Community Liaison Officer

ROLE & DUTIES OF THE POST

The Community Liaison Officer will have an integral and substantial role to play in the active and positive management of both the Council’s housing stock and its tenants.

The post holder will require excellent interpersonal skills in order to build and maintain relationships with stakeholders including state agencies, non-Government organisations and residents. This will enable them to address issues that may arise in a reasonable, practical and confident manner focused on problem solving through negotiation but recognising when to enact enforcement proceedings.

The post holder will have a close working relationship with existing council staff across a number of sections, but primarily the Housing Section and community development sections to secure the best outcome in community development and estate management.

The Community Liaison Officer will have a proactive role addressing grievances, mediating disputes, and resolving conflicts between neighbours where issues may arise. This may include the deployment of enforcement proceedings where required per the Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy.

In addition, it is expected that such a person will have the ability to actively work and support policy development where this is relevant to their area of work.

In particular, the following duties will apply (not exhaustive and will be subject to change as the need arises and as management decide):

• He/She should have a comprehensive understanding of community development work which will include building networks with residents of Local Authority estates in the County Council area, both directly and through their respective residents association.

This will involve:

➢ Facilitating the establishment of new residents associations where required and assist groups in the development and implementation of plans for their respective areas.

➢ Supporting existing Estate Management Groups and assisting groups in the development and implementation of plans for their respective areas.

➢ Facilitating, supporting and developing the Estate Management Residential Networks across their area of responsibility and provide expertise in their input to relevant policy programmes of the Council.

• Administering the Resident Association Grant scheme.

• Actively set up, manage and implement pre-tenancy and tenant training courses.

• Liaise as necessary with outside voluntary and statutory agencies, whose co-operation and resources may be required in promoting better estate management and promoting and arranging joint initiatives, such as Home Life Skills, youth activities and Community Houses, with other relevant agencies.

• Proactively deal with Anti-Social behavioural Issues in line with Tipperary County Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy:

• Lead the way in addressing anti-social behaviour issues and facilitate necessary proceedings being taken.
• Meet with resident groups in terms of identifying the problems and issues and assisting in the solution.
• Take necessary action to collate information on the families/individuals responsible for anti-social behaviour.
• Set up relevant interagency meetings in line with agreed adopted policy on Anti-Social behaviour issues.
• Implement and follow through with appropriate actions where it is deemed necessary including representing the Council in Court Proceedings.

• Administer the Second Chance Programme in order to monitor the required supports.

• Interact and support vulnerable clients in line with the Council’s policy.

• Liaise with and deal with clients in respect of breaches of their tenancy agreements.

• Assist the Director of Services for Housing in his/her role in working with the Strategic Policy Committee, Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee, Traveller Interagency Forum and other Committees.

• Assist and advise the Council and Committees in the preparation, formulation, implementation and review of policies, strategic plans (including the Housing Strategy, the Homelessness Action Plan and Traveller Accommodation Programme).

• Observe Tipperary County Council’s Health and Safety requirements, with particular reference to the Lone Worker Policy.

The successful applicant shall perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned and as may be appropriate to any particular function of the Local Authority for which the Chief Executive is responsible and carry out such instructions as may be given in relation to the performance of duties.

The duties shall be such as assigned by the local authority and shall include the duty of deputising for other officers of the local authority when required.

NOTE: Daily working hours may vary and may include post-normal office hours.

The Council reserves the right to assign you to any premises in use by the Council.

The Council also reserves the right to review and change the areas of responsibility as required.

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, Training, Experience, etc.

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

(i) a good standard of education

(ii) experience of working with community groups and/or tenants/residents associations

(iii) good interpersonal, communication, organisation and negotiating skills and the ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team where necessary

(iv) a satisfactory knowledge of the background to all policies governing the provision of social housing

(v) awareness/understanding of issues and needs regarding the residents of Local Authority Housing Estates/Halting Sites

(vi) ability to work in direct contact with a diverse range of agencies/bodies

(vii) a full clean driving licence and use of a car

and be energetic, enthusiastic and flexible in the approach to the post.

