Psychiatric Security Specialist

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking a Psychiatric Security Specialist to join the team at the Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders (CCUSO). This is a full-time opportunity with an available shift differential of $0.90 per hour for second shift and $1.00 per hour for third shift and a strong opportunity for advancement, growth, and development. Affordable on-campus housing is available for employees.

The Psychiatric Security Specialist provides direct-care services of both a security and treatment nature at CCUSO. This position assists mental health staff and performs a wide range of security functions in creating a maximally therapeutic environment for the care and treatment of individuals with mental abnormalities and/or personality disorders who were convicted of a sex offense. Routine duties of the Psychiatric Security Specialist include but are not limited to supervision of various patient activities at the CCUSO facility, facilitation of psycho-educational group activities, documentation of patient behaviors, operation of the master control center, and supervision of patients on medical trips outside of the facility.

Applicants will be required to complete a level 3 background check to be considered for this position.

CCUSO provides a secure, long-term, and highly structured setting to treat sexual offenders who have served their prison terms, but, in a separate civil trial, have been found likely to reoffend. CCUSO has a 5-phase treatment program that includes group and individual therapy, psycho-educational programming, physiological assessments, and transitional release. Patients may also be court ordered into the community through supervised release.

We have a great total compensation package, including:

• Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) (Employee contributes 6.29%/State of Iowa contributes 9.44%)
• Retirement Investors Club (RIC) (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan) (State of Iowa matches up to $75/month)
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance (See below for additional information)
• Vacation Leave (96 hours/year to begin, and increases with years of service)
• Sick Leave (144 hours/year)
• Paid Holidays (9 days/year)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance ($20,000 paid for by the State of Iowa)
• Long-Term Disability Insurance

For additional information on benefits click here.

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Cherokee Highlights

CCUSO is located in Cherokee, a city of approximately 5,000 set in the beautiful Little Sioux River Valley in Northwest Iowa. Residents enjoy fishing and canoeing on the Little Sioux River that winds through town, providing a backdrop to a well-developed parks and trails system. In addition, Cherokee has over 1,000 acres of land devoted to parks and outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and horseback riding. Cherokee is the home of the first accredited museum and planetarium in Iowa, Sandford Museum and Planetarium, established in 1951. Cherokee may be the smallest town in the world to have its own symphony orchestra! This 60-member orchestra has been referred to as the “best kept secret in Northwest Iowa.” Cherokee is 1 hour from Sioux City, 2 hours from Omaha. Check out these 10 Reasons to Move to Iowa.

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer

HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD). 

Our agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.