Community Safety Warden

The Position Limerick City and County Council invites applications from suitably qualified persons, who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which temporary vacancies for Local Community Safety Partnership Community Safety Warden may be filled throughout the lifetime of the panel. The establishment of a Community Safety Warden Scheme in Limerick City & County Council is an innovative proposal to support uniformed Gardaí with a high visibility presence of Community Safety Wardens. The intention is that these community champions will be the conduit in facilitating safer communities by ensuring that everyone feels safe as their visible presence deters crime and supports the creation of a safe and resilient City Centre community. Our wardens will not replace Gardaí, but by building relationships between the community stakeholders, visitors to our City will see increased vibrancy and reduced anti-social behaviour. The scope of the Community Safety Wardens will be to provide a visible presence, foster communication with stakeholders and signposting of relevant services to the community. This Scheme will promote community, business, State agency and voluntary sector engagement on safety and to reimagine a pro social space that is safe for all users of the space. The Wardens have no enforcement capacity and will report any criminal activity observed to An Garda Síochána and keep a record of the report and the response time. The scheme will establish effective grassroots communication with state and community services, including detached youth workers, An Garda Siochána, local drug and alcohol programmes and Limerick City & County Council in its management. This will allow for effective and time critical management of community relevant safety issues as they arise. The aim of the Community Safety Wardens scheme is to contribute to a reduction in negative community incidents, crime and the fear of crime by reassuring residents and visitors to Limerick, initially through their highly visible presence but also through a proactive approach in managing issues that traditionally give rise to anti community activity, leading to a perception of being unsafe or engaging with other staff and agencies with the relevant skills to deal with the issues that may present. The Local Community Safety Partnership brings together statutory services, the voluntary and community sector, the Mayor of Limerick, local Councillors, local government officials and community members to work together to identify and tackle community safety issues locally. The Community Safety Warden may be required to support and attend stakeholders' events and support Local environment events/groups and promote and work with community groups to ensure Community safety is promoted and facilitated.

Community safety is a broad concept that goes beyond just policing and crime. It is about people being and feeling safe in their communities, and it includes everything from visible Gardaí to safe places for children to play. Community safety needs a multi-agency approach, where services work together to deliver on the needs of individual communities.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities of Community Safety Warden

• Maintaining a highly visible, reassuring presence in prominent city centre locations and being person centred, open, proactive, and approachable.
• Establish effective working relationships with key stakeholders including an ability to liaise proactively with local businesses, residents, members of the public and visitors to the area.
• Reporting issues impacting on safety and the perception of safety to key stakeholder agencies, including but not limited to An Garda Síochána, Limerick City & County Council, Local Drugs Force HSE, TUSLA, HSE, Limerick Integrated Homeless Services and Limerick’s Local Community Safety Partnership as appropriate.
• To be familiar with and remain updated on all relevant services in the area in order to provide information to visitors to the City, i.e. public transport information, locations of businesses and services, etc.
• Identifying cleansing issues requiring immediate attention and reporting them to Limerick City & County Council as appropriate.
• Auditing and recording functions as required by LCSP Coordinator for management such as recording vacant premises in the area, paving issues, lighting issues and other defects.
• To treat at all times, those frequenting the designated area of operation with respect and dignity.
• To provide a ‘signposting’ function to relevant services for vulnerable members of society within the designated area of operation.
• Support Limerick City & County Council events by promoting community safety at these events.
• To be an Ambassador for our City Centre providing a ‘warm welcome’ to and helpful information to visitors from all over the world.
• Provide an "eyes and ears" approach to the city, being a presence in all areas including car parks, playing fields, parks, playgrounds, open spaces, and making accurate and timely reports of problems and following these through to conclusion.
• An approachable friendly point of contact for residents and members of the public and being helpful and courteous to members of the public at all times.
• Keep and furnish records and reports of their duties as directed by the appropriate supervisory person.
• To continually assist with the development and evolution of the role of the Community Safety Warden pilot under the guidance of the management team.
• To participate in internal/external meetings, training events conferences and other functions as directed by the management team.
• Attend community events and engage with the community to raise the awareness of safety issues and provide community safety advice.
• Any other duties as deemed appropriate.

