Assistant Staff Officer

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POST

1. CHARACTER

Each candidate shall be of good character.

2. HEALTH

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

3. 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.

4. 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 (Level 7 in National Framework of Qualifications).

Confined Competition

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

5. DESIRABLE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following knowledge, experience and skills:

• Knowledge and understanding of the structure and functions of local government.• Knowledge of current local government issues.• Understanding of the role of an Assistant Staff Officer.• Relevant administrative experience.• Experience of working as part of a team.• Experience of preparing reports and correspondence.• Knowledge and experience of operating ICT systems.• Ability to implement change and demonstrate flexibility and openness to change.• Ability to develop and maintain positive, productive and beneficial working relationships.

PARTICULARS OF OFFICE

1. THE POST

The post is Assistant Staff Officer (Grade IV). This is a pensionable whole-time position on the basis of a 35 hour 5 day week.

The panels formed from this competition will be used to fill positions at this grade (the filling of permanent positions is subject to the agreed sequencing set out in the ‘Guidance for the Procedures for the Recruitment to Clerical Administrative Grades IV to Grade VII in the Local Authority Sector’).

2. DUTIES

The duties of the employment are to give to:

(a) Sligo County Council under the control of the Chief Executive or his nominee and

(b) To any other local authority or body with which an agreement has been made by the local authority,

Under the general direction and control of the Chief Executive or of such other employee as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate services of a management, administrative, executive, supervisory, advisory and ancillary 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, and to exercise such powers, functions and duties as may be delegated to him or 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 holder of the employment will, if required, act for an employee of a higher level, if qualified to do so.

The key duties and responsibilities of the post of Assistant Staff Officer include, but are not limited to:

3. SALARY

The salary shall be fully inclusive and will be as determined from time to time.

Holders of the office shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than their inclusive salary) payable to or received by them by virtue of their office or in respect of services which they are required by or under any enactment to perform.

Current Salary Scale

€36,474 - €38,622 - €41,672 - €43,673 - €45,425 - €47,120 - €49,406 - €51,063 - €52,761 - €54,367 (LSI1) - €56,015 (LSI2)

Salary for the post shall be in accordance with existing practice as set out in relevant circulars. New entrants shall be paid at the minimum of the scale.

4. SUPERANNUATION

a) Persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority who are liable to pay the 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 social insurance old age contributory pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependant or qualified children).

b) Persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority who are liable to pay the 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.

c) All persons under (a) and (b) above who become pensionable employees of a local authority will be required, in respect of the Local Government (Spouses and Children's Contributory Pension) Scheme, to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration in accordance with the terms of the Scheme.

d) Persons who are pensionable under the Single Public Sector Pension Scheme, contributions in respect of Superannuation shall be deducted at a rate of 3% of pensionable remuneration plus 3½% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of social insurance old age contributory pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependent or qualified children).

5. PROBATION

There shall be a period after such employment takes effect during which the person appointed will hold the post on probation. Such period shall be six months commencing on the first day of service but the Chief Executive may at their discretion extend such period.

Such person shall cease to hold the post at the end of the period of probation or extended period of probation, unless, during such period or extended period, the service of such person is certified as satisfactory.

6. RETIREMENT AGE

For appointees who are deemed to be “new entrants” as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, there is no compulsory retirement age.

For appointees entering the Single Public Service Scheme, compulsory retirement age will be 70.

For appointees covered under the provisions of the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Bill 2018, compulsory retirement age will be 70.

7. RESIDENCE

The holder of the office shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof.

8. METHOD OF SELECTION

(a) Selection shall be by means of a competition based on an interview conducted by or on behalf of Sligo County Council. Interviews will be conducted in-person.

The Council will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by candidates in attending for interview.

A panel will be formed of those who are most successful in the competition. The top performing candidates at final selection interview, whose names are placed on the 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 appropriate vacancies arise.

The life of the panel shall be one year from the date it is formed, unless extended by the Chief Executive.

(b) Short-Listing:

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, Sligo County Council may decide that a smaller number will be called to the next stage of the selection process.

In this respect, the Council provides for the employment of a short-listing process to select a group who, based on an examination of the application forms, 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, based on their application, appear to be better qualified and/or have more relevant experience.

The short-listing criteria may include both the essential and desirable criteria specified for the position. It is, therefore, in your own interest to provide a detailed and accurate account of your qualifications/experience on your application form.

Candidates may be short-listed for final competitive interview on the basis of:

(a) The information provided on the application form, including both the essential and desirable criteria, relevant experience and competency questions, or

(b) A preliminary interview or

(c) Appropriate test i.e. aptitude test, etc. or

(d) Any mix of the above.

One or more of the following criteria may apply when short-listing applications either through the application form or preliminary interview:

➢ Education➢ Relevant Work Experience – Range & Depth➢ Competencies displayed➢ Attention to detail

9. GARDA VETTING AND REFERENCES

The successful candidate may be subject to the Garda Vetting Procedures in line with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children & Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 to 2016 as appropriate in advance of appointment.

The appointment of any successful candidate will be subject to receipt of references which are satisfactory to the employer.

10. MEDICAL EXAMINATION

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

11. PERIOD OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFER

The local authority 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 appointments within such period or such longer period as the local authority in its absolute discretion may determine, the local authority shall not appoint them.

12. NORMAL WORKING HOURS

Normal working hours are 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., Monday to Friday, with a minimum of 30 minutes to be taken as lunch break.

The successful candidate may, from time to time, be required to work outside normal office hours, including at weekends as necessary.

13. ANNUAL LEAVE

Annual Leave shall be 30 days per annum annual leave and public holidays shall be given in accordance with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997.

14. SICK LEAVE

As per Sligo County Council’s current Sick Leave Scheme and Attendance Management Policy & Procedure, as amended by the Public Service Management (Sick Leave) Regulations, 2014, and any subsequent Regulations made from time to time.

15. TRAVEL & SUBSISTENCE ARRANGEMENTS

Travel and subsistence expenses at the approved rates shall be paid for authorised travel (if applicable).

16. TRAINING

Successful candidates will be required to undertake any course of training which is determined relevant by Sligo County Council.

17. DATA PROTECTION

Sligo County Council is compliant with Data Protection Legislation including the provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR.

To access Sligo County Council’s Data Protection Policy and Privacy Statements, please see the following link: Data Protection (GDPR)(sligococo.ie)