Job Description

The Job: Retained fire - fighter – Trim Fire Station

A Retained Fire-fighter, as and when required, shall perform such duties as are assigned to him/her from time to time by the Chief Fire Officer and/or other designated person by the Council.

The Retained Fire-fighter will report to the Station Officer or the person designated by the Chief Fire Officer as supervisor.

When rostered on duty he/she must remain within convenient proximity of the fire station. Failure to respond promptly to fire or other calls shall, at the discretion of the County Council, result in termination of service.

The Retained Fire-fighter shall:

  1. Perform such duties as are assigned to him/her from time to time by the Chief Fire Officer and/or other designated person by the Council and without prejudice to the generality of this requirement, shall perform watch-room duties, driving duties and general Fire-fighter duties such as the wearing of breathing apparatus, the operation of pumps, the operation of rescue and cutting equipment, the use of other fire-fighting equipment, hydrant testing etc.
  1. Report to the Chief Fire Officer or the person designated by the Chief Fire Officer to be supervisor e.g. Station Officer or Sub-Station Officer.
  1. When rostered on duty, remain within convenient proximity of the Fire Station. Failure to respond promptly to fire or other calls may result in termination of service.
  1. Report for duty in a sober manner.
  1. Shall, while engaged on Fire Service duties at fires, practices, travelling to or from fires and while on the Fire Service premises, carry out their duties in a smart and efficient manner.
  1. Be prepared to accept the risks entailed (under instruction of the Officer in Charge)and fulfil to the best of their ability their duty as a retained Fire-fighter in the saving of life, the fighting of fires (or other type emergencies) and the saving of property.
  1. Pass satisfactorily any such tests in fire and rescue operation’s related knowledge, techniques and skills, first aid or other test, as the Chief Fire Officer may deem necessary.
  1. Co-operate with the implementation of new technology and communications equipment in the management of his crew and the management of the station as required by Meath County Council.
  1. Attend all meetings, training courses and major emergency exercises as may be required from time to time.
  1. Ensure compliance with organisational policies and procedures.
  1. Perform any other duties assigned from time to time by the Rostered Senior Fire Officer.

Failure to comply with the aforementioned shall be reported immediately to the Senior Fire Officer[1] in charge of the Fire Service and disciplinary action by way of the Council’s Grievance & Disciplinary Procedure.

Qualifications

The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government has declared that the qualifications for the position of Retained Fire-fighter, Meath County Council shall be as set out hereunder:-

Character:

Each candidate must be of good character. A Retained Fire-fighter must be of good character. The Council may make whatever enquiries it considers necessary to satisfy this condition.Employment of the successful candidate shall be subject to satisfactory confidential reports.

Retainer:

€7,562 - €10,383– pending on service

Health:

A Retained Fire-fighter shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service

Education / experience:

The ideal candidate should have:

  • Reached a standard of education sufficient to enable him/her to carry out the duties assigned;
  • Must have attained a suitable level of education to enable him/her to undergo successfully, the appropriate training and to perform satisfactorily as a Retained Fire-fighter.

Age:

Applicants must not be less than 18 years of age.

Retirement:

The retirement age is 55 years, with scope to increase to age 58 (subject to regular medical examination)

On reaching 55 years of age, or sooner if found to be medically unfit, a Retained Fire-fightershall cease to hold office. The maximum age limit of 55 years may be lowered by the County Council should the normal age for retirement in employment generally be lowered and in such case, the age lower than 55 years shall apply.Retained Fire-fighter who would be physically capable of working beyond age 55 have the option to continue working for a defined limited period subject to compulsory medical assessment, on an annual basis. The extended optional period would be to age 58. No Retained Fire-fighter shall be employed beyond age 58, in accordance with the Report of the Expert Group on retirement age for Retained Fire-fighters (April 2003).