The Person 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, Experience, etc. Candidates shall on the latest date for receipt of applications; 1. Have a standard of education sufficient to enable them discharge the duties of the role. 2. Possess satisfactory experience and be able to demonstrate an awareness/understanding of the role and function of a Community Safety Warden. 3. Experience of dealing with community groups and the general public. 4. Knowledge and experience of operating ICT systems.

It is desirable that candidates will demonstrate through their application form and at the interview the following:

• Knowledge and understanding of the functions of a Community Safety Warden.
• Strong communication and inter-personal skills across all levels.
• Ability to work on one’s own initiative and open to new challenges and responsibilities.
• Strong customer service ethos.
• Ability to work well in a team and good working relationships within a team.
• Ability to act calmly in difficult circumstances and respond in a professional manner if presented with a challenging or stressful situation.
• Ability to work within organisational structures, policies and procedures.
• Hold a full driving licence, Category “B”, free from endorsement and provide their own motor vehicle for use in carrying out their duties and their motor insurance policy must indemnify the Council.

Terms and Conditions 1. The Post: Subject to the availability of suitably qualified candidates, a panel will be formed for an initial period of one year and this may be extended for a further year at the discretion of the Director General. The panel may be used by Limerick City and County Council to fill positions that may arise for its duration. Vacancies will be offered in order of merit as per the panel. 2. Annual Leave The successful candidate will have 25 days annual leave inclusive of Good Friday. 3. Salary: Salary scale: €1,525.56 to €1,571.76 per fortnight, inclusive of LSIs. Payment of increments is dependent on satisfactory performance. 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 (currently €1,525.56 per fortnight). 4. Location: Limerick City and County Council reserves the right to assign the successful candidate to any department or premises in use by the Council, now or in the future. Changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation. The person appointed will be required to travel to and from work at their own expense. 5. Hours of Work The working hours at present provide for a five day, thirty-nine hours working week, hours may vary from time to time. The Council reserves the right to alter the number of hours worked each day/each week and/or the times at or the days on which the hours are to be worked. The position requires flexibility in terms of working hours as the duties will involve working outside of normal hours as required, including weekends, evenings, nights, bank holidays etc. The provisions of Limerick City and County Council’s Time and Attendance Policy is applicable to this grade at the current time 6. Sick Leave: The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail. 7. Superannuation: The Local Government Superannuation Scheme applies. 8. Travel: Holders of the post should hold a full driving licence for class B vehicles and shall be required drive a motor car in the course of their duties and for this purpose, provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the local authority. Travelling expenses and subsistence expenses necessarily incurred in the course of official duties will be refunded in accordance with appropriate rates in line with the relevant Department Circulars and Local Authority Travel and Subsistence Policy. Limerick City and County Council, as employer, must be indemnified on your insurance policy. If during your employment, your licence is revoked, even temporarily, or if you receive endorsements on your licence, which may affect your duties, you are obliged to notify the Council immediately. 9. Residence: The holder of the post shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof. 10. Safety and Welfare: The holder of the post shall co-operate with the terms of Limerick City and County Council’s Safety Statement and Major Emergency Plan. The successful candidate shall make themselves aware of the safety rules and procedures and make proper use of all safety, clothing and equipment. 11. Training: It is a condition of employment that successful candidates will be required to participate in training programmes relevant to the skills necessary for the performance of the duties attaching to the post. 12. Taking Up Appointment: The local authority shall require a person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of four weeks 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, the local authority shall not appoint them.

13. Garda Vetting : The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 to 2016 came into effect on 29th April 2016. The Act places a statutory obligation on Limerick City and County Council to ensure that ‘any work or activity which is carried out by a person, a necessary and regular part of which consists mainly of a person having access to or contact with children or vulnerable persons will be subject of Garda Vetting’. 14. Probation: Where a person who is not already a permanent employee of a local authority is appointed, the following provisions shall apply: (a) There shall be a period after such appointments take effect, during which such person shall hold such post on probation. (b) Such period shall be set by the Director General and this period may be extended at their discretion. (c) Such person shall cease to hold the post at the end of the period of probation, unless during such period, the Manager has certified that the service of such person is satisfactory. 15. 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 16. References: Applicants are required to advise the names of two responsible persons to whom they are well known but not related (at least one of the referees should be an existing or former employer). In advance of any offer of employment, Limerick City and County Council reserves the right to seek references from current and previous employers, educational institutions or any other organisations with which the candidate has been associated. The Council reserves the right to determine the merit, appropriateness and relevance of such references and referees.