Emergency Control Operator

The Position Limerick City and County Council invites applications from suitably qualified persons, who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which temporary and permanent vacancies for Emergency Control Operator may be filled throughout the lifetime of the panel. Limerick City and County Council operates the Munster Regional Communications Centre (MRCC) on behalf of local authorities in Munster. This centre is responsible for the receipt of Emergency Fire Service calls and the despatch of Fire Appliances and other resources within the Munster Region. Additionally, the centre liaises with other regional communication centres and national agencies and may take other communication centre’s emergency calls during busy periods. The MRCC also takes non-emergency calls for the Munster Region. The primary role of an Emergency Control Operator is to receive and dispatch emergency fire service calls. They also perform a broad range of other administrative and operational tasks. The successful applicants will be required to undertake and participate in a comprehensive assessment programme, which will be subject to ongoing review. The programme consists of two phases. Phase 1 is 12 weeks and involves an induction programme, procedural learning and processing calls in a test environment. Phase 2 commences following successful completion of phase 1. This involves a transition to a supervised live call-taking environment. A one-year probation period will commence and during this period the employee is regularly appraised. Emergency Control Operator will be expected to carry out the following non-exhaustive list of duties:

Operational Duties:

• Receipt, dispatch, and fulfilment of 999/112 emergency calls, non-emergency calls and administrative calls for the Fire Service and Department of Planning, Heritage and Local Government.
• To receive, transmit and record radio messages from the Fire Ground and act on such messages as appropriate.
• To adhere to control room procedures, radio procedures, quality management processes and procedures.
• To ensure the notification of Other Emergency Agencies, local authorities, Government bodies, External agencies as required.
• To contact other agencies as outlined in the relevant Major Emergency Plans.
• To contact Rostered Senior Fire Officers in accordance with pre-defined procedures.
• To operate various systems within the Control Room, both Technological and in hard copy.
• To accurately and efficiently record and report on any errors or difficulties which may occur in operations.
• Adherence to General Data Protection Regulations and Confidentiality procedures.
• Maintaining staffing levels in Control Room 24/7 for 365 days per annum.
• To participate in the Performance, Management & Development System as required.

Quality Management Duties:

• All Munster Regional Communications Centre personnel shall be required to actively participate in the implementation and development of all aspects of the Quality Management systems employed by the Munster Regional Communications System. The Munster Regional Communications System is certified to the ISO9001:2015 quality management standard.

Administrative Duties: Under the supervision of the Senior Emergency Control Operator, Emergency Control Operators participate in:

• Training programmes/courses both internal and external as provided by the Munster Regional Communications Centre
• To update quality processes and procedures as directed
• Administrative duties in the areas of Finance, Management Information Systems, Quality Management and Training. Any other Duties as assigned by the Senior Executive Emergency Communications Officer or delegate.

The Person 1. Character Candidates shall be of good character 2. Health Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. 3. Education, Experience, etc Candidates shall on the latest date for receipt of applications; a. Have at least passed English and Mathematics to Leaving Certificate standard or equivalent standard. b. Be proficient in word processing skills particularly in the area of speed, accuracy, coordination and presentation. c. Emergency Control Operators are:

• Persons with experience of working with technology;
• Considerate and Compassionate;
• Able to follow and implement procedures to a set standard;
• Able to remain calm but assertive in stressful situations;
• Thrive in a close, team-oriented environment
• Capable administrators;
• Able to work under a shift rotation.

*Non Irish Qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications, overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document. It is desirable that candidates will demonstrate through their application form and at the interview the following:

Terms and Conditions 1. The Post: Subject to the availability of suitably qualified candidates a panel will be formed for an initial period of one year and this may be extended for a further year at the discretion of the Director General. The panel may be used by Limerick City and County Council to fill permanent and temporary positions that may arise for its duration. Vacancies will be offered in order of merit as per the panel. 2. Annual Leave The successful candidate will have 27 days annual leave. 3. Salary: Salary scale: €37,404.71 – €47,278.06 per annum, inclusive of LSIs. A 20% shift allowance also applies. Sunday premium and bank/public holiday payments will also apply. Payment of increments is dependent on satisfactory performance. Entry point of this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. In accordance with Departmental Circular letter EL 02/2011, a person who is not a serving local authority employee on or after 1st January 2011, will enter the scale for the position at the minimum point (currently €37,404.71). 4. Location: Limerick City and County Council reserves the right to assign the successful candidate to any department or premises in use by the Council, now or in the future. Changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation. The person appointed will be required to travel to and from work at their own expense. 5. Hours of Work The 39 hours of work are on a rotating shift basis, the current roster is 5-week roster, that averages 39 hours a week over 5 weeks and is a mix of 9 and 12-hour days and 12-hour nights including weekends to provide 24 hour cover 365 days a year You may be required from time to time to work shifts outside your normal pattern and shift patterns are subject to change to meet operational requirements. The provisions of Limerick City and County Council’s Time and Attendance Policy is applicable to this grade at the current time. 6. Sick Leave: The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail 7. Superannuation: The Local Government Superannuation Scheme applies. 8. Travel: Holders of the post should hold a full driving licence for class B vehicles and shall be required drive a motor car in the course of their duties and for this purpose, provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the local authority. Travelling expenses and subsistence expenses necessarily incurred in the course of official duties will be refunded in accordance with appropriate rates in line with the relevant Department Circulars and Local Authority Travel and Subsistence Policy. Limerick City and County Council, as employer, must be indemnified on your insurance policy. If during your employment, your licence is revoked, even temporarily, or if you receive endorsements on your licence, which may affect your duties, you are obliged to notify the Council immediately. 9. Residence: The holder of the post shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof. 10. Safety and Welfare: The holder of the post shall co-operate with the terms of Limerick City and County Council’s Safety Statement and Major Emergency Plan. The successful candidate shall make themselves aware of the safety rules and procedures and make proper use of all safety, clothing and equipment. 11. Training: It is a condition of employment that successful candidates will be required to participate in training programmes relevant to the skills necessary for the performance of the duties attaching to the post. 12. Taking Up Appointment: The local authority shall require a person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of four weeks and if they fail to take up the appointment within such period or such longer period as the local authority in its absolute discretion may determine, the local authority shall not appoint them. 13. Garda Vetting : The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 to 2016 came into effect on 29th April 2016. The Act places a statutory obligation on Limerick City and County Council to ensure that ‘any work or activity which is carried out by a person, a necessary and regular part of which consists mainly of a person having access to or contact with children or vulnerable persons will be subject of Garda Vetting’. 14. Probation: Where a person who is not already a permanent employee of a local authority is appointed, the following provisions shall apply: (a) There shall be a period after such appointments take effect, during which such person shall hold such post on probation. (b) Such period shall be set by the Director General and this period may be extended at their discretion. (c) Such person shall cease to hold the post at the end of the period of probation, unless during such period, the Manager has certified that the service of such person is satisfactory. 15. Citizenship: Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be: (a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or (b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or (c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or (d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or (e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa; or (f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa