Retained Firefighters

CHARACTER: Each candidate must be of good character. The County Council may make whatever enquiries it considers necessary to satisfy this condition.

 AGE: A Retained Fire-fighter must be not less than 18 and must be under 55 years on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving application forms occurs. A birth certificate must be submitted to Laois County Council as proof of age.

RETIREMENT: On reaching 55 years of age, or sooner if found medically or physically unfit to continue, a part-time Fire-fighter shall be required to retire. However, such Fire-fighter have the option to continue working up to age 60 subject to compulsory annual medical assessment measured against agreed standards.

PROBATION: From the date of commencement as part-time Fire-fighter there shall be a period of ten months during which he/she shall be on probation. During this period he/she shall be required, when requested by the Chief Fire Officer, to undergo and successfully complete a Recruits Induction Course and a Breathing apparatus Wearers Course. Such period of ten months may be extended at the absolute discretion of the County Council. The part-time Fire-fighter shall cease to be employed at the end of the period of probation unless the County Council is satisfied that he/she has been satisfactory in all respects. You will also be required to undergo Heavy Goods Vehicle driver training (Class C licence) & successfully pass the appropriate driving test.

HEALTH: Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Eyesight levels should be uncorrected visual acuity of 6/9, 6/12 or better. (Candidates should check with an optician to ascertain if eligible to avoid unnecessary interviews and expense prior to applying for the position)

MEDICAL

EXAMINATION: Before recruitment a candidate must undergo and pass health and fitness testsin accordance with “An Occupational Health System for members of the retained Fire Service as issued by the Local Government Management Services Board July 2005, in order to qualify for the post. (Refer to enclosed Firefighter Selection Tests). During the period of employment the person appointed must participate in the Occupational Health Systems as laid down in “An Occupation Health system for members of the Retained Fire Service” as issued by the Local Government Management Services Board July 2005. He/she will co-operate with Laois County Council in arrangements to this end. A Firefighter who, in the opinion of the Medical Advisor conducting the Occupational Health system, is unsuitable for operational duties as a Firefighter will be required to resign.

EDUCATION AND SUITABILITY: A candidate must have attained a suitable level of education to enable him/her to undergo successfully the appropriate training and to perform satisfactorily as a part-time Firefighter.

DRIVING

LICENCE: On date of appointment the successful candidate must hold a full clean driving licence in respect of Category B Vehicles or equivalent in the EU Model Driving Licence on the latest date for the receipt of completed applications. Candidates are also required prior to appointment to procure and maintain a Class C learner permit. In addition, the successful candidate must have access to a car as he/she may be required to travel to training courses in the course of his/her duties.

DRILLS AND FURTHER

TRAINING: A part-time Firefighter shall attend and participate in drills and shall undergo from time to time courses and further training, including Breathing Apparatus Training, minimum of 2 weeks, as required or deemed appropriate by the County Council. The location(s) of the training shall be decided by the County Council. Drills shall be held at such frequency as decided by the County Council in its absolute discretion. Adequate advance notice shall be given to Firefighters.

RESIDENCE: (a) The residence and place of normal work of each part-time Firefighter shall be within a distance from the Fire Station, acceptable to the Fire Authority. (As a rough guide a maximum distance of 1½ miles from the Fire Station). If at any time his/her availability is affected by change of work or any other reasons, he/she will be required to resign.

(b)            A part-time Firefighter shall be required to report for duty to the fire station in its present location or in the event of change of location, to such new locations that may be decided by the Fire Authority. Changes in the location of a fire station will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation.

AVAILABILITY:

Written evidence from the employer as to availability must be provided and the County Council, in its sole discretion, shall decide as to whether the availability as so evidenced is acceptable. Self-employed must also provide written evidence as to availability. Such written evidence must cover a candidate’s availability on recruitment for fire and other calls, drills, training and such other duties which the part-time Firefighter may be required by the County Council to perform.

If the County Council deems a part-time Firefighter’s attendance to be unsatisfactory, it may terminate his/her service.

RECRUITMENT:

1.       Applicants will be required to attend for interview at their own expense.

2.       Candidates will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy test as part of the recruitment process.

3.       The interview board will recommend a panel of suitable applicants and further vacancies may be filled from the panel.

4.       Applicants will be required to undergo Garda Vetting procedure

DUTIES:

(a) Each part-time Firefighter shall be required to attend at fires and other emergencies, drills, displays etc, at such times and for such periods as required by the Authority.

(b)    Each part-time Firefighter shall operate in accordance with such rostering arrangements as exist, or as may be arranged by the Fire Authority, from time to time, and shall attend with due promptness fire and other calls, emergencies and duties in any part of County Laois and in the area of any other Fire Authority as required by the County Council. Firefighters may be contacted via smart phone and shall participate in any online crew availability systems adopted by the Fire Authority.

(c)     A part-time Firefighter, as and when required, shall perform such duties as are assigned to him/her from time to time. Failure to respond promptly to fire or other calls shall at the discretion of the County Council, result in termination of service.

CLOTHING ETC. While on duty, part-time Firefighter shall use the clothing and personal equipment provided by the Council and such clothing and equipment shall be left in the Station immediately after the cessation of duty. Part-time Firefighter may not use such clothing and equipment save while on duty.

GRIEVANCE AND DISCIPLINARY

PROCEDURE: The terms of the County Council’s Grievance and Disciplinary procedure shall apply to part-time Fire-fighters.

DATA PROTECTION:This personal information of the application form is used solely in processing your candidature. Such information held is subject to the rights and obligations set out in the Data Protection Acts, 1988 & 2003 and the General Data Protection Regulation.