General Operative

Essential Criteria

CHARACTER

Each candidate must 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.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, EXPERIENCE ETC.

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

a) Have a standard of education such as will enable the applicant to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position.

b) Possess a current Safe Pass and submit this with your application form.

c) Have a reasonable knowledge of the requirements of Health and Safety Legislation.

RECRUITMENT

Pursuant to Article 8 of the Local Government (Appointment of Officers) Regulations, 1974 the Minister has given directions as follows:

(i) Selection shall be by means of a competition based on an interview conducted by or on behalf of the local authority. Candidates may be shortlisted for interview based on information supplied on their application forms and may be required to complete a written aptitude test.

(ii) A panel may be formed on the basis of such interview. Candidates whose names are on a panel and who satisfy the local authority that they possess the qualifications declared for the office and that they are otherwise suitable for appointment may within the life of the panel be appointed as appropriate vacancies arise. The life of the panel will not be more than one year, unless extended. Candidates may be shortlisted on the basis of information supplied on their application form.

The office is wholetime, and pensionable. The applicable pension scheme will be determined on appointment based on individual candidate employment history.

Duties

A variety of labouring and ancillary duties in Roads, street cleaning and related areas and may involve but not be limited to (as example):

Flagman duties to manage vehicular and pedestrian traffic

Pothole repair work

Clearing drains

Signage cleaning / repairs

Concrete footpaths and road repairs

General road maintenance activities

Assisting in contractor supervision

Assisting in relation to road improvement / surfacing / strengthening activities

Loading and unloading by hand or otherwise of building materials, road-making materials, including gravel and chippings, pipes, fencing posts, barrels of bitumen, and all materials used by the County Council.

Traffic management duties

Street sweeping

Manual handling

Working with various equipment as required

Record keeping as required by Supervisor

Maintenance of open spaces, grass cutting & strimming

Environmental clean ups

Waste collection and disposal

Litter collection

Emptying litter bins

Playground inspections & maintenance

Weed control

General housekeeping duties in the various yards and depots

Compliance and adherence with Health & Safety requirements

Carrying out Health & Safety duties as directed by the engineer or authorised supervisor

Such other duties / tasks as may be assigned to him / her from time to time as directed by the engineer or authorised supervisor.

You shall perform such duties appropriate to your grade as may from time to time be assigned to you in relation to your employment and as may be appropriate to any particular function of any Council for which the Chief Executive is responsible and carry out such instructions as may be given in relation to the performance of your duties.

The work will be carried out in accordance with established work practices or as negotiated from time to time. Person appointed will be required to report to work location at the location notified to him / her by the supervisor.

Employees must attend at all training courses deemed necessary by their employer for their area of work, and exercise the skills and knowledge learnt when required to do so.

The person employed will be required to perform assigned duties exercising a duty of care, in the interest of safety of oneself, fellow employees and the general public, at all times in compliance with Louth County Council’s Health & Safety Management System. Working in a safe manner, in full compliance with the relevant safety legislation and construction regulations, will be the primary responsibility of all General Operatives.

Particulars of Post

Wages

Wages 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.

Wages shall be at Local Government General Operative scale €684.25 – €765.29 gross per week.

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.

Location of post

Louth County Council reserves the right to assign the post holder to any department, premises or district in use by the Council, 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.

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.

Hours of work

You will be required to work a 39 hour week at such specific times as will be notified by the Council from time to time. Starting and finishing times will be as notified to you by your Supervisor.

All hours worked will be subject to the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 and the Organisation of Working Time Act (Regulations) 2001.

Sick Leave

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

Annual Leave

Annual leave entitlement for the position will be 25 days per annum (pro rata for the fixed term). 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).

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 end of the period of probation unless during this period the Chief Executive has certified that your service is satisfactory.

Superannuation

A. Non-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. Non-Officers who became pensionable Non-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 also be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% of your net pensionable remuneration i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC) to a Dependent’s Pension Scheme.

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.

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.