Behavioral Health Unit Safety Specialist

Alaris Health Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) at Cedar Grove is looking for a Safety Office to ensure the safety of our residents and our faculty.

JOB SUMMARY

The Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) Safety Officer is responsible for maintaining a safe, secure, and therapeutic environment for residents, visitors, and staff. This position provides continuous observation of resident activities, identifies and responds to behavioral concerns, and utilizes approved de-escalation techniques in accordance with Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) guidelines, facility policies, and regulatory standards. The Safety Officer assists with resident supervision, safety searches, visitor screening, therapeutic program participation, and one-to-one observation as ordered. The role requires effective communication, prompt reporting of incidents, and collaboration with the interdisciplinary team to promote resident safety and quality of care.

JOB FUNCTIONS

• Reports directly to the BHU Director of Recreation and/or the BHU RN Coordinator.
• Recognizes and identifies residents who are escalating into a crisis or exhibiting behaviors that may pose a safety risk. Utilizes approved de-escalation techniques in accordance with facility safety protocols, regulatory standards, and Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) guidelines.
• Greets and identifies all visitors, verifies the purpose of each visit, and notifies the appropriate BHU staff member or resident. Visually inspects and logs all packages and bags brought into the unit for residents in the designated package log.
• Immediately reports resident behaviors involving peer-to-peer or resident-to-staff interactions, as well as any unusual incidents or safety concerns, to the BHU Nursing Supervisor to facilitate timely notification to the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO), when required.
• Maintains continuous observation and monitoring of residents in all BHU common areas. Conducts routine safety rounds and identifies potential environmental hazards, including those within and around nursing stations.
• Assists with resident safety searches and inventory procedures to maintain a safe and secure environment.
• Provides a comprehensive end-of-shift report to the oncoming Safety Officer, including resident behaviors, incidents, and ongoing situations requiring continued monitoring.
• Remains assigned to the BHU at all times during the scheduled shift and does not leave the unit without prior notification and approval from the immediate BHU supervisor.
• Assists in encouraging, escorting, and transporting residents to and from therapeutic, recreational, and other scheduled programs and activities.
• Provides one-to-one (1:1) observation for residents as ordered by a physician, on any shift, in accordance with facility policy.
• Inspects all fire doors, magnetic locking systems, and exterior gates to ensure they are functioning properly and reports any deficiencies immediately.
• Demonstrates respectful, compassionate, and professional communication with residents, visitors, and all members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Performs all other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Supervisor.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

• Training and certification in Crisis Prevention Intervention and the ability to demonstrate advanced behavioral techniques.
• Experience in working with complex and/or severe behavioral residents and applying therapeutic techniques to deescalate the resident (Preferred).
• Ability to recognize escalating aggressive behaviors and providing calm redirection to a controlled, safe environment.
• Ability to work with mentally ill residents having special needs and/or aggressive behaviors
• Knowledge of behavioral interventions and applied behavioral analysis.
• Knowledge of behavior management strategies and techniques related to residents experiencing behavioral difficulties.
• Knowledge of aggressive behavior characteristics pertaining to mentally ill residents.
• Must have ability to coordinate and supervise the nursing functions in an effective manner.
• Must have ability to maintain an empathetic attitude toward residents and to gain their confidence in order to work with them effectively.
• Must have ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions in the English language, which may be of a technical nature.
• Must have ability to recognize and identify symptoms and to make decisions quickly in emergencies.
• Must have ability to train subordinates in work procedures and to organize and direct training carried out by members of the staff.
• Must possess the ability to positively interact with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public.
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Organized and highly developed written and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge of all governmental regulations relating to Long term Care Standards
• Must be an effective communicator and must work well with a team

SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL/VOCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• High school diploma or GED.
• Prior safety officer/security experience in mental health/healthcare, preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Mental and physical health sufficient to meet the demands of the position.

JOB SKILLS

• Must be in good physical and mental health.
• Must pay attention to safety hazards to residents and self.
• Must be familiar with location of various departments and regulations of the facility.
• May be required to work rotating shifts and weekends and to assist in different units as residents needs require; specific scheduling will be under the direction of the Recreation Director.
• Make sure that all doors are closed and locked.

PERFORMS RELATED DUTIES

• Interacts with residents, families, visitors and employees.
• He/she carries out other tasks as requested in situations where hands-on intervention/participation may be required.
• Must wear a uniform.

Shifts:

7:00 am - 3:00 pm and 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm. and 11pm - 7am