Litter Warden

About Fingal County Council

Fingal is a highly attractive place to live, work, visit and do business. It comprises a geographical area of 450 sq.km stretching from Balbriggan in the north, to Blanchardstown in the west and to Howth in the east. The area is defined by the diversity of its landscape and settlement patterns with rural, urban and suburban locations all rolled into one county. There is 88kms of coastline, three large protected estuaries and salt marsh habitats and 13 major beaches.

Fingal County Council is one of the county’s major local employers and currently employs approximately 1,600 staff. The Council is mandated to deliver a diverse range of functions and services which can be broadly described under the headings of the provision of physical and social infrastructure, housing, economic and tourism development, community development, recreation and amenity services and the management of the planning and environmental regulatory framework. The role of the County Council as provided for in law is to represent, lead and serve the communities of Fingal.

1.    The Role

Reporting to the Environment, Climate Action, Active Travel and Sports Directorate, The Litter Warden will play a pivotal role in enforcing litter laws and promoting cleanliness throughout the County as set out in the objectives and actions of the Fingal County Council Litter Management Plan.

The Litter Warden will also liaise directly with the Dog Warden Service contractor and the Animal Welfare Section on issues relating to the issuing of Litter Fines, patrols and educational awareness activities. Liaise and co-operate with the Waste Enforcement Section and the Operations Department on issues regarding litter enforcement and illegal dumping.

2.    Duties

The key duties of the Litter Warden include, but are not limited to:

• Deliver on the objectives and actions as set out in the Fingal County Council Litter Management Plan.
• Investigating incidences of littering and illegal dumping to include front gardens, basements, private property or any other land for litter and/or waste visible from a public place;
• Receiving, investigating, and concluding complaints received by phone, email or through the CRM platform;
• Scheduled patrols of litter blackspots/bring banks
• Scheduled weekly walking patrols of town centres/beaches/parks/open spaces
• Scheduled Inspections of Businesses to include takeaway and licensed premises to remind them of and ensure they are compliant with their responsibilities under the Litter Pollution Act 1997-2009
• Investigation, reporting and recommendations on reports received on alleged Abandoned Vehicles under Section 71 of the Waste Management Act 1996
• Issuing fines, to include on the spot fines/Warning Notices/Section 16 Notices
• Make recommendations for Direct Prosecutions for repeat litter offenders
• Ensure timely prosecutions of offenders
• Appear and testify in court proceedings
• Reviewing CCTV Footage and preparing fines
• Inputting data on the Litter App to capture litter and illegal dumping hot spots
• Conducting Litter Pollution monitoring surveys annually
• Building and maintaining positive working relationships with key internal stakeholders and other Fingal County Council departments
• Attending training courses as required and being aware of any legislative changes that are relevant to the role
• Ensuring good knowledge and awareness of Health and Safety Legislation and Regulations, the implications for the organisation and the employee, and their application in the workplace
• Any other duties as may be assigned

These tasks which are indicative rather than exhaustive, are carried out under general supervision.

Persons appointed will be required to work in any location within the Fingal administrative area.

1.    Qualifications and Requirements of the Post

CHARACTER

Each candidate must 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.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, EXPERIENCE, ETC.

Candidates must on the latest date of receipt of completed application forms have:

(a)             Attained a standard of education as would enable the candidate to carry out efficiently the duties of the position and functions of the job;

(b)            Basic IT skills.

(c)             Hold a current clean full driving licence to drive a motor vehicle,

DRIVING LICENCE

Holders of the office will be required to drive a motor car in the course of their duties and must therefore, hold a current full driving license (Class B) free from disqualification and medical limitations.

DESIRABLES

The ideal candidate shall be able to demonstrate:

• Strong leadership and management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• The ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders, including law enforcement, community groups, and businesses.
• Have the ability to prepare and produce accurate reports for court.
• Proficiency in using CRM systems and other relevant technology.

Candidates may be shortlisted for interview based on the desirables listed above.

Uniform

The person appointed will be required to wear a uniform, including a luminous safety vest, and all other appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (which will be supplied by the Council) at all times when on duty, unless otherwise authorised by the County Council.

Particulars of Employment

The employment is whole time, permanent and pensionable. Persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of social insurance old age contributory pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependent or qualified children).

Persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration.

All persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority will be required in respect of the local Government (Spouses and Children’s Contributory Pension) Scheme to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration in accordance with the terms of the Scheme.

PROBATION

(a)   there shall be a period after such employment takes effect during which such persons shall hold such employment on probation,

(b)  such period shall be one year but the Chief Executive may at his or her discretion extend such period,

(c)   such persons shall cease to hold employment at the end of the period of probation unless during such period the Chief Executive has certified that the service of such persons is satisfactory.

SALARY

€766.61 - €802.34 per week

Persons who are not serving local authority employees will be based on the minimum of the scale.

Holders of the post shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than their inclusive salary) payable to or received by them by virtue of their post or in respect of any services which they are required by or under any enactment to perform.

HEALTH

For the purpose of satisfying the requirement as to health it will be necessary for successful candidates, before they are employed, to undergo a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the Local Authority.

RETIREMENT AGE

The retirement age is 70 years.

Recruitment

A local authority may decide, by reason of the number of persons seeking admission to a competition, to carry out a shortlisting procedure. The number of persons to be invited, in these circumstances, to interview shall be determined by the local authority from time to time, having regard to the likely number of vacancies to be filled.

Selection will be by means of an interview conducted by or on behalf of the local authority. Candidates will be required to pay any expenses incurred by them in attending the interview.

Panels may be formed on the basis of such interviews. Candidates whose names are on a panel and who satisfy the local authority that they possess the qualification declared for the post and that they are otherwise suitable for employment may, within the life of the panel, be employed as appropriate vacancies arise.

The local authority shall require a person to whom employment is offered to take up such employment within a period of not more than 6 weeks and if he or she fails to take up the employment within such period or such longer period as the local authority in its absolute discretion may determine, the local authority shall not employ the person.