Accreditation Works
Case Number 56
Wackenhut Services, Incorporated – Savannah River Site (WSI-SRS) has been the
primary security contractor since 1983 at the Savannah River Site, which is part
of the Department of Energy nuclear industrial complex. The site consists of 310
square miles in Aiken, South Carolina, and borders the Savannah River. WSI-SRS
provides overall site security and law enforcement services for approximately
12,000 site employees. The Savannah River Site Special Operations Division has
been CALEA Law Enforcement Accredited since November 1995, and the Training
Division received CALEA Public Safety Training Academy Accreditation in November
2005.
The Training Division is responsible for providing and monitoring the training required for protective force personnel, as well as the remaining workforce.
Even with over 22 years of successful operation, the CALEA Self-assessment review disclosed areas that needed to be clarified and formalized into the existing procedural system. Meeting the following accreditation standards especially strengthened our human resource practices.
In accordance with standard 5.2.4, the job announcements were modified to include all the elements and duration of the selection process. A section on the interview process and length now provides applicants with information on the requirements and time for each phase of the process. A selection and notification section states that applicants will be notified within five working days after the interviews are completed. Additional information is given for those not accepted and informs them that they may reapply for other positions.
Prior to meeting standards 5.3.2 and 5.4.7, the Training Division did not have a policy on employee probationary periods. The hiring and promotion process are the same, as all positions in the Training Division are opened to qualified applicants from within and outside of the company. Using the CALEA requirement of six months of probation for all new and recently promoted employees, provided structure for early performance reviews and made good sense. A form is now used to document the reviews. A preliminary review is done at three months and a final review is completed at six months, which is retained in the employee’s personnel file.
These are just two areas that were enhanced by the CALEA accreditation process. They have resulted in a more uniform process and have had a positive impact on the human resource function in the Training Division.
Mary Martin, Accreditation Manager
Wackenhut Services, Inc. - Savannah River Site
