General Operative

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Professional:

·         Be responsible for such duties as are assigned by the Maintenance Manager and Maintenance Officer

·         Use wheelbarrows, ladders, hoists, tools, shovels, pick axes and compactors

·         Use equipment such as – jack hammer, con saw, and angle grinders, drills, kango hammers, compressors, power washers, lawn mowers, hedge cutters, strimmer, wet diamond drill, wet diamond saw.

·         Load and unload trade deliveries or equipment and may be required to assist in office removal/relocation

·         Collect materials from Suppliers and deliver to various sites as requested

·         Carry out maintenance and repairs to include cutting, chasing of walls and floors, digging trenches, mixing cement, drilling walls for pipe work and cabling, cleaning boilers and flues, cleaning water tanks, cleaning gutters,

·         Assist tradesmen during course of their duties (plumbers, electricians, carpenters, painters, fitters, plasterers and service contractors)

·         Return time sheets and invoices to administration support office

·         Liaise with outside Contractors, as required

·         Carry a HSE mobile phone, as required

·         Have basic computer literacy – use of email and HSE online HR and training platforms

·         Accept and carry out works received via email on HSE mobile phone

·         Participate in out-of hours/emergency call outs/Rosters, as required

·         Travel in HSE provided or own transport as directed by the Maintenance Officer or delegated person

·         Travel with Maintenance Manager/Maintenance Officer as required to survey works.

·         Responsible for the completion of the daily safety check of assigned HSE vehicle prior to commencing travel e.g. lights, oil etc.

·         Be accountable for all tools, stock or equipment under his/her control and to ensure that all such equipment is kept in the proper state of repair in accordance with safety standards.

·         Carry out grounds maintenance duties including emptying all bins, keeping the grounds clean and tidy, cleaning surface water drains/gutters, delivering timber for boarding up windows, cutting lawns and hedges, spraying insecticide and weed killer, taking water meter readings, checking water temperatures as required

·         Carry out shore duties including daily inspection of sewage, treatment plant and sewer lines, weekly cleaning and checking on-site potable water system, freeing up shores (manholes, gullies, toilets) where required.

·         Participate in the rubbish compacting roster

·         Other duties assigned, may include, Traffic Control and Security

·         Post may also include works in Maintenance Stores, including ordering / collecting materials, responsibility for stock, opening of working areas each morning and securing each evening.

Education and Training

·         Participate in training courses as specified by the HSE and maintain an up-to-date knowledge of technology, communications and health care regulations

Health and Safety

·         Be familiar with the safe operation of machinery

·         Be familiar with the use of firefighting equipment and fire and safety regulations in operation in the Department

·         Be familiar with the code of safe lifting practice and to adhere to same at all times

·         Use protective clothing and equipment as necessary during the course of duty in accordance with the Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989 and 1985 and observe all other safety procedures currently in force. She/he shall carry out such duties as maybe assigned to him/her from time to time by the Maintenance Manager or nominated Officer.

·         Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role e.g. Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.

·         Have a working knowledge of HACCP; Infectious Control; Legionella; Hazardous Waste and Use of Chemicals.

·         To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service

The above is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications and/ or experience

Candidates must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms for the post, possess:

1. Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc

(a) (i) Possess a Junior Certificate (or higher) or equivalent qualification.

Or

(ii) Have a minimum of 2 years satisfactory experience of working in the construction sector involved in the development/construction of industrial type buildings or working on large build sites

Or

(iii) Hold an equivalent qualification

And

(b) Have successfully undertaken or be willing to undertake the Solas Safe Pass Health & Safety Awareness Training Programme, or equivalent approved training programme.  (Please note if you have not undertaken this training, you will be required to successfully complete this training on taking up the post).

And

(c) Candidates must have the requisite knowledge and ability including a high standard of suitability for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

2. Health

A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

3. Character

Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

Post Specific Requirements, additional qualifications and/or experience required

·         As this post may involve the driving of HSE owned vehicles, the successful candidate is required to hold a full clean valid Driver’s Licence (Category B).

·         Successful candidate will be required to attend and complete appropriate training as required in order to maintain up-to-date skills to under the duties of the post in a safe manner

·         Post may also include works in Maintenance Stores including; ordering / collecting materials, responsibility for stock, and opening of working areas each morning and securing each evening.

·         Flexibility around working hours to meet service needs, post holder may be required to participate in out of hours/emergency call-outs.

The post holder may be required to carry a HSE mobile phone during working hours or be contactable on their private mobile number in relation to work matters.

·         Due to the nature of the business of the Department, some of the works will be conducted outdoors and will include working in ducts below ground level, confined spaces, trenches and roof spaces (working from ladders and scaffolding) and in difficult weather conditions. The post holder will be required to work in all weather conditions

·         Full Class B Drivers Licence and access to own transport. Drive HSE vehicles as required to fulfil service requirements.

Skills, competencies and/or knowledge

Candidates must :

Professional Knowledge

·       Demonstrate sufficient knowledge to effectively carry out the duties and responsibilities of the post.

·       Demonstrate the ability to work effectively within guidelines and procedures

Planning & Organising Skills

·       Demonstrate evidence of effective planning and organising skills.

·       Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of value for money in the performance of work.

·       Demonstrate an organised, methodical and structured approach to work including the ability to meet deadlines and effectively handle multiple tasks.

·       Demonstrate experience in working effectively under pressure.

Team Skills

·         Demonstrate the ability to work independently as well as part of a multidisciplinary team and make positive contributions to that team.

Commitment to Providing a Quality Service

·         Demonstrate a commitment to providing a quality service; including an awareness and appreciation of the service user such as patients, general public, medical and non-medical staff.

·         Demonstrate motivation and an innovative approach to job and service developments.

Problem Solving & Decision Making

·         Demonstrate the ability to evaluate information, solve problems and make decisions in a timely manner.

·         Demonstrate the ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team to resolve problems and implement solutions.

Communication / Interpersonal skills

·         Demonstrate effective communication skills including the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner, written and verbal.

·         Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills.

Demonstrate an ability to receive and implement instructions in an effective and efficient manner.

Competition Specific Selection Process

Shortlisting / Interview

Short listing may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for short listing are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.

Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.

Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview in ‘bands’ depending on the service needs of the organisation.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

The HSE is an equal opportunities employer.

Employees of the HSE bring a range of skills, talents, diverse thinking and experience to the organisation. The HSE believes passionately that employing a diverse workforce is central to its success – we aim to develop the workforce of the HSE so that it reflects the diversity of HSE service users and to strengthen it through accommodating and valuing different perspectives. Ultimately this will result in improved service user and employee experience. 

The HSE is committed to creating a positive working environment whereby all employees inclusive of age, civil status, disability, ethnicity and race, family status, gender, membership of the Traveller community, religion and sexual orientation are respected, valued and can reach their full potential. The HSE aims to achieve this through development of an organisational culture where injustice, bias and discrimination are not tolerated.

The HSE welcomes people with diverse backgrounds and offers a range of supports and resources to staff, such as those who require a reasonable accommodation at work because of a disability or long term health condition.

For further information on the HSE commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, please visit the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion web page at https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/diversity/

Remuneration

The salary scale for the post as at 01/03/2025 is:

€35,195, €37,039, €38,147, €38,905, €39,562, €40, €412, €40,931, €41,815, €42,723

Salary scales are updated periodically and the most up to date versions can be found here:

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/7d87b-department-of-health-circular-102022-and-consolidated-pay-scales/