The work we do matters!

Hiring Agency:

Health & Human Services - Agency 25

Location:

Norfolk, NE

Hiring Rate:

$27.320

Job Posting:

JR2025-00020077 Mental Health Security Specialist/Response Team (NRC) (Open)

Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is posted as open until closed):

10-24-2025

Job Description:

The Norfolk Regional Center is a psychiatric hospital that provides inpatient mental health and sex offender treatment for individuals. We aim to give hope and possibilities for a future without more offenses.
Our vibrant culture is where teammates are valued as individuals while providing opportunities for career growth and continued education and training.
We encourage our teammates to work for a more significant cause, to prepare patients for community reintegration while maintaining public safety.
We hire Human Service professionals who share our pride in the work and services provided at the Norfolk Regional Center and are excited to make a difference in the lives of fellow Nebraskans.

What we can offer you:
• Stable Employment Opportunity
• Career Development and Learning
• Tuition Reimbursement
• 156% match of first 4.8% contribution to Retirement Plan
• 13 Paid Holidays
• Generous Leave Accruals and benefits
• Opportunity to be part of a caring organization
• Opportunity to make a difference
• Respect as a valued team member

 

The Norfolk Regional Center is Phase I of the Nebraska Sex Offender Treatment Program. The Sex Offender Treatment Program is for patients who have completed their criminal sentence but have been deemed at high risk to sexually re-offend if outside an inpatient treatment facility.

The Response Team Member provides additional security and safety to the environment. Response Team Member will serve as an emergency responder in emergencies and alarms.

The essential duties of the Response Team Member are:

• Monitors the safety and security of patients within assigned unit.
• Assists with security procedures such as patient searches, room searches, and safety checks of the environment.
• Interacts with patients in care to instruct, orient and assist patients with program goals; report and/or document care delivery and observations.
• Monitors, provides and assists with activities of daily living including, feeding, bathing, dressing, toileting and other personal hygiene activities.
• Recognizes emergency or crisis situations and intervenes as necessary utilizing appropriate behavioral interventional programs, verbal de-escalation techniques, and/or provide physical intervention that includes restraining patients.
• React in a calm, professional manner to support patients.
• Maintains a positive attitude with patients served and staff.
• Takes and records individuals’ vital signs. Lifts and repositions patients.
• Escorts and transports patients to appointments and activities inside or outside the facility.
• Participates in discussions with members related to adjustments of treatment approaches.
• Objectively documents information related to patient care and activities. Uses computer programs to document and record patient data.
• Attends required in-service education and staff meetings related to continued employment and skill development.
• Ensures that each patient is safe and free from harm.
• Monitors the physical environment and takes necessary action to ensure safety and compliance with State and Federal Standards.
• Works cooperatively with teams in resolution of care concerns and abuse/neglect cases.

Hiring rate of position

$27.320/per hour plus shift differential for 2nd and 3rd shift hours.

Hours:

Rotating day and evening shifts to include a combination of 12 hour and 8 hour shifts. Days and hours will be discussed at time of interview.

 

Requirements/Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications: Be at least 19 years of age to work with adult client populations; be at least 21 years of age to work with adolescent client populations. Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent education.

Preferred Qualifications: One or more years of education or experience in human services or military services, where the candidate works directly or indirectly with others and experience with behavioral interventional programs, crisis intervention and de-escalation. Working with a diverse population.

Other: State agencies are responsible to evaluate each of their positions to determine their individual overtime eligibility status as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Incumbents are required to work regularly scheduled shifts with predictable attendance and work overtime up to and including entire shifts. These positions are subject to call back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post disaster, etc.) Positions classified to this class may be exposed to infectious waste, communicable diseases, and blood and airborne pathogens such as TB, HIV and Hepatitis. May work with potentially dangerous patients. May be Required to acquire and maintain a Medication Aide certification. Must maintain an active Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, (CPR) certification, and behavioral intervention certification courses for facility requirements. Positions in this class may require an employee to possess a valid driver’s license and provide a passenger vehicle with adequate liability insurance.

Knowledge of: safety and security measures required in the care of mentally ill patients; techniques of caring for physically and/or mentally ill patients; knowledge of principles and methods of maintaining a therapeutic environment.

Skill in: listening and understanding; communicating effectively as appropriate for the intended audience while supporting patients’ daily living activities.

Ability to: complete courses and competency evaluations; interpret and follow all policies; provide quality daily care to patients; make decisions and act quickly in situations involving patient care or safety; use computer programs to document patient care information; count accurately and record numerical and alphabetical data; implement written treatment/training plans with supporting written and computer record keeping; effectively communicate with co-workers, management and patients; observe, recognize, report on physical status; offer support to lesser experienced workers; stand on feet for long periods of time; work regularly scheduled shifts with predictable attendance; work overtime up to and including entire shifts.

 

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation.

Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit: https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits

Equal Opportunity Statement

The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.

Current employees of the State of Nebraska should NOT apply on this external career. Instead go to Workday and access the Jobs Hub - Internal Apply app from your home landing page.