Psychiatric Security Specialist – Medical – State of Iowa – Full-time

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of State-Operated Specialty Care, Bureau of Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders (CCUSO) in Cherokee, IA, is seeking Psychiatric Security Specialist (PSS) – Medical staff to join our team! These are full-time positions with HHS scheduled on either the AM (6:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 5 days per week or 5:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 4 days per week) or PM (2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. 5 days per week or 1:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. 4 days per week) shift.  In addition to the base pay rate, there is an available shift differential of $0.90 per hour for second shift and $1.00 per hour for third shift.  We also offer a strong opportunity for advancement, growth, and development.

PSS-Medical staff provide general care to a specific high-risk population. This includes direct acute and chronic nursing care, health promotion, disease prevention, health education strategies across the lifespan, treatment of patients through therapeutic activities, providing psychological support and direction, ambulating and bathing patients, documentation of patient’s behaviors and attitudes, and general security & observation in a locked setting.

Certified Nursing Aide (CNA) required.

Applicants will be required to complete a 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. The facility provides state-of-the-art treatment to patients to lower their risk of re-offending and to release them from confinement as quickly as possible. There is a full range of diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitative services focused on addressing the conditions impacting a patient’s likelihood of re-offending.

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 which 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 home to Western Iowa Tech Community College and 1 hour or less from other educational institutions including Morningside College, Northwestern College, Buena Vista University, and Dordt College. This quintessential Iowa town is 1 hour from Sioux City and 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 HHS 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.e-verify.gov.

Graduation from high school, GED, or equivalency.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description. (Download PDF reader)

Positions in this class may require an applicant to have the ability to pass a background investigation.