Leisure Attendant

BACKGROUND

Dublin City Council’s Sports and Recreation Services manage sport and recreational facilities in the city. The service delivers and facilitates a wide range of sport, physical activity and recreational programmes and services in the city through its facilities, staff and the Dublin City Sport and Wellbeing Partnership. It is responsible for the management and operation of Sports and Fitness centres, Community, Youth and Recreation centres, swimming pools and the Dublin City Sports & Wellbeing Partnership. Sports and Recreation Services is part of the Culture, Community, Leisure and Area Services Department, which includes the Library Service, the Parks Service, Dublin City Gallery, The Arts Office and City Hall.

THE JOB

The Leisure Attendant – Part time will play a key role in the delivery of sports and leisure services, primarily in the City Council’s main Sports and Fitness Centres, Markievicz, Ballyfermot, Ballymun, Finglas and Irishtown. These centres provide a wide range of services including pool lifeguarding, teaching swimming classes, instructing/teaching a range of fitness classes and gym instruction. The role also includes reception duties, marketing and selling memberships, bookings, general supervision of the facilities, cleaning, and other duties to meet the ever-changing demands of the sports and fitness industry. Leisure Attendants are expected to carry out their duties in an enthusiastic manner that enhances public trust and confidence in Dublin City Council. Although Leisure Attendants are directly supervised, they are required to demonstrate a flexible approach and have the ability to work effectively on their own and in teams.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE SHALL

• have a satisfactory knowledge of sports and recreation services provided by Dublin City Council;

• be committed to and conscious of providing a professional service both to internal and external customers;

• have satisfactory experience relative to the duties outlined;

• possess good organisational skills;

• have the ability to work on their own initiative, in an independent environment without constant supervision;

• have the ability and willingness to learn and execute new skills and participate in appropriate training courses where required;

• possess basic I.T. skills, good communication skills and be capable of keeping appropriate records as required;

• have a thorough knowledge of Dublin City Council’s policies in relation to customer care, data protection and communications.

An offer of employment will be subject to Garda Vetting prior to any appointment being confirmed.

QUALIFICATIONS

CHARACTER:

Each candidate 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.

AGE:

Successful candidates must be not less than 18 years of age on appointment.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, ETC.:

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

a) Hold the National Pool Lifeguard Award (Level 2) from Irish Water Safety or the National Pool Lifeguard Award of the Royal Life Saving Society or equivalent and;

b) Hold a National Council for Exercise & Fitness or National Qualification in Exercise and Health Studies or Irish Training and Educational Centre, gym/fitness instructor qualification or equivalent;

c) Be familiar with the relevant policies and strategies of key bodies involved in sport, recreation and health promotion, including Sport Ireland’s Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport and Healthy Ireland’s Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013 – 2025;

d) Have a good knowledge and awareness of Health & Safety legislation and regulations, their implications for the organisation and the employee, and their application in the workplace;

e) Be prepared, if required, to undergo a course of training and procure certificates of qualifications.

DESIRABLE:

• To hold a Swimming Teacher Qualification and/or an Aqua Aerobics Qualification. Candidates not in possession of this award will be required to acquire it if appointed to this position.

Prior to taking up duty, all successful candidates will be required to provide evidence that they have the required certification.

DUTIES

The duties of the post under the direction and supervision of the appropriate employee of Dublin City Council include, but are not limited to, the following: -

• supervising activities in a swimming pool, gymnasium, aerobics room, sports hall and outdoor facilities;

• organising, assisting and instructing individuals and/or groups with swimming tuition;

• lifeguard duties on pool deck, including;

o providing assistance to persons in difficulty and rendering to such persons the necessary attention including the administration of First Aid when required;

o supervising and controlling all parts of the premises including the entrance area, the swimming pool, gymnasium and changing areas, outdoor areas and ensuring that order is maintained in the Sports and Recreation facilities;

• regulating the admission of the public to all parts of the facilities and ensuring that permitted periods of use are not exceeded;

• controlling the operation of the booking systems, issuing admission tickets/receipts and accounting for payments received;

