and specialty care in 22 communities. Guthrie Medical Education Programs include General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Anesthesiology and Orthopedic Surgery Residency, as well as Cardiovascular, Gastroenterology and Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship programs. Guthrie is also a clinical campus for the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.