Senior Emergency Control Operator

This is a competition for the position of Senior Emergency Control Operator with the West Region Communications Centre (WRCC), Mayo County Council. A panel may be created, and appointments may be made on a temporary or permanent basis. The successful candidate will be assigned to WRCC (West Regional Communications Centre) at Fire Brigade HQ, Mayo County Council.

WRCC is primarily responsible for the receipt of Emergency Fire Service calls and the dispatch of Fire Appliances and other resources within the West Region of all counties in Connacht and Donegal. The WRCC may have to take Emergency Fire Service calls for other regions as deemed necessary by Management. The Position of Senior Emergency Control Operator involves the supervision of personnel, the receipt, call handling and dispatch of Emergency calls within the West area and other areas as deemed necessary by Management.

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, TRAINING, EXPERIENCE, ETC:

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms have: –

(a)         Obtained at least Grade D (or a Pass), in Higher and Ordinary Level, in five subjects from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education Established Leaving Certificate Examination or Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme or Applied Leaving Cert.

Please note that a Grade B in Foundation Level Mathematics and Grade C in Foundation Level Irish may be accepted for the purposes of meeting the minimum educational requirements.

Or National Council for Vocational Awards – Level 2

Or have passed an examination of at least equivalent standard as listed above.

Or have 2 years satisfactory experience of working in a communications centre/call taking and dispatch environment.

(b) Proficiency in word processing skills particularly in the area of speed, accuracy, co-ordination and presentation.

* 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.

Desirables: -

The following is desirable but not essential:

·          Experience or knowledge of a communications centre/ call taking and dispatch environment or equivalent.

·          Experience of computer and communications systems. A Computer qualification (such as ECDL or equivalent) would be an advantage.

·          A knowledge of the Irish language.

Mayo County Council may carry out an examination of candidates to determine the level of proficiency in any of the areas and this may form part of the shortlisting process.

4.      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.

1.      POSITION:

A panel will be formed from qualified candidates from which any permanent or temporary positions at this grade which arise during the lifetime of the panel may be filled. This employment is whole-time and subject to a duty system which is based on a seven-day week to be covered by a shift system. The Council may change the duty system, and it may change personnel between shifts, from time to time as considered necessary by the Council. Persons employed shall be required to work irregular hours including weekends, Bank and Public Holidays and undertake such overtime as considered necessary from time to time by the Council.

2. The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. The holder of the position shall pay to the Local Authority any fees or other monies (other than inclusive salary) payable to or received by such holder by virtue of the position or in respect of services, which are required by or under any enactment to perform.

SALARY SCALE:

€37,124.07, €40,353.33, €42,790.61, €44,366.18, €46,076.01, €48,872.21, €50,563.71, €52,298.83

The starting pay for new entrants will be at the minimum of the scale and the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

Compensation payments will apply for working weekends and at night.

3.      DUTIES:

The duties of the post are to give to the local authority, and 

(a)         such other local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive, for the purposes of the Local Government Acts 2001 and 2014, is Chief Executive, and

(b)         to any other local authority or body with which an agreement has been made by the local authority, or by any of the authorities or bodies mentioned in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph under the general direction and supervision of the Chief Executive or such other employee as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate services of an executive, administrative or management nature as may be required by any local authority or body hereinbefore mentioned in the exercise and performance of any of its powers, functions and duties to exercise such powers, functions and duties as may be delegated to him / her by the Chief Executive from time to time, including the duty of servicing all committees that may be established by any such local authority or body. The post holder will, if required, act for an employee of a higher level if qualified to do so.

The following are among the principal duties envisaged:

Operational Duties:

a)      To ensure the prompt and efficient handling of all emergency calls by his/her shift.

b)     To ensure that all orders/instructions issued to the SECO or ECO’s on his/ her shift by Line Managers or Senior Officers are obeyed promptly and efficiently.

c)      To take sufficient calls and operate the radio sufficiently to maintain his/her level of expertise.

d)     To support, advise and pick up the overflow in busy periods.

e)     To ensure that all appropriate messages are logged and that any requests for assistance by the Incident Commander (IC) are met promptly and efficiently.

f)       To maintain the Daily Occurrence Book and carry out the Shift Changeover.

g)      To ensure that following an error or difficulty encountered on his/her shift, a report for the Principal Emergency Control Operator and Executive Emergency Communications Officer is prepared immediately.

h)     To ensure that Operators on his/her shift are debriefed on all calls taken and that call taking times and accuracy are monitored and reported on.

i)       To provide a written report on the first of every month to the Line Manager.

j)       To be progressive and positive in implementing new procedures, systems, and technologies in the WRCC as deemed necessary by Management.

Supervisory Duties:

a)      To maintain discipline on his/her shift and follow the disciplinary procedures relating to Mayo County Council.

b)     To implement, monitor and report on the following on his/her shift:

Time Keeping (clock in/out), Annual Leave, Sick Leave, Uniform, Rest Breaks, Administrative Duties, Performance, Training, etc.

c)      To monitor the cleaning/upkeep of the Kitchen, Rest Room and Control Room.

d)     To attend and participate in S.E.C.O. committee meetings.

e)     To implement and participate in evaluation processes as required.

f)       To accurately and efficiently record and report any errors or difficulties experienced during operational incidents or otherwise in relation to his/her shift.

g)      Ensure that the PMDS Team Development Plans (TDP) are completed and reviewed for the team and Personal Development Plans (PDP) are completed and reviewed for each staff member on the team.

Quality Management Duties:

a)      The implementation and development of all aspects of the Quality Management systems employed by WRCC.

