Assistant Staff Officer

Qualifications

Character:

Candidates shall be of good character.

Health:

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

Education, Experience, etc.

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

(i) (a) have obtained at least Grade D (or a Pass), in Higher or Ordinary level, in five subjects (or four subjects if Irish is included) from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education Established Leaving Certificate Examination or Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme including Irish and/or English and one of the following: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics, and

(b) have obtained at least Grade C (or Honours) in higher Level (or Honours) papers in three subjects in that examination (or two subjects if Irish and/or one of the following is included: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics), or

(ii) have obtained a comparable standard in an equivalent examination or,

(iii) hold a third level qualification of at least degree standard.

Confined Competition

(iv) be a serving employee of a local authority or a regional assembly and have at least two years’ satisfactory experience in a post of Clerical officer or analogous post.

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

Each candidate must include on the application form details of all qualifications obtained by them. The invitation to attend for Interview is not to be regarded as an admission that you possess the prescribed qualifications and/or requirements for this post or are you qualified by law to hold the post. Documentary proof will be required before appointment where you claim credit for particular qualifications, experience, etc.

The Assistant Staff Officer is a support or supervisory position within the Council and is assigned responsibility for the day to day operation of a work area, section or team. The Assistant Staff Officer works as part of a team, supporting managers and colleagues to meet work goals and objectives and to deliver quality services to internal and external customers. The post holder will be responsible for the implementation of work programmes to achieve goals and targets set out in Departmental and Team Plans. The Assistant Staff Officer is expected to carry out their duties in a manner that enhances public trust and confidence.

Duties

The key duties and responsibilities of the post of Assistant Staff Officer include:-

·       To support the line manager to ensure the section or department work programmes are implemented to deliver on the Council’s Corporate Plan and operational plans.

·       To communicate and liaise effectively with employees, supervisors and line managers in other sections and customers in relation to operational matters for their section or area of work.

·       To prepare reports, correspondence and other documents as necessary.

·       To organise and facilitate internal and external meetings and participate and engage in discussions as appropriate.

·       To provide assistance and support in the delivery of projects as required.

·       To ensure high levels of customer service, responding to queries and requests for information in a professional and courteous and timely manner.

·       To support the line manager to communicate, implement and manage all change management initiatives within the relevant area of responsibility.

·       To supervise employees within their team or programmes of work within their area of responsibility, providing support to team members or colleagues as required.

·       To participate in corporate activities and responsibilities appropriate to the grade

·       To be in compliance with Health and Safety legislative requirements, policies and procedures and safe systems of work

·       To deputise for the line manager or equivalent as required

·       To undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibility, as may be required or assigned from time to time

Candidates must also:

• have the knowledge and ability to discharge the duties of the post concerned;
• be suitable on the grounds of character;
• be suitable in all other relevant respects for appointment to the post concerned;

Candidates, if successful, will not be appointed to the post unless they:

• agree to undertake the duties attached to the post and accept the conditions under which the duties are, or may be required to be, performed;
• are fully competent and available to undertake, and fully capable of undertaking, the duties attached to the position.

Monaghan County Council reserves the right to, at any time, assign an employee to any premises in use by the Council now or in the future.

Position of Assistant Staff Officer

Particulars

1.               POSITION

The office is wholetime and pensionable. A panel will be formed from which permanent or temporary vacancies arising during the lifetime of the panel may be filled.

2.               SALARY:

The current salary scale for the position of Assistant Staff Officer is:-

€32,301, €34,386, €37,345, €39,289, €40,989, €42,633, €44,853, €46,459, €48,089, LSI 1 €49,589, LSI 2 €51,100

Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and 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 at the minimum point.

3.               WORKING HOURS

The post entails a wide range of duties which require maximum flexibility and will be based on a 35-hour week. The Council reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time.

4.               PROBATION:

Where persons who are not already permanent employees of a local authority are appointed, the following provisions shall apply;

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

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

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

5.               SUPERANNUATION

A person who becomes a pensionable employee of the Local Authority will be required in respect of their Superannuation to contribute to the Local Authority at the appropriate rate.

6.               GARDA VETTING/CHILD PROTECTION

Successful candidates may be subject to the Garda Vetting Procedures and will be required to complete Appendix V of the County Council’s Child Protection Policy.

7.               HEALTH

For the purpose of satisfying the requirements as to health it will be necessary for successful candidates, before they are appointed, to undergo a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the local authority.

