Special Constables
As part of Caritas' commitment to providing hospital employees, patients and visitors with a safe and secure environment, the organization obtained Special Constable appointment for its security officers in 1997. Since this time, security officers working with Caritas Health Group now attend the Police Recruit's Training offered at the Alberta Justice Staff College in order to receive Special Constable appointment under the Alberta Police Act.
The Special Constable appointment was sought because Caritas security staff was often required to perform tasks for which they had no legal authority. The Special Constables now have Peace Officer authority under 32 sections of eight Alberta Provincial laws.
Employment
Employment Opportunities
Caritas Security Services is looking for career-minded individuals to join its professional and highly qualified team of Special Constables. If you are interested in working in a challenging and rewarding position in health care security, and you possess a high degree of personal integrity, professionalism and maturity, this may be the career for you. A position with the Caritas security department involves investigating criminal and non-criminal incidents; enforcing federal, provincial and municipal laws; controlling pedestrian and automobile traffic; preventing crime; resolving conflict and performing other security-related duties.
Employment Requirements
Successful applicants must fulfill the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant
- Be in good physical condition. Must complete and pass the PARE exam.
- Possess a Grade 12 diploma or GED by Alberta standards or equivalent
- Have two years of post secondary education and/or two years of security or law enforcement related work
- Possess a valid operator's license with no more than five demerits
- Not have a criminal record for which a pardon has not been granted
- Not have criminal charges pending before the courts
- Possess good writing ability
- Possess a valid Emergency First Aid Certificate
- Possess a valid level "C" CPR Certificate
Probation and Training
A new employee of the Caritas security department will be expected to complete a six-month probationary period while working with a senior officer. During this time, the newly appointed officer will be expected to learn the daily operations, policies and procedures of the Caritas Health Group. The officer will receive training in self-defence techniques (HOST training), crisis prevention, and bylaw enforcement. This training is offered at no cost to the employee. Once the candidate has successfully completed the probationary period, he or she will be considered for Special Constable training.
Hospital Officer Safety Training (HOST)
All members of the Caritas security department receive training in the organization's own security training system. The system, entitled Hospital Officer Safety Training, is a unique security-training regimen modeled after Bruce Siddle's Pressure Point Control Tactics system. The HOST program was developed by members of the Caritas Security Training Division to address the specific security needs of the Caritas Health Group. Through HOST, Caritas officers develop valuable skills in various disciplines including:
- Collapsible baton training
- Defensive counter-strikes
- Dynamic simulations
- Edged weapons defense
- Escort and joint lock control
- Ground fighting defense
- Hospital restraints
- Injury prevention techniques
- Multiple opponent defense
- Powers of Arrest/Charter of Rights/Provincial Statutes
- Pressure point control
- Subject control management
- Subject search methods
- Survival stress management
- Tactical communication
- Tactical handcuffing
- Use of force based upon the AACP Use of Force Model
- Weapon retention
Working Conditions and Benefits
Caritas security officers that are employed on a full time basis enjoy a flexible work environment in which they work 12-hour shifts. Employees are scheduled for both day and night shifts. Overtime is paid at a rate of time and a half of the hourly rate, and officers are paid on a biweekly basis. Vacation time is accrued on a monthly basis calculated with the listing of entitlements in Human Resources Services.
Members of Caritas Security Services enjoy a wide range of employee benefits including the following:
- Competitive salaries
- Basic health, life and dental insurance coverage
- Sick leave benefits
- Annual paid vacations
- Paid statutory holidays
- A pension plan
- Shift premiums
- Paid court attendance during off-duty hours
- Free uniforms and equipment
- HOST training
Security members hired as casual officers work 12, 10 and 8 hour shifts. These members are employed to cover vacation, sick and extra work duties. They are an important part of our team and are trained equally to full time members.
Contact Caritas Security
Caritas Health Group
Security Services
Or contact us at one of our locations:
Grey Nuns Community Hospital
1100 Youville Drive West
Edmonton, Alberta T6L 5X8
Security Telephone: (780) 450-7140
Misericordia Community Hospital
16940-87 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T5R 4H5
Security Telephone: (780) 930-5605
Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre
11111 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 0L4
Security Telephone: (780) 482-8140
Caritas Health Group also provides Security Services at two Capital Health facilities:
Northeast Community Health Centre
14007-50 Street
Edmonton Alberta T5A 5E4
Security Telephone: (780) 472-5055
Sturgeon Community Hospital
201 Boudreau Road
St. Albert, Alberta T8N 6C4
Security Telephone: (780) 460-6245
In the wee hours of the morning, Grey Nuns Special Constable Steve Jones is conversing with a visitor as he checks the person's ID. His two-way radio crackles, and it's a call from Emergency, where a mentally ill patient is lashing out, uttering threats in fear and confusion...
continue reading.
