What is the role of a door supervisor?

The importance of security is continuously increasing and there are more ways to keep people safe than ever before. If you have ever visited a bar, nightclub or location with a large volume of traffic then you will have been greeted by a door supervisor; this is an extremely popular method of security as they work to keep staff, guests and the premises both safe and secure. So, what is the role of a door supervisor? How can they keep you safe?

What is a door supervisor? 

A door supervisor is a trained professional that monitors the entrance of a venue to ensure that no one without permission enters or leaves; they are often at the entrance of clubs, bars and pubs in large towns or cities and work to guard the premises against theft, unauthorised access and disorderly behaviour. A door supervisor will typically wear an all black uniform and use a walkie talkie system to keep in touch with other security personnel working that venue. They will mainly spend their time at the entrance of the premises checking the suitability of people wanting to come in; this includes checking for valid identification and ensuring no one is carrying harmful substances or objects – for example, drugs or weapons. They may also have to carry out searches on people, deal with difficult situations and provide evidence to the police. A door supervisor has authority to refuse entry to anyone they consider unsuitable and work closely with the police, first aid and emergency response teams and the venue management in order to keep everyone safe. 

What skills are required for a door supervisor?

To be a door supervisor there are different skills that you must have as the job is much more than simply checking ID’s; you may be put in tense or aggressive situations that require you to take action and calm people down to keep customers and staff safe. As a door supervisor you must be responsible, alert, calm and have excellent communication skills; this is because you will be constantly talking and dealing with customers throughout your entire shift and must be able to deal calmly with all public scenarios. As a door supervisor you are typically seen as an authority figure so it is vital that you have a confident and in-control persona. When you are dealing with intoxicated customers you may find yourself in difficult situations so it’s important you have good problem solving skills to de-escalate a situation and maintain safety and order at the venue. You must also be prepared to possibly need to escort people from the premises; this may be due to drunk and disorderly behaviour, being threatening to others or carrying dangerous weapons. 

What are the duties of a door supervisor?

There are many roles and responsibilities as a door supervisor; you will mainly work in the evenings, especially at weekends and often work into the early hours of the morning. As well as working outside at the entrance of the venue, you may also be asked to patrol inside the building. As a door supervisor your roles will include meeting and greeting customers at the door, implementing a queue management system outside of the venue, searching people for drugs and weapons, collecting tickets of people and checking ID’s for proof of legal age; as well as this, you may also be responsible for restraining and escorting individuals out of the venue. Your main priority as a door supervisor is to ensure the safety and comfort of customers at all times. 

How do you become a door supervisor?

In order to become a door supervisor you must have completed a specialist training course, the Level 2 Award for Working as a Door Supervisor in the Private Security Industry and an Emergency First Aid at Work or equivalent course. After these have been passed and completed you can apply for a licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA); having this licence then allows you to work in the private security industry in a variety of roles. The course will cover working in the private security industry, working as a door supervisor, conflict management and physical intervention. Your SIA licence is valid for three years and then must be renewed; you may also need to complete top up training before the licence is renewed depending on the date you did your original door supervisor course and what course is covered. 

So what is the role of a door supervisor? Their ultimate goal is to keep you, the venue and the staff safe throughout their visit. This is a hands-on role that involves working in venues that attract large volumes of traffic and implementing the correct security measures to ensure everyone can enjoy their night. As human security is extremely effective this is a popular choice of security that we will continue to see around us in all aspects of our day to day lives. Here at SecurePro we are proud to offer a comprehensive range of security solutions to keep your premises safe, ranging from manned security to keyholding services. Your safety is always our number one priority. To speak to one of our experts, contact us today on 01384 378300 for a confidential discussion about how we can help you.