Patient Support Security Officer (PSSO)

Patient Support Security Officer (PSSO)

Location: Kingston Hospital, South West London
Employer: Assist Security Group
Hours: Full-time / Part-time - Shift work including nights, weekends, and bank holidays

About the Role

Assist Security Group is recruiting Patient Support Security Officers to work at Kingston Hospital, providing specialist support within a busy acute healthcare environment.

This is a non-clinical security role focused on supporting vulnerable patients while maintaining a safe and secure hospital environment. Officers will operate alongside clinical staff to reduce distress, prevent escalation, and enhance safety for patients, visitors, and staff.

Patient Support Security Officers are non-clinical security professionals trained to support the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable patients through enhanced communication, de-escalation, and safeguarding awareness, while retaining full capability to perform standard security duties across the Trust.

This role requires empathy, patience, sound judgement, and professionalism.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a calm, reassuring presence for vulnerable or distressed patients
• Support individuals with dementia, confusion, mental health needs, or behavioural distress
• Use communication and de-escalation techniques to prevent incidents
• Assist ward staff in maintaining a safe clinical environment
• Respond appropriately to challenging behaviour
• Support procedures for missing or wandering patients
• Conduct patrols, access control, and incident response when required
• Maintain accurate incident reports and documentation
• Uphold safeguarding principles at all times
• Deploy flexibly to standard security duties across the hospital

What Makes This Role Different

• Prevention rather than enforcement
• Communication over challenge 
• Supporting vulnerable individuals
• Maintaining safety without intimidation
• Working as part of a wider hospital team

Essential Requirements

• Ability to work shifts including nights and weekends
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Calm, patient, and professional approach
• Ability to remain composed in challenging situations
• Strong observational skills and sound judgement
• Good written and spoken English
• Eligibility to work in the UK
• Willingness to obtain Door Supervisor license 

Desirable Experience

• Valid SIA Door Supervisor Licence (minimum)
• Previous experience in healthcare security or hospital environments
• Experience working with vulnerable individuals
• Background in care, customer service, or public-facing roles
• Conflict management or advanced de-escalation training

Personal Qualities

• Compassion and empathy
• Emotional resilience
• Professional confidence without aggression
• Respect for dignity and diversity
• Ability to build trust quickly
• Reliability and teamwork

Training Provided

• Enhanced de-escalation techniques
• Vulnerability awareness (dementia, mental health, autism, etc.)
• Safeguarding awareness
• Healthcare security procedures
• Dynamic risk assessment and officer safety
• Appropriate physical intervention skills for management of security incidents

What We Offer

• Competitive pay
• Structured training and development
• Opportunities for progression
• Supportive team environment
• Meaningful work that contributes directly to patient safety