Local Security Management Specialist

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be required: To provide appropriate professional advice to all staff to ensure that the Trust complies with national guidance on security management. To assist in the provision of local security management training. To help establish and maintain a security management framework that promotes a culture of safe working practices. To ensure security alerts and other relevant notices are implemented in accordance with recommended action. To provide expert security advice to the Trust on capital projects, major refurbishments or other significant office /work area relocations. To be up to date with national security policy and guidance, current health and safety legislation and approved codes of practice. To lead the Trusts adherence to the Violence Prevention Standard (NHS England 2020); this includes full understanding of the standard, gap analysis, action planning and implementation of improvement actions. To jointly implement (with Head of H&S and Fire Safety) the Trusts Violence Prevention Reduction and Management of Violence and Aggression Policy. The role requires working with autonomy but does require close liaison with Trust staff at all levels, patients, visitors and a range of external organizations including the Police, Home Office, Health & Safety Executive, the Prison Service, etc.

The post holder must maintain a professional, leadership style that is engaging of others, effectively builds relationships and act as a role model for others and which is underpinned by strongly held values around equality, diversity and openness. Will demonstrate leadership and innovation in contexts which are unfamiliar, complex, and unpredictable that require solving problems. Will receive and handle data and information that may be complex, sensitive or contentious and make complex judgements by analysing and interpreting a wide variety of information. Will attend the Trusts Security Group and work closely with other relevant functions such as Emergency Planning and Trusts Security teams. Will develop and maintain effective working links with all Trust managers and; in particular; Safeguarding, Learning and Development, Capital Projects and ISS (Security providers) to ensure a coordinated approach to security management. Will ensure all security management / violence and aggression incidents and near misses across the Trust are monitored and, where relevant, investigated. This may require liaising with the local police and providing expert advice to staff and managers on any steps to prevent recurrence. Will assist with the assessment and issuing of sanctions (e.g. caution letters) to perpetrators whose behaviour is unacceptable and puts staff / patients health at risk. Will attend the Trust H&S committee and provide updates on the management of Security (including changes in law, national guidance, improvement plans) and Violence and Aggression (areas of concern, sanctions/actions, improvement plans).Will work closely with clinical staff and e.g. police, mental health providers and other services with regards to persons who are repeat attenders to Emergency Departments or inpatients who display challenging behaviours (e.g. due to drugs, alcohol) to enable implementation of controls for the protection of staff and patients. As required audit wards /departments and provide recommendations to reduce and/or prevent security incidents occurring. Will ensure that managers and, in particular those from identified vulnerable departments, undertake risk assessments and introduce appropriate control measures. Where relevant, will contribute to police and other criminal investigations including Trust local security investigations and to provide evidence for these investigations. When required, to represent the local security function at other internal meetings (e.g. Emergency Department Violence and Aggression Prevention meetings) and at external meetings (e.g. local crime strategy meetings, High Intensity Service User meetings).

The post-holder will be required to work cross-site to ensure constant standards at all Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and act upon any emerging adverse trends of concern. Will support the Emergency Planning team to ensure that counter terrorism, VIP visits and lockdown control systems are in place throughout the Trust and that action/evacuation plans and escape routes meet appropriate requirements. Will assist in ensuring that adequate CCTV management is in place to ensure the Trust complies with relevant national surveillance guidance and information governance directives. Will assist relevant managers to provide required submissions, such as statements of witness, risk assessments, Standards for Providers reports and any other information for the Trusts Organisation Crime Profile, etc. When required, to work with Trusts Litigation Department to prepare evidence and case files for presentation to the police, the Crown Prosecution Service or other external agency as appropriate.

The post holder will assist in the provision of local security management training (i.e. assist the Learning and Development team in ensuring conflict resolution training, personal safety training is suitable and reflects current practices) and the development of e-learning or other innovative training methods, as required. In association with the Head of H&S and local managers, will risk assess the key functions undertaken in order to priorities the need and level of security and conflict resolution training required. Will design and deliver training courses and seminars on any aspect of LSMS work. This may require working in conjunction with other members of Trust staff and external training organisations. Will ensure staff members and managers are appropriately advised regarding security matters, including major terrorist threats and other security related emergency situations. Will advise managers on crime reduction and the investigation of criminal or suspected criminal activities within their departments. As required, provide advice to the Trusts Capital Projects and the Estates function on security management practice and safety legislation relevant to security in buildings and refurbishment projects.

The post holder will discuss sympathetically with Trust staff, patients and relatives, security issues, such as cases of violence, aggression, theft or loss, to ensure that all pertinent details have been obtained. This will require sensitive conversation and occasionally witnesses, and suspects may be interviewed under formal caution. Will undertake sensitive, confidential and detailed internal investigations, for example, in cases of suspected theft or aggression. These investigations may be undertaken in conjunction with the Head of H&S, senior management and/or the Trusts Human Resources Department. Will provide specialist advice to staff, managers and the Human Resources Department on any relevant investigation undertaken; in particular, one that may result in formal criminal action and /or disciplinary action. This may require close liaison with the Head of H&S, the Litigation Department, HR Business Partners and senior managers. Will deliver and communicate information to individuals, services, committees and exercise excellence in written and verbal communication skills.

The post holder will promote and represent the function at a strategic and operational level: acting as an advocate for best practice and developing a positive safety culture to improve security and the prevention and reduction in violence and aggression in the work place (on-off site). To ensure that a professional service and image is maintained at all times which is underpinned by the trusts 4ward values; effectively builds and maintains relationships with key individuals across the organisation and outside.

Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Good knowledge of data protection, information governance and confidentiality issues
• Must be able to work autonomously on confidential and highly sensitive subjects, such as, criminal investigations
• Must be skilled at presenting lectures to staff at all levels
• Excellent ability to train and communicate with all levels of workgroups
• Excellent written, presentation and facilitation skills
• Highly numerate and literate
• Computer literate, with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Competent to use hospital incident computer packages; for example, DATIX
• Able to communicate well with all levels of workgroups
• Highly dependable and self-motivated
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to managers and staff
• Ability to manage own workload and act on own initiative
• Ability to stay calm under pressure
• Good team player / Excellent people skills
• Ability to travel between Hospital sites
• Ability to deal with occasional distressing or emotional incidents
• To maintain own level of knowledge and personal development
• Able to maintain a high level of confidentiality

Desirable

• Knowledge of local police policies and initiatives, including antiterrorism campaign.

Experience

Essential

• Significant relevant commercial experience, for example, prior senior hospital management experience specialising as a Local security management specialist or a qualified police officer with at least relevant experience
• Knowledge and experience of incident and security investigation work in an NHS Trust (or equivalent)
• Can demonstrate attendance at relevant inter trust and/or local police anti-crime meetings, training updates, etc (or equivalent, if not already an NHS post holder)
• Significant NHS experience, or equivalent, (e.g., police experience) with competencies in related subjects, such as, surveillance and criminal investigation.
• Demonstrable understanding of the NHS Violence Prevention Reduction standard and its implementation requirements
• Experience of committee work, including the preparation of security reports / violence and aggression reports and analytical skills
• Experience of policy and strategy development within an NHS trust or an equivalent environment

Desirable

• Experience of issuing sanctions

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree holder in a relevant topic to the post
• Specialist security knowledge, including legislation, to degree level or equivalent
• Professional knowledge acquired through a degree or equivalent experience. Plus, specialist knowledge acquired through courses and experience.
• Alternatively, significant police/ security experience at senior management level in a relevant discipline

Desirable

• Accredited to the Association of Security Management Specialists
• Knowledge of employment law relevant to security

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

Employer's website

https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)