Health:

Each candidate must be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Under the terms of the agreed Occupational Health Scheme for fire-fighters, a Retained Fire-fighter will be required to undergo a regular medical examination by a medical practitioner nominated by the Council. Retention as a Retained Fire-fighter will depend upon receipt of satisfactory reports by the medical practitioner.

Medical Examination:

Before recruitment, in order that conditions as to health may be ascertained, a candidate must undergo such medical examination (which may include X-ray and/or other special tests) as the County Council consider necessary. The medical examiners will be nominated by the County Council. The candidates must comply, at his/her own expense, with such remedial requirements as the County Council consider necessary.

Retained Fire-fighters employed by the Council will be required to undergo subsequent medical examinations as required by Meath County Council in accordance with the Occupational Health Scheme for members of the Retained Fire Service.

A Retained Fire-fighterwho is unable to satisfy the Council as to his ability to perform his duties will be required to retire.

Drills & Further Training:

ARetained Fire-fightershall attend and participate in training and shall undergo from time to time courses and further training as required or deemed appropriate by the County Council.

Residence/Place of Work:

A Retained Fire-fighter shall reside and work close to their Fire Station (within 2.5 km from the station) and must be able to attend at the fire station within five minutes. The Retained Fire-fighter shall notify the fire authority in writing of any subsequent changes of residence or place of employment. A change of residence or place of employment that would place you outside these limits will mean automatic termination of employment.

Availability:

Written evidence must be provided from the Retained Fire-fighter’s employer as to his/her availability to turn up to all call-outs of the Fire Service and to attend any courses and meeting arranged by the Fire Service prior to appointment, and Meath County Council in its sole discretion, shall decide as to whether the availability as so provided is acceptable. If the employer subsequently changes his/her conditions of employment and does not allow you to attend fire calls / drills during working hours, employment will be terminated. Self-employed must also provide written evidence as to availability prior to appointment. Such written evidence must cover a candidate's availability for fire and other calls, drills, training and such other duties which you may be required by the County Council to perform.

There is an obligation on a Retained Fire-fighter to attend at alert/fire calls and at drills. This is the basis on which the retainer is paid. Notwithstanding any other disciplinary action that the County Council may apply, failure to attend or participate in 85% of drills or at 75% of calls in any quarter of a year, without good reason, shall result in withholding the retainer in accordance with the terms of the Retained Fire-fighters Agreement of 1999. In the case of an alert/fire call, the Retained Fire-fightershall attend within the “turnout time”. The “turnout time” and “maximum attendance time” shall be set by the Chief Fire Officer in accordance with the terms of the “Retained Fire-fighters Agreement of 1999” and fire-fighters shall be paid accordingly for alerts/fire calls.

If Meath County Council deems a Retained Fire-fighter’s attendance to be unsatisfactory, it may terminate the Retained Fire-fighter’s service.

The Retained Fire-fighter may be required to attend special courses of training at the direction of the Council.

The Retained Fire-fighter will be subject to all Meath County Council’s policies and procedures.

Principal Conditions of Service

Type of Post: The creation of a panel from which permanent and temporary posts may be filled.

Probation:

(a)there shall be a period after such appointments take effect during which such persons shall hold the position on probation,

(b)such period shall be one year but the manager may at his or her discretion extend such period,

(c)such persons shall cease to hold the position at end of the period of probation unless during such period, the manager has certified that the service of such persons is satisfactory.

Format of the Competition

Applications must be made on the official application forms and all sections must be completed in full. When completing the application form accuracy is essential as it will be used as a computer input document. The information you supply in the application form will play a central part of the shortlisting process. Meath County Council’s decision to include you on the shortlist of candidates going forward to stage two of the process may be determined based on this information.

Where, by reason of the number of persons seeking admission to the competition and the standard of knowledge, training or experience in general of such persons, Meath County Council consider that it would be reasonable not to admit all the persons to the competition, Meath County Council may admit to the competition only persons who appear likely to them to attain in the competition a standard sufficient for selection and recommendation for appointment.

