Title: Safety Technician
State Role Title: Direct Service Associate III
Hiring Range: $38,630 - $53,309
Pay Band: 3
Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop
Location: Hiram Davis Medical Center
Agency Website: https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/hwdmc/
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
Hiram W. Davis Medical Center is one of 12 inpatient facilities operated by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
Hiram W. Davis Medical Center, located in Petersburg, Virginia, is a 94-bed medical facility providing acute medical diagnoses, skilled care, intermediate care, and long-term care to individuals receiving services in DBHDS facilities and within the community that have intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Admissions to HWDMC are generally either permanent placement or special hospitalization. Patients typically come to HWDMC as a special hospitalization for step-down to stabilize, post-surgery rehabilitation, or long-term care.
The Safety Technicians at Hiram W. Davis Medical Center play a vital role in ensuring the safety and well-being of residents, patients, employees, and visitors. They are available seven days a week from 7 am to 11 pm.
Facility Access and Control:
• Controlling access to the facility by monitoring access doors and cameras, allowing entry when necessary. Ensuring that everyone entering the facility has been identified and has a valid reason to be in the facility.
• Issuing and tracking visitor badges: This includes having all visitors sign in prior to a visitor badges being issued. This also included informing the appropriate staff that visitors are here.
• Relaying messages and information to staff: This includes relaying messages from visitors, staff, and other departments to the appropriate individuals.
• Maintaining facility access and safety logs: This includes maintaining logs of all access to the facility and logs of any safety incidents that occur. This is an important record-keeping measure that helps to track security activity and to identify potential security risks.
Conduct Environment of Care and Safety Rounds.
• Conducts hourly EOC and Safety rounding in the facility: This includes walking around the facility and checking for any potential safety hazards. This could include things like:
• Loose wires or cords
• Wet floors
• Obstructed walkways
• Broken equipment
• Unsecured objects
• Open or unsecured doors and facility equipment
• Visually inspects fire extinguishers: This includes checking to ensure fire extinguishers are properly mounted, charged, and labeled.
Assist with implementing Safety and Emergency Management Procedures.
• Assist with incoming after-hours calls: This includes answering phone calls, taking messages, and responding to inquiries from residents, patients, visitors, and staff.
• Follow detailed instructions and SOPs during Code situations: This includes knowing the facility's emergency response plan and following instructions quickly and accurately.
• Keep the Facility Emergency Manager updated on all unusual occurrences: This includes reporting any incidents or events that could lead to an emergency.
• Ensure all notifications occur according to SOP: This includes notifying the appropriate personnel of any emergencies or incidents and following the facility's policies and procedures for notification.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Assist with training and staff education, such as orienting new employees, training staff on new procedures, or presenting in-service training.
• Assist with Emergency Management drills and exercises, such as setting up and breaking down equipment, directing participants, or documenting the exercise.
• May be required to escort residents and/or patients to and from appointments, locations within the facility, or outside the facility.
• May be assigned 1:1 duty as needed, such as supervising a resident or patient who requires close observation.
• Implement Interim Life Safety Measures, such as evacuating a building or area, closing a hallway, or directing traffic.
• Receive after-hour deliveries, such as medical supplies, food, or equipment.
• Must make state vehicle runs, such as transporting residents or patients to appointments, picking up supplies, or delivering documents.
• May be required to assist the agency or state government in the event of emergency declaration by the Governor.
• Perform other assignments at the request of management that are approved by your director.
Knowledge Skills and Abilities:
• Knowledge and understanding of local, state, and federal safety regulations, with the ability to apply and comply with them effectively.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills to promptly address safety concerns and communicate them to relevant parties.
• The capacity to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team, fostering a safety culture throughout the organization.
• Meticulous attention to detail, recognizing potential safety hazards, and taking proactive measures to mitigate risks.
• Physical capability to conduct safety inspections and respond promptly and effectively to emergencies.
• In certain situations, the position may involve interacting with residents/patients and implementing therapeutic options to ensure their safety.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Minimum Qualifications
• Must have experience in customer service and Microsoft office products.
• Must have a valid Driver's License.
Additional Considerations
• Preferred experience with mass communication tools.
• Preferred familiarity with IDD patients.
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
Application Requirements: Applications and résumés for this position are accepted electronically through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Electronic Recruitment System only. Interview decisions will be based solely on the information provided in your electronic application and/or résumé. Please ensure you detail all relevant work experience clearly and specifically; we will not make assumptions about your qualifications.
You will receive a confirmation of receipt once your application and/or résumé has been successfully submitted. To check the status of your application, refer to “Your Application” in your account.
This position is open until filled; however, applications/résumés will begin to be reviewed within five (5) days of the posting date.
Background Investigation: All applicants are subject to an extensive background investigation and a pre-employment drug screening. This investigation may include fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI), local agency checks, Department of Social Services/Child Protective Services checks, employment verification, and verification of education relevant to the position.
Under Virginia Code §§ 37.2-314 and 37.2-408.1, the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS) cannot employ or utilize as volunteers, individuals convicted of specific ("barrier") crimes or those with pending "barrier" charges.
Reasonable Accommodations: Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities during the application and/or interview process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require assistance or accommodation, please notify Human Resources at (804) 524-7600 during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
Equal Opportunity: The Commonwealth of Virginia is committed to conducting all aspects of human resource management without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.* There shall be no retaliation against anyone making allegations of violations of this policy.
Veteran Preference: DBHDS is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified employer and provides hiring preference to qualified veterans and service members. We highly encourage veterans, active members of the Virginia National Guard, and U.S. Military Reserve members to apply and respond accordingly on the state application.
Benefits: DBHDS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including your choice of health plans, paid life insurance, retirement plans, 13 paid holidays, annual leave, family personal leave, sick leave, employee discount programs, and more!
Contact Information
Name: Dawn Whitley
Phone: 804-524-7600
Email: dawn.whitley@dbhds.virginia.gov
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.