A third level qualification in community development, social housing or similar is desirable, but not essential.

Salary:

Current Salary Scale: €52,761 - €63,109 (2nd LSI)

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. The employee shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than his/her inclusive salary) payable to or received by him/her by virtue of his/her employment or in respect of services which he/she is required by or under any enactment to perform.

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

Remuneration is paid fortnightly by PayPath directly to the employee’s nominated bank account. The current wage pay cycle may be revised during the period of employment.

Remuneration is subject to all statutory deductions, e.g. P.A.Y.E. and P.R.S.I. Increments are paid annually subject to satisfactory attendance, conduct and performance and national agreements. Increments may be withheld if performance, attendance and/or conduct are not satisfactory.

Under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013, the working hours for newly appointed/promoted staff are 35 hours per week. All posts will be offered on the basis of the candidate working wholetime.

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.

g) Non-EEA citizens with a valid work permit.

Probation:

Where a person who is not already a permanent officer of Tipperary County Council is appointed, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) there shall be a period after such appointment takes effect, during which such person shall hold office on probation;

(b) the maximum period shall generally be one year for permanent contracts and such other period as may be required in relation to temporary or fixed term/purpose contracts as set out in the council’s probation policy. No probationary period shall exceed 12 months in duration.

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

Superannuation:

The relevant Superannuation Scheme will apply.

The provisions of the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 may apply.

Persons who become pensionable officers who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required, in respect of their superannuation contribution, to contribute to the local authority as follows:

1.5% of their pensionable remuneration

plus

3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (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).

Persons who become pensionable officers who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required, in respect of their superannuation contribution, to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration.

The provisions of the Spouses and Children’s/Widows and Orphans Contributory Pension Scheme will continue to apply.

New entrants will be admitted to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme with effect from the date of appointment. The scheme is contributory and provides pension, retirement gratuity, death gratuity and survivors benefits. To qualify for a pension the successful candidate must have served a minimum of two years employment in a Local Authority.

Retirement Age

There is no mandatory retirement age for new entrants to the public service as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004.

Anyone who is not a new entrant to the public service, as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, is subject to a compulsory retirement age of 70 years or as determined in accordance with Department Circulars and in line with Government Policy.

The maximum retirement age for new entrants as defined by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012 is 70 years.

The Council may refer staff to a medical advisor at any time to determine fitness for carrying out the duties to which they have been assigned.

Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER)

It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees, under that Scheme, are debarred from applying for another position in the same employment or the same sector.

Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position.

Hours of Work:

The normal working hours are 35 hours per week. Flexible working arrangements apply. All hours worked are subject to and recorded in accordance with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997, and the Organisation of Working Time Regulations, 2001. Tipperary County Council requires employees to record their hours using the CORE/TDS Clocking system. Daily working hours may vary and may include post-normal office hours.

Annual Leave:

The annual leave entitlement for the grade is 30 days per annum.

The Chief Executive of Tipperary County Council retains autonomy with regard to office closures, (e.g. Christmas Office Closure); any days arising from such closure will be reserved from the employee’s annual leave entitlement. Proposed office closure days will be reviewed and advised to all employees each year.

Residence:

The successful candidate shall reside in the district in which his/her duties are to be performed, or within a reasonable distance thereof.

Drivers Licence:

Tipperary County Council employees may on occasion be required to use their car on official business. In such situations the employee must hold a current clean driver’s licence and have available adequate means of transport.

It is the responsibility of the employee to arrange the appropriate car insurance for business use and to indemnify Tipperary County Council with the indemnity specified on the insurance certificate under the heading “Persons or classes of person who are covered”. Documentation to confirm the appropriate insurance cover will be required to be supplied to the Council on an annual basis.