Community Warden

Louth County Council is currently inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the above competition. Louth County Council will, following the interview process, form a panel for the post, from which future relevant vacancies may be filled subject to sanction approval from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This panel will exist for 12 months and may only be extended at the discretion of the Chief Executive.

Duties

The duties may include some or all of the following:

1.     Monitoring Public Open Space and Recreation and amenity areas throughout the County with regard to the following activities:

• Compliance with bye-laws in relation to consumption of intoxicating liquor in public places
• Compliance with the Litter Pollution Act
• Compliance with the licensing requirements of the Dog Control Act
• Compliance with the Control of Horses Act
• Compliance with other bye-laws introduced by Louth County Council
• Use of pedestrian facilities by cyclists
• Illegal camping
• Other activities which are licensable by Louth County Council (e.g. opening of roads, placing of skips in public roads, erection of scaffolding, placing of tables and chairs on public roads, etc)

2.     Identifying and reporting on breaches of tenancy agreements, for example:

• Sub-letting
• Carrying out commercial activity
• Neighbourhood disputes

Identify breaches of Planning legislation, Buildings Control legislation and Pollution Control Legislation for follow up by appropriate personnel.

3.     Identify and notify appropriate personnel of hazards or their problems identified which require rectification by Louth County Council, for example, hazards on footpaths, damage to signage, inadequate road marking, ineffective public lighting.

4.     Provision of information and advice to tourists/visitors as appropriate.

5.     To be enthusiastic, vigilant and alert at all times in dealing with Environment related matters.

a.     To patrol the area designated and its surrounds assigned by the person in charge and to issue “on the spot” notices where there are apparent infringements of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, the Roads Act, 1993 and Waste Pollution Act, 1996 and any other such appropriate Acts and Regulations.

b.     To keep accurate records of alleged offences as required for the purpose of Court Proceedings. To liaise closely with Administrative Staff in the preparation of evidence. To attend Court and give evidence when required to do so.

c.      To write clear and concise reports when required to do so.

d.     To be fully conversant with the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, the Roads Act, 1993, Waste Management Acts and with any other EU Directives, Acts, Bye-Laws and Regulations appropriate to his/her duties.

e.     To be helpful and courteous to the public at all times.

f.       To notify your immediate Supervisor of any environment related matters encountered while on duty which may affect Council’s policies and procedures.

g.     To co-operate in the use of technology and equipment in operation either at or in the near future.

h.     Any other duties that may be assigned from time to time by the Louth County Council including the duties of Traffic Warden, to issue on the spot fine tickets for offences under the Road Traffic Acts, and the relevant bye-laws, together with all functions outlined in the Local Authorities (Traffic Wardens) Acts, including the enforcement of regulations relating to car parks under the Council’s control and the collection and accounting for revenue generated by “Pay & Display” machines and other ticket/metering mechanisms.

Duties will require Community Warden to:

Particulars of Post

Salary

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

The salary scale for the position of Community Warden is: €768.43 - €834.02 per week in line with Department Circular (EL02/23).

Rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government Policy.

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

Probation

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

·       There will be a probationary period of 9 months from date of employment,

·       The Chief Executive may at his or her discretion extend this period,

·       You shall cease to hold office at the end of the period of probation unless during this period the Chief Executive has certified that your service is satisfactory.

Location of post

Louth County Council reserves the right to assign the post holder to any council premises, now or in the future subject to reasonable notice. Changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation. The person appointed will be required to provide him/herself at his/her own expense with the necessary mode of travel to and from work.

Superannuation

A.     Officers joining the Public Service after the 1st January 2013 will be required to join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. A Class rate of PRSI contribution will apply. A rate of 3% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC). This includes a contribution to a Spouse’s and Children’s Scheme.

OR

B.     Officers who became pensionable officers of the Public Service prior to 1st January 2013 and who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of the net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC). You will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% of your pensionable remuneration to the Spouses & Children’s Pension Scheme.

OR

C.     Officers who become pensionable officers of a Public Service prior to 5th April 1995 and who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required to contribute at a rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration. If an option to join a dependent scheme was made you will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% to a Dependents Pension Scheme.

