Are you someone who is trying to make it into the world of Security industry? Well you came to the right place. A job of a Door Supervisor is perfect entry-point for your career choice which can lead to exciting venues, experiences and career paths.
Advantages of this job can be mainly given as
1) Flexible Working Hours
2) Get Hired Quickly
Let me tell you first what all this position entails and later we will see detailed information about what all you need to have to acquire this job title.
The JOB AND WHAT’S INVOLVED :
If I have to state in general sense,
Door supervisors are in charge of the safety & security of customers, staff and all the people involved in venues such as pubs, bars, nightclubs and other licensed premises or at public events.
- They spend most of their time at the designated entrance, checking the suitability of people coming in, assess them, greet them(if instructed), giving them access to venue.
- This may also involve checking if concerned person is underage or not, carrying any harmful substances or objects, such as drugs or weapons, which can involve the use of metal detectors to deter the carrying of weapons.
- They need to take initiatives and make a plan for the security of the people.
- Door supervisors have the authority to deny entry to anyone they consider unsuitable as per given instructions of the employer.
There are some intricate duties as well that are expected out of Door Supervisor. These duties may vary from venue to venue or one employer to another, those duties are as follows :
- Patrolling and Observing people’s behaviour.
- Dealing with conflict, both inside and outside the venue.
- Collecting tickets from people as they enter the venue.
- Restraining and escorting individuals out of the venue, if required
- Recording details of any incidents.
- Dealing with emergencies, such as fires or bomb threats
supervising people as they leave the building.
Door Supervisor position will demand you to perform certain tasks or function in certain way as per the venue size and nature of activity taking place at the venue.
- Depending on the size of the venue, Door supervisors usually work in teams of two or more.
- They work closely with the
- police,
- first aid
- emergency response teams
- venue management
maintaining constant contact with staff members and other security personnel via radio equipment.
In large venues, queue management techniques are supposed to be performed to avoid crushing and queue jumping.
Working Hours?
- Working hours for door supervisors may vary depending on the number of shifts you cover, the opening hours of the venue and how long each shift is. This job will let you enjoy flexible working hours in different positions.
- A full-time door supervisor may work five days a week in shifts of up to eight hours, but part-time jobs are more common.
- They work mainly in the evenings, especially at weekends and often into the early hours of the morning.
Working Conditions?
- Door supervisors is likely to spend long periods of time at the entrance to venues, working in all weather conditions.
- This may also include some duties patrolling inside the venue, which can often be very loud.
Risks ?
- Presence of Door Supervisor itself is a visible deterrent, still their work environment puts them at risk of possible physical assault and injury.
- Good training is important to minimise this risk.
Uniform?
- Door Supervisor are often supposed to wear a uniform or jacket with a highly visible security badge, provided by employers.
Let’s move to the most important part of this information document.
What are the Pre-requisites for the job of Door Supervisor?
- Must be of 18 and above years of age.
- Physically should be able to conduct physical intervention skills when required.
- Should have completed and passed an emergency first aid at work course (or equivalent).
- Should have knowledge of English language to Level 1 (or equivalent).
- Must have a licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA), that is you should have an SIA-approved Level 2 Certificate in door supervision.
- A candidate must attend a 4 days’ workshop from any SIA accredited organization.
- Should pass identity and get through Criminal Records Bureau checks which are conducted by SIA.
- There are no formal academic entry requirements as such.
- Door supervisors will need to renew their licence every three years. No additional training or qualifications are required For the renewal of a licence.
- Once in employment, door supervisors may have the occasion to access additional training courses, such as emergency first aid or physical intervention which can improve your skillset and hence your value as an asset.
(If someone has criminal record then, it does not necessarily mean they will be refused to get the licence. However, if the candidate has any convictions, warnings, cautions or charges awaiting trial, then SIA will consider the relevance and seriousness of the offences before making a decision.)
The Level 2 course in door supervision can be studied on a part-time basis over a few evenings or weekends, or as an intensive four-day, full-time course.
The course covers two key areas:
- The role and responsibilities of a door supervisor
- Communication skills and conflict management
The SIA accepts older qualifications as well, given that certain criteria’s are met, which are as follows :
- If you are applying for a license for the first time then the qualification must have been achieved less than 3 years prior to your application.
- If you have previously held a Door Supervisor license and it has been less than 3 years since your previous license was active.
- If your qualification was awarded before June 2010, you must also achieve the ‘Level 2 Upskilling a Door Supervisor Working Within the Private Security Industry’ award before applying for a licence.
Skills and Personal Qualities Needed for Door Supervisor :
- Good teamworking skills, teamwork spirit required.
- Presence of mind.
- Good observational skills, remaining alert to any potential issues and assess quickly.
- To be decisive and quick-thinking.
- A good level of physical fitness is always a plus point.
- A calm, compose, assertive manner, to defuse potential conflict like situations.
- A polite and courteous manner.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Knowledge of licensing laws and health and safety regulations.
How to apply for the SIA Door Supervisor Licence?
- 1) Pass the Door Supervisor Course.
The Door Supervisor Course takes 6 days to complete. In this training course is includes 4 multiple choice exams and a practical assessment. Course contains the following 4 units:
Unit 1: Working in the Private Security Industry
Unit 2: Working as a Door Supervisor
Unit 3: Conflict Management
Unit 4: Physical Intervention
2) Complete the licence application on the SIA website.
The cost of starting a licence application is £190. The SIA will get back to you within 25 working days.
3) Complete identity checks.
You will need to verify your identity to satisfy parts of your SIA application, namely your photo ID. The easiest way to do this is at the Post Office. You can also have someone with a British passport, who is not related to you, to sign the back of your photo ID.
4) Submit application to the SIA.
The SIA will verify your identity and run a background check on your criminal record. Also, if you have lived abroad for 6 months or more, you may be required to provide some supporting evidence for the same.
5) Receive your 3 year licence in the post.
and viola!!! You are finally licensed!! now, your SIA Door Supervisor Licence is valid for 3 years. Let me take your through, SIA learning programme overview to give you an idea.
1) To have knowledge of and to understand the laws relevant to door supervision
- identify the types of assault identify an ‘offensive weapon’
2) To understand and demonstrate effective search procedures
- understand the different types of searches
- understand a door supervisor’s right of search, including the ‘conditions of entry’ and the importance of obtaining permission to search
- identify different types of searching equipment
- understand the hazards associated with conducting an effective search
- know what precautions to take to protect against adverse effects
- know what action to take should an incident or accident occur
- understand the reasons for searching premises
- know what actions to take in the event of a refusal to be searched
- complete search documentation
- understand considerations in searching individuals with diverse needs.
3) To know and understand drugs and drug abuse.
- identify the most common types of illegal drugs
- identify symptoms of drug use
- identify the signs of drug dealing
- know how to deal with customers found in possession of drugs
- state the procedure for handling and storing seized drugs
4) To understand incident recording and crime scene preservation.
- state the reason for recording and preserving crime scenes
- state what actions to take to preserve evidence after an incident (contact, cordon, contain and control)
- know when to call the police
5) To know and understand licensing law and the licensee’s social responsibility.
- understand the law in relation to refusing entry and ejecting customers
- understand police powers in relation to licensed premises
- understand the rights and duties of licensees and door supervisors as their representatives
6) responsibilities of door staff in relation to crowd management within a queue system and crowd capacity within a venue.
7) To be able to use equipment in the role of a door supervisor.
