State of Maryland

A Security Attendant III is the lead level of work involving the security and care of patients at Maryland Department of Health (MDH) facilities where care is provided to offenders, patients, or residents with behavioral health diagnoses who have been judged not criminally responsible for committing felonies; and to those who are too violent for a regular hospital or residential setting and who have been deemed dangerous to themselves or others. Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions, but are responsible for assigning, reviewing and approving the work of and training lower-level Security Attendants.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Security Attendant Supervisor. Employees are assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts. Employees are subject to call-in during emergencies and staffing shortages. Employees may be required to move and position patients or apply physical restraints.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Security Attendant III is differentiated from Security Attendant II in that the Security Attendant III assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Security Attendants while the Security Attendant II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision. The Security Attendant III is differentiated from Security Attendant Supervisor in that Security Attendant Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Security Attendants in a specific area.

Trains lower-level Security Attendants;

Assigns, reviews and approves the work of lower-level Security Attendants;

Maintains control of persons and property by enforcing safety and security regulations;

Performs security checks of detention screens, locks, tools, equipment, utensils, medications or other items that may present a security problem;

Takes counts of patient population;

Functions as the lead security attendant when moving patients either within or outside of the MDH facility;

Monitors the conduct of patients and visitors;

Places patients in physical restraints;

Prepares incident reports;

May subdue patients during fights, riots and escape attempts;

May control an assigned post, such as a sally port;

May make rounds through an assigned area;

May function as assistant shift supervisor during emergencies;

May monitor patients in a machine shop, an auto repair shop or other rehabilitation programs;

May drive a MDH facility vehicle;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of methods and procedures used in maintaining the custody and security of persons and property;

Knowledge of the methods of supervision required for patients with behavioral health diagnoses;

Knowledge of first aid practices;

Ability to train new employees and to assign, review and approve the work of lower-level Security Attendants;

Ability to communicate effectively with visitors, patients and co-workers;

Ability to escort patients in a safe and secure manner;

Ability to maintain records and prepare reports;

Ability to follow instructions;

Ability to control individuals or groups and remain calm in stressful situations, responding in an appropriate manner according to prescribed rules and procedures.

Education:    High School diploma or high school equivalency certificate acceptable to the Maryland State Board of Education as described in the Correctional Training Commission regulation.

Experience: Two years of experience providing security to patients, inmates or youths committed by courts to psychiatric hospitals, correctional facilities or juvenile detention centers.

Notes:

1. The above educational requirement is set by the Police and Correctional Training Commission in accordance with Correctional Services Article, Section 8-209 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Correctional Officer/Specialist classifications or Internment/Resettlement Specialist and Correctional specialty codes in the security field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

2. Some positions in this classification may be required to operate large vans to transport patients. Employees assigned these duties will be required to obtain a Maryland driver's license of the appropriate class for this type of vehicle.

1. Employees who have not already done so must meet the selection standards required and successfully complete the training prescribed by the Maryland Correctional Training Commission for a Correctional Officer during their probationary period, (Correctional Services Article, Section 8-209). Selection standards for correctional officer training are listed in detail in the Code of Maryland Regulations Title 12, Subtitle 10, Chapter 01 and include the following:

U.S. Citizenship or Resident Alien status

Must be at least 21 years of age

A completed background investigation

Oral interview

Physical examination.

2. Employees in this classification will be required to provide the facility with a telephone number where they can be reached.

3. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using departments or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit H- Public Safety and Security classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.