Retirement

Retirement is dependent on the superannuation scheme you become a member of, and details will be made available to you upon appointment.

Health

For the purpose of satisfying the requirements as to health, it may be necessary for the successful candidate, before he/she is appointed, to undergo at his/her expense a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the local authority. On taking up appointment, the expense of the medical examination will be refunded to the candidate.

Residence

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

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, Louth County Council reserves the right to seek both written and verbal 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.

Hours of work

The normal working week will be 5 days of a 6-day week i.e., Monday to Saturday. Starting and finishing times are as notified to you by your Supervisor.

Sick Leave

The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail.

Annual Leave

Annual leave for this position is 25 days per annum. Louth County Council’s leave year runs from 1st January to 31st December. Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangements for public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1977 (as amended).

Start date

The successful candidate will commence on direction from Directors of Service and/or Chief Executive. Should they fail to take up the appointment on direction, the council at its discretion may not appoint them.

Recruitment Process

All applications must be typed and the form filled out in full. Handwritten submissions will not be accepted. When completing the application form, accuracy is essential as the information supplied in the form will play a central part in the selection process.

Short-listing

Where the volume of applications received exceeds that required to fill existing and future vacancies, and / or where it would not be practical to interview all applicants, Louth County Council reserves the right to arrange short listing of applications.

It is in your own interest to provide a detailed and accurate account of your relevant qualifications/ experience on the application form and also to demonstrate sufficient evidence of the competencies required for this position under each competency where competencies are listed.

Short-listing does not 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. Short-listing may take the form of Desk-top Short-listing or a Preliminary Interview.

External persons may be requested to carry out short-listing on behalf of Louth County Council, e.g. an Interview Board or recruitment agency. Submission of an application for employment is regarded as consent to share your information for the purposes of short-listing and recruitment.

Vetting

Garda vetting is required for certain roles within Louth County Council. Failure to complete a Garda vetting form on request may prevent your employment with Louth County Council. In the event of an unsatisfactory Garda declaration being received Louth County Council reserves the right not to commence employment. In the event of an existing employee changing role as a result of promotion or otherwise to a role that requires Garda Vetting and an unsatisfactory disclosure being returned, Louth County Council reserves the right to withhold promotion, and also to investigate if further sanction/disciplinary action is warranted on foot of disclosure on a case by case basis.

The Interview

Candidates will be invited to interview by email, it is important that the email address and mobile phone number supplied in the application form is correct and in use. Dates, times and location of interview are subject to change at short notice.

Where possible, candidates will be informed of names of Interview Board Members in advance, however board members are subject to change up to and including the date of interview. Canvassing of Board Members will automatically disqualify candidates from the recruitment process.

NB - Due to current restrictions with COVID 19 and social distancing requirements, the traditional interview room format is subject to change. It may be necessary to carry out online video interviews or any other recruitment method that is deemed suitable to determine candidate selection. The interview format is subject to change up to and including the date of interview.

Where candidates do not present or make themselves available at the time and location/format requested this will result in elimination from the competition.

Candidates will be required to pay any expenses incurred by them in attending the interview.

Panel

A panel may be formed on the basis of an interview. Candidates whose names are on a panel and who satisfy the local authority that they possess the qualifications declared for the post and that they are otherwise suitable for appointment may, within the life of the panels, be appointed as appropriate vacancies arise.

After the Interview

Louth County Council will automatically advise you of the result of the interview. This may be done by email, phone, or on our website via a private candidate reference marking system. The marks awarded to you at interview by the Interview Board will be forwarded directly to you thereafter.

All documents relating to this competition will be retained on file for a period of 12 months following the expiry of the panel formed.

Period for acceptance of offer

Successful applicants will be allowed a maximum of one week following the written offer of employment to indicate whether they will/will not take up the position. If interested they will be required to take up duty at the latest within four weeks of the date of offer or a mutually agreed later date.

If they fail to take up the appointment within such period or any longer period agreed, the local authority shall not appoint them.