Civil Defence Officer

The Role of the Civil Defence Officer

Civil Defence is a statutory volunteer-based organisation. It currently has approximately 2,500 volunteer members nationally. The Department of Defence, through its Civil Defence Branch, is responsible for the overall policy direction of Civil Defence.

There is a Civil Defence Unit in each local authority area and the Civil Defence Officer, who will be an employee of the local authority, will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Civil Defence Unit.

Key duties and responsibilities:

The list of duties (non-exhaustive) of the Civil Defence Officer include the following:

➢ To assist in the preparation and submission in a timely manner and in consultation with local authority management, of the three-year Civil Defence plan as required under Section 8 of the Civil Defence Act, 2023

➢ To manage the day-to-day activities of the Civil Defence Unit, co-ordinating the arrangements necessary for the implementation of the Civil Defence plan and the safe completion of duties, including but not limited to risk assessment and appropriate resourcing of all duties, ensuring that duties are completed within the agreed standard operating guidelines and policies, and responsible officer for the management of controlled drugs

➢ To represent Civil Defence on local emergency planning structures and to promote good relations with key personnel in the Principal Response Agencies

➢ To provide support to the Principal Response Agencies in emergency and non-emergency situations in accordance with the 2015 White Paper on Defence, the Towards 2030 policy document and the Framework for Major Emergency Management

➢ Where resources permit, to provide support for community, charitable and local authority events

➢ To implement and comply with policies, circulars and guidelines (including the Civil Defence Act (Code of Practice) Regulations 2023) as set out by the Civil Defence Branch of the Department of Defence in consultation with their Line Manager

➢ To liaise with the Civil Defence Branch of the Department of Defence on behalf of the local authority and to attend meetings for that purpose

➢ To attend training provided by the Department of Defence and the local authority

➢ To arrange for the recruitment, organisation and management of Civil Defence volunteers

➢ To ensure that Civil Defence volunteers are appropriately trained including mandatory training, to facilitate progression of training for volunteers, including completing an annual training needs analysis

➢ To follow instructions issued by the Department of Defence in relation to the processing of the annual operational grant and any other grants that are provided

➢ To follow instructions issued by the local authority and Department of Defence for the purchase, care, maintenance, issue and control of Civil Defence uniforms, vehicles and equipment

➢ To maintain adequate records, including ongoing completion of the Volunteer and Equipment Management System, in the manner required and any other reporting requirements as may arise

➢ To promote Civil Defence in the local authority area

➢ Such other Civil Defence duties appropriate to the office as the Chief Executive of the local authority and or Department of Defence may assign, including emergency duties and duties in relation to the area of any other local authority

➢ Any other duties that may be assigned from time to time

Qualifications

Character Each candidate will be of good character.

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

Citizenship: Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

a) A citizen of the European Economic Area. The European Economic Area consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway

b) A citizen of the United Kingdom

c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the European Union and Switzerland on the free movement of persons

d) A non-European Economic Area citizen who is a spouse or child of a European Economic Area or United Kingdom or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa

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

f) A non-European Economic Area citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, a European Economic Area member state or the United Kingdom or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa

Education, Training, Experience:

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

(a) possess a good standard of administrative experience including in the use of information technology

(b) possess a good general standard of education

(c) possess a full, clean Class B driving licence

(d) experience in the supervision and development of staff or volunteers

Experience in Civil Defence or in other volunteer-based emergency organisations is desirable.

The Post

The post is permanent, whole-time and pensionable. The post holder shall not engage in any gainful occupation, other than as an employee of a local authority, to such an extent as to impair the performance of his or her duties as an employee of a local authority or in any occupation which might conflict with the interests of the local authority or which might be inconsistent with the discharge of his or her duties as a local authority employee.

Location of Post

Carlow County Council reserves the right to assign the post holder to any council premises, now or in the future, subject to reasonable notice. Any changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation. The person appointed will be required to provide at their own expense the necessary mode of travel to and from work.

Working Hours

The working hours at present provide for a five day, thirty-five hour working week. Hours may vary from time to time. Carlow County Council operate a Flexi Time Scheme with:

• Earliest start time: 8.00 am
• Latest start time: 10.00 am
• Earliest finishing time: 4.00 pm
• Latest finishing time: 6.00 pm

Lunch break: minimum of 30 minutes to a maximum of 2 hours, to be taken between 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm.

Due to the nature of this post, there may be a requirement to work outside of normal hours, including at weekends, as necessary from time to time, for which time in lieu on a time for time basis will apply. No additional remuneration or overtime will be paid.