8.               ANNUAL LEAVE

The annual leave entitlement for this post will be 30 days per annum.

Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangement for public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997.

9.               RETIREMENT AGE

Retirement age will be determined on previous Public Sector Service (if any) and will be advised on appointment.

10.            RECRUITMENT

(i)               Selection of candidates for appointment shall be by means of a competency-based interview conducted by or on behalf of Monaghan County Council. Marks will be awarded under the following skill sets identified for the position of Assistant Staff Officer:-

o   Management and Change

o   Delivering Results/Communicating effectively

o   Performance Management and Team Work

o   Personal Effectiveness

Candidates will also be assessed at interview on the basis of how they demonstrate their knowledge, skills and experience (see “Essential Requirements” on Information Sheet for more details).

(ii)             A panel may be formed on the basis of such interview. Candidates whose names are on a panel and who satisfy the Local Authority that they are otherwise suitable for employment may within the life of the panel be appointed as appropriate vacancies arise.

(iii)            Applicants may be short-listed on the basis of information supplied on the Application Form and supporting documentation submitted, and only candidates shortlisted will be called for interview.

11. ACCEPTANCE OF OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT

Monaghan County Council shall require persons to whom appointments are offered to take up such appointments within a period of not more than one month 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, Monaghan County Council shall not appoint them.

12 . RESTRICTIONS ON ELIGIBILITY

Candidates should note that anyone who has taken part in the public service early retirement schemes set out below is not eligible to take part in this competition.

Departmentof Health and Children Circular (7/2010):

The Department of Health Circular 7/2010 dated 1 November 2010 introduced a Targeted Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Scheme and Voluntary Redundancy Schemes (VRS). It is a condition of the VER scheme that persons availing of the scheme will not be eligible for re-employment in the public health sector or in the wider public service or in a body wholly or mainly funded from public funds.

The same prohibition on re-employment applies under the VRS, except that the prohibition is for a period of 7 years, after which time any re employment will require the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. People who availed of either of these schemes are not eligible to compete in this competition.

 Declaration:

Applicants will be required to declare whether they have previously availed of a public service scheme of incentivised early retirement. Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other Public Service employment and/or where they have received a payment-in-lieu in respect of service in any Public Service employment.

13.  DRIVER’S LICENCE

The holder of the post shall hold a current EU/Irish Driving Licence for Class B Vehicles. When required to do so holders of office shall drive a vehicle in the course of their duties and for this purpose provide and maintain the vehicle to the satisfaction of the Local Authority. The successful applicant must be willing and be in a position to travel.

14. SHORTLISTING

Normally the number of applications received for a position exceeds that required to fill existing and future vacancies to the position. While a candidate 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, Monaghan County Council may decide that a number only will be called to interview. In this respect, Monaghan County Council provide for the employment of a shortlisting process to select a group for interview who, based on an examination of the application forms, appear to be the most suitable for the position.

An expert board will examine the application forms against a pre- determined criteria based on the requirements of 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 based on their application, appear to be better qualified and/or have more relevant experience.

 

15. Monaghan County Council is an equal opportunities employer.

The above represents the principal conditions of service and is not intended to be the comprehensive list of all terms and conditions of employment which will be set out in the employment contract to be agreed with the successful candidate.

ADDITIONAL RELEVANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

·       An applicant who is found to be ineligible at any stage of the competition will not be further considered. Provision of inaccurate, untrue or misleading information will lead to disqualification from the competition, withdrawal of employment offer or dismissal.

·       Information provided by a candidate in their application form will be used for the purpose of the Assistant Staff Officer Competition. By applying for this post, the applicant is consenting to their information being used for this purpose

• The onus is on each applicant to ensure that she/he is in receipt of all communication from Monaghan County Council. Monaghan County Council does not accept responsibility for communications not accessed or received by an applicant.

• All applications will be acknowledged by email after the closing date has passed. Applicants who do not receive an acknowledgement within seven days of the closing date should contact the Human Resource Management Section.

·       General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force on the 25th May 2018, replacing the existing data protection framework under the EU Data Protection Directive.

When you register with Monaghan County Council or submit an application for a competition, we create a computer record in your name. Information submitted with a job application is used in processing your application. Where the services of a third party are used in processing your application, it may be required to provide them with information, however all necessary precautions will be taken to ensure the security of your data.

To make a request to access your personal data please submit your request by email to: dataprotectionofficer@monaghancoco.ie ensuring that you describe the record(s) you seek in the greatest possible detail to enable us to identify the relevant record(s).