• developing and coordinating fitness testing programmes which will adequately serve the needs of all customers;

• providing a personal training service to customers;

• organising and instructing in aerobics, kettle bells, step, box fit, circuit training, spinning, aqua aerobics and such other classes as required;

• back washing and maintaining the filtration system and attending to automatic dosing systems when required;

• receiving, recording, unloading and storing supplies and equipment at the Sports and Recreation centres;

• cleaning and maintaining the pool and surrounds, the gymnasium, studios, outdoor facilities, changing areas, toilets and drains and environs of the centres;

• carrying out regular water testing, logging of results and taking action if required;

• have responsibility for the sale of swimming accessories and other items;

• participate in the marketing, advertising, selling and branding of our services;

• revalidation/renewing of recommended lifesaving and gym qualifications and undertaking any course of training organised by the City Council that they are designated to attend;

• undertake all duties required for the efficient and effective operation of the Sports and Recreation centre;

• To carry out such other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

At the discretion of Dublin City Council, a candidate will be required to undergo Pool Lifeguard testing/examination.

The particular duties and responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibilities entailed. The post holder may therefore be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above, and to take instructions from and report to, an appropriate Officer or such designated Officer as may be assigned from time to time by the City Council.

The duties of the post are to give to the local authority and to

(a) The local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive is Chief Executive, and

(b) To any other local authority or body with which an agreement has been made by the local authority or by any of the authorities or bodies referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph under the general direction and control of the Chief Executive or of such officers as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate computing, technical, management, administrative, executive, supervisory, advisory and ancillary services as may be required by any local authority or body hereinbefore mentioned in the exercise and performance of any of its powers, functions and duties and to exercise such powers, functions and duties as may be delegated to them by the Chief Executive from time to time including the duty of servicing all committees that may be established by any such local authority or body. The holder of the post will, if required, act for an officer of a higher level.

SELECTION PROCESS

• Posts of Leisure Attendant Part Time (Fitness Instructor/Lifeguard) will be filled from this publicly advertised competition. Selection shall be by means of a competition conducted by or on behalf of Dublin City Council.

• Candidates should note that the information provided by them in their application form will form the basis on which eligibility and short listing is conducted.

• Dublin City Council reserves the right to undertake eligibility and/or shortlist candidates in the manner it deems most appropriate.

• A panel may be formed on the basis of interviews. A candidate whose name is on a panel and who satisfies the Council that they possess the qualifications declared for the post and that they are otherwise suitable for appointment may, within the life of the panel, subject to the appropriate Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage sanction, be appointed as an appropriate vacancy arises.

• The life of the panel shall be for a period of one year from the date of its formation.

• Dublin City Council shall require any person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of not more than one month and if they fail to take up appointment within such period, or such longer period as the Council in its absolute discretion may determine, the Council shall not appoint them.

• Successful candidates may be required to undergo a pre-employment medical and reference checks prior to final offer & appointment.

SHORTLISTING

Dublin City Council reserves the right to shortlist candidates to proceed to the interview stage of the competition. Shortlisting of candidates will be on the basis of information supplied on the Application Form. It is therefore in your own interest to provide a detailed and accurate account of your qualifications/experience in your application.

The shortlisting process will provide for the assessment of each applicant’s application form against predetermined criteria that reflect the skills and depth of experience considered to be essential for a position at this level.

INTERVIEW

The interview will be competency based and marks will be awarded under the following competencies;

• Customer Focus • Interpersonal Understanding/Communication • Planning/Organising • Technical Knowledge & Experience

Please see page 9 the Candidate Information Booklet for more details.

SALARY:

The fortnightly wage scale for the position of Leisure Attendant (Fitness Instructor/Lifeguard) is:

€791.10, €800.98, €810.88, €820.70, €830.52, €840.46

Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. In accordance with Departmental Circular letter EL 02/2011, a person who is not a serving public service employee on or after 1st January 2011, will enter the scale for the position at the minimum point.

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

Under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013, the working hours for newly appointed/promoted staff are 19 hours per week.