The admission of a person to a competition, or invitation to attend an interview, is not to be taken as implying that Meath County Council are satisfied that such person fulfils the requirements of the Regulations or is not disqualified by law from holding the position and does not carry a guarantee that your application will receive further consideration. It is important therefore, for you to note the onus is on you to ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements for the competition before attending for interview. If you do not meet these essential entry requirements but nevertheless attend for interview you will be putting yourself to unnecessary expense, as Meath County Council will not be responsible for refunding any expenses incurred.

The competition may consist of a two-stage process:

  1. Short-listing
  2. Competitive interview

Meath County Council may at their discretion require candidates to attend a preliminary interview in which case admission to the competitive interview would be conditional on candidates reaching such a standard as Meath County Council considered appropriate in the preliminary interview.

Interviews shall be conducted by Board(s) set up by Meath County Council. The Board(s) will assess the merits of candidates (except insofar as they are assessed otherwise) in respect of matters referred to in the prescribed Qualifications and any other relevant matters. Before making its final assessment a Board may recall a candidate for further questioning. Any such further attendance shall be regarded as part of the interview. Only candidates who reach such a standard as Meath County Council consider satisfactory in the competitive interview shall be considered for selection.

Before being recommended for appointment candidates shall satisfy Meath County Council that they possess the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and where administrative experience is a requirement a high standard of administrative capacity) for the proper discharge of the duties of the position. Meath County Council may, at their discretion, select and recommend another person(s) for appointment on the results of this competition if the person recommended for appointment does not accept the appointment or, having accepted it, relinquishes it or if an additional vacancy arises.

The onus is on all applicants to make themselves available for the obligatory test(s) on the date(s) specified by Meath County Council and to make whatever arrangements are necessary to ensure that they receive communications sent to them at the address specified on their application form.

Canvassing will disqualify.

General Information

Meath County Council will not be responsible for any expense, including travelling expenses, candidates may occur in connection with their candidature.

Candidates shall undergo such medical examinations (which may include special tests) as Meath County Council consider necessary. Medical Examiners will be nominated by Meath County Council. Candidates will be required to pay the fee for any general medical examination or, unless determine otherwise, the fee for any examination by a medical specialist or for any special test and on receipt of bill, Meath County Council will re-imburse the candidate. Candidates must comply, at their own expense, with such remedial requirements as Meath County Council consider necessary.

Closing Date:

The completed application form must be forwarded so as to reach Meath County Council, Human Resources Section, County Hall, Navan, Co. Meath not later than5.00pm Wednesday 31st August 2016. An application form sent by post should be posted in sufficient time to ensure delivery by this deadline. Allegations of loss or delay will not be considered unless supported by a Certificate of Posting. The cost of postage must be borne by the applicant.

Deeming of candidature to be withdrawn:

Candidates who do not attend for interview or other test when and where required by Meath County Council, or who do not, when requested, furnish such evidence as Meath County Council require in regard to any matter relevant to their candidature, will have no further claim to consideration.

Data Protection Act, 1988:

When your application form is received, we create a computer record in your name, which contains much of the personal information you have supplied. Should your name come under consideration for a post, a manual file will then be created. The personal records are used solely in processing your candidature.

Such information held on computer is subject to the rights and obligations set out in the Data Protection Act, 1988. You are entitled under this Act to obtain, at any time, a copy of information about you, which is kept on computer. Under the Data Protection (Amendment) Act, 2003, you are entitled to a copy of information about you held in a structured filing system. The charge is €6.35 for each request. You should enclose a cheque or postal order payable to Meath County Council and address your request to: the data protection co-ordinator, MEATH COUNTY COUNCIL, COUNTY HALL, NAVAN, CO. MEATH

Certain items of information, not specific to any individual, are extracted from records for general statistical purposes.

Confidentiality:

Subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 1997 and 2003 applications will be treated in strict confidence.

Meath County Council

[1] Senior Fire Officer refers to a fire officer above the rank of Station Officer, such as Assistant Fire Officer, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer and Chief Fire Officer.