Chapter 9 - Training and Development

Abstract

A good security officer training program requires a master plan that addresses everything from identifying needs for the newly hired security officer to ongoing education and development activities established for seasoned security staff and security department leadership positions. It cannot be understated how important the verification of skill levels and documentation are to the successful healthcare security training plan. Proper training of the security staff is a direct reflection on the security administrator's commitment to quality and customer service. Certain basic elements or steps in the training process must be addressed and tailored to each healthcare organization. There should be a combination of generic healthcare security training with training specific to the organization. An example of this blending is that of report preparation. The basics of how to collect information and prepare a report are somewhat the same for all organizations. However, the types of reports and methods utilized to accomplish the completion of a report are specific to each organization. For example, the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) basic training manual for healthcare security officers provides a generic approach to healthcare security officer training as a foundation to be supplemented by training relative to specific facility security program tasks.