State of Maryland

A Security Attendant I is the entry level of work involving the security and care of patients at Maryland Department of Health (MDH) facilities where care is provided to mentally ill offenders, patients or residents 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.

Employees in this classification receive close 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 I and Security Attendant II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.   The Security Attendant I learns to perform duties under close supervision while the. Security Attendant II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Learns the proper methods and objectives of supervision required for mentally ill persons under restraint;

Learns to maintain control of persons and property by enforcing safety and security regulations;

Learns to conduct inspections and searches of patients, visitors and grounds for weapons or other contraband;

Learns to take patient counts;

Learns to take counts of sharp instruments, keys, eating utensils and other objects;

Learns to subdue and restrain patients during fights, riots and escape attempts;

Learns to monitor the conduct of MDH facility visitors;

Learns to ensure that all safety devices on doors and windows are operable and secure;

Learns to stand guard at a fixed post;

Learns to control an assigned post, such as a sally port;

Learns to observe patient behavior in order to anticipate actions that may pose a security risk;

Learns to make rounds through an assigned area;

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

Learns to assist in the custody of patients during transport outside the MDH facility;

Performs other related duties.

Ability to learn the modern methods and procedures in maintaining the security of persons and property;

Ability to learn the methods of supervision required for mentally ill persons under restraint;

Ability to learn first aid practices;

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

Ability to escort patients in a safe, secure manner;

Ability to maintain records and prepare reports;

Ability to follow instructions;

Ability to remain calm in stressful situations and respond 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: None.

Note: 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.

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.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series. NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classifications series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.