Training Duties:

a)      To ensure that all personnel assigned to his/her shift are up to date with Control Room Procedures and that they adhere to these procedures.

b)     To ensure that his/her Operators are trained in accordance with the defined training programme and that training records are kept accurately and up to date.

c)      To undertake responsibility for the training of new operators assigned to him/her and delegate training duties to his/her shift and report on same.

d)     To compile training schedules, manuals, exam papers and the correction of same.

e)     To maintain their own personal training and maintain a high level of expertise.

f)       Involvement in the design, development, and implementation of all training courses.

The above specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

4.      COMPETENCIES:

Candidates for the post must demonstrate that they have competency and skills in the following areas. Application forms should include two practical examples which demonstrates these competencies. Interviews will be competency based and marks will be awarded under these skills sets.

DELIVERING RESULTS

·        Contribute to delivery of high-quality service and customer care standards.

·        Plan and organise workloads in order to meet deadlines.

·        Identify problems and contribute to solutions.

·        Co-operate with decisions and implement solutions.

·        Contribute to continuous improvement of the service in line with ISO 9001 Quality Management System.

PERFORMANCE THROUGH PEOPLE

·        Engage with staff and work as part of a team.

·        Resolve conflict situations.

·        Lead by example and show initiative.

·        Have excellent interpersonal skills.

·        Have excellent verbal and written communication skills.

PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS

·        Knowledge and understanding of the Local Authority Fire Service System and the National Emergency 999/112 call receipt system.

·        Knowledge of the role of Senior Emergency Control Operator.

·        Personal motivation.

·        Ability to maintain positive, constructive, and enthusiastic attitude to their role.

·        Ability to commit to public service values.

·        To develop and maintain positive, productive, and beneficial working relationships.

·        Understand and implement change and demonstrate flexibility and openness to change and new challenges.

Candidates will also be assessed at interview on the basis of how they demonstrate their Relevant Knowledge and Experience.

Relevant Knowledge & Experience

·        Knowledge & understanding of the Role of Senior Emergency Control Operator.

·        Range & Depth of experience relevant to the Post.

·        Specialist Knowledge, Expertise in previous & current working environment.

·        Understanding of local government legislation, local government policy.

·        A clear understanding of Health and Safety Policy and Procedures.

5.      UNIFORM

The persons employed may be required to wear a uniform and maintain it in good condition at all times while on duty. The uniform shall be supplied by Mayo County Council.

6.      TRAINING:

The person employed shall be required to undertake all ongoing training courses specified by Mayo County Council relevant to the operational or administrative needs of the Regional Communications Centre (including training courses outside the State), if necessary. The person employed shall also assist in the training and evaluation of new and existing staff where required.

7.      COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT:

The person employed may be required to carry items of communication equipment for contact outside of normal working hours. The equipment shall be supplied by the Council.

8.      RESIDENCE:

Holders of the position shall reside in the district in which his/her duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof.

9.      ANNUAL LEAVE:

Annual leave entitlement is 30 days per year.

10.  TRAVEL:

Mayo County Council reserves the right to provide a vehicle to enable you to carry out your duties. The provision of a vehicle will be at the discretion of the Chief Executive.

11.  SHORTLISTING:

Normally the number of applications received for a position exceeds that required to fill existing and future vacancies to the position. While candidates may meet the eligibility requirements of the competition, if the numbers applying for the position are such that it would not be practical to interview everyone, Mayo County Council may decide that a number only will be called to interview. A shortlisting process will apply whereby a group of applicants will be selected for interview who, based on an examination of the documents provided by each applicant, appear to be the most suitable for the position.

This is not to suggest that other candidates are necessarily unsuitable or incapable of undertaking the job, rather that there are some candidates who are, prima facie, better qualified and/or have more relevant experience.

In the event of a shortlisting exercise being employed, The shortlisting process can take the form of:-

·        Shortlisting of candidates on the basis of information contained in their application form (It is therefore in the interests of each candidate to provide a detailed and accurate account of his/her qualifications/ experience on the application form).

·        Other written, oral or practical tests appropriate to the position.

·        Preliminary interviews to reduce the number of candidates to a more manageable number for the final Interview Board or

·        Preliminary interviews to determine qualified candidates, after which a selected number of the qualified candidates are called back for final interview.

12.  APPOINTMENT:

Candidates whose names are on a panel and who satisfy the Local Authority that they possess the qualifications declared for the position and that they are otherwise suitable for employment may within the life of the panel be employed as relevant vacancies arise. The life of the panel will be one year from the date of its establishment.

The local authority shall require a person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of not more than one month and if he/she fails 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 him/her.

13.  REFERENCES/DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE:

Each candidate will be required to submit as references the names and addresses of two responsible persons to whom they are well known but not related. Candidates will be required to submit documentary evidence to the Local Authority in support of their application.

14.  SUPERANNUATION:

As an employee of Mayo County Council, you will be assessed in terms of which Pension Scheme is applicable to you. You will become a member and contribute to the relevant scheme as outlined below:

1)     Persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority under the Single Public Service Pension Scheme will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration and 3% of pensionable remuneration.

2)     Persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority under the Local Government (superannuation) (consolidation) scheme, 1998 and who are liable to pay class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of State Pension Contributory payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependant or qualified children).

3)     Persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority under the Local Government (superannuation) (consolidation) scheme, 1998 and who are liable to pay class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration.

Persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority under the Local Government (superannuation) (consolidation) scheme, 1998 may be required to contribute to the Dependants Pension Scheme.

In order, to qualify for a pension, they must have served a minimum of two years (24 months) employment in an approved public body.

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