Prison Clerical Officer

The PCO Role Prison Clerical Officers fill many different roles within prisons and supporting units across the organisation, particularly in the areas of general administration; human resource management; prisoner administration; financial administration; medical administration; governance, compliance, risk management and health and safety; and stores management in accordance with prescribed instructions typically set out in SOPs. Prison Clerical Officers normally report to and are supervised by a Prison Executive Officer. While administrative officers have no direct role in the safe and secure custody of prisoners, Prison Clerical Officers may be required to engage with prisoners and/or their families and may be required to work side by side with prisoners in controlled environments such as the prison stores. Prison Clerical Officers play a critical role in the governance of the prison by complying with all statutory obligations which are outlined in legislation, IPS Policies, SOPs and local orders and respecting and protecting the human rights of prisoners in the performance of their administrative tasks. Prison Clerical Officers are required to liaise effectively and professionally with a variety of stakeholders within the prison, with other prisons and supporting units, in Irish Prison Service HQ Directorates and across the Irish Criminal Justice System including the Courts Service, Probation Service and An Garda Síochána. The mix of activities undertaken by a Prison Clerical Officer is determined by the line manager in accordance with the needs and size of the individual prison or supporting unit to which they are assigned. An overview of the key accountabilities and specific duties associated with the role of Prison Clerical Officer both within a prison context and across the wider organisation is outlined in the Competency Framework which is included as a separate attachment to this booklet.

Contact with prisoners Although Prison Clerical Officers work in prisons, they are not Prison Officers and do not have any responsibility for the security of prisoners. However, depending on their role, Prison Clerical Officers will have interaction with prisoners in prison stores and other locations. Prison Clerical Officersmay also have contact with prisoners when they are being committed to (i.e. arriving) or discharged (i.e. released) from prison.

Dublin Prison locations: Dublin: Mountjoy Male Prison, Mountjoy Female Prison, Cloverhill Prison, Wheatfield Prison, Arbour Hill Prison, Shelton Abbey Open Centre Training Successful candidates, on appointment as Prison Clerical Officers on probation will be required to undergo formal induction training, which will combine classroom tuition at the Irish Prison Service College in Portlaoise with job familiarisation at one of the IPS’s institutions. This training will last approximately five weeks on a Monday to Friday basis and will take place in the Irish Prison Service College in Portlaoise. This training will form part of a programme which must be completed in order to be eligible for confirmation of appointment as a Prison Clerical Officer. Entry Requirements and Eligibility Essential Qualifications and Experience Candidates must, on or before, Thursday 2nd May 2024:

• Have the requisite knowledge, skills and competencies to carry out the role;
• Be capable and competent of fulfilling the role to a high standard;
• Have a good general level of education;
• Be at least 17 years of age on or before 2nd May 2024 i.e. have been born on orbefore 2nd May 2007;
• Fulfil citizenship, health and character requirements (see below).

Desirable Requirements In addition to the above, the following are desirable but not essential requirements:

• Skills/experience in Excel and Word; In addition to the above, candidates must also be able to demonstrate the Key Competencies identified for effective performance at this level. Please review the attached competency framework for further detail on the key competencies for a Prison Clerical Officer.
• Team Work;
• Information Management/Processing;
• Delivery of Results;
• Customer Service & Communication Skills;
• Specialist Knowledge, Expertise and Self-Development;
• Drive & Commitment to Public Service Values.

Eligibility and Certain Restrictions on Eligibility to Compete Citizenship Requirements Eligible candidates must be: (a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or (b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or (c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or (d) A non-EEA citizen who has a stamp 4 visa*; or (e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa; or (f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa. *Please note that a 50 TEU visa, which is a replacement for Stamp 4EUFAM after Brexit, is acceptable as a Stamp 4 equivalent. Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform letter dated 28 June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 01 June 2012, a Collective Agreement which had been reached between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Services Committee of the ICTU in relation to ex-gratia Redundancy Payments to Public Servants. It is a condition of the Collective Agreement that persons availing of the agreement will not be eligible for re-employment in the Public Service by any Public Service body (as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 – 2011) for a period of 2 years from termination of the employment. People who availed of this scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility). Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees, under that Scheme, are not eligible to apply for another position in the same employment or the same sector. Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position. Department of Health and Children Circular (7/2010): The Department of Health Circular 7/2010 dated 1 November 2010 introduced a Targeted Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Scheme and Voluntary Redundancy Schemes (VRS). It is a condition of the VER scheme that persons availing of the scheme will not be eligible for re- employment in the public health sector or in the wider Public Service or in a body wholly or mainly funded from public moneys. The same prohibition on re-employment applies under the VRS, except that the prohibition is for a period of 7 years. People who availed of the VER scheme are not eligible to compete in this competition. People who availed of the VRS scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of noneligibility). Department of Environment, Community & Local Government

The Department of Environment, Community & Local Government Circular Letter LG (P) 06/2013 introduced a Voluntary Redundancy Scheme for Local Authorities. In accordance with the terms of the Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants dated 28 June 2012 as detailed above, it is a specific condition of that VER Scheme that persons will not be eligible for reemployment in any Public Service body [as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 – 2011 and the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012] for a period of 2 years from their date of departure under this Scheme. These conditions also apply in the case of engagement/employment on a contract for service basis (either as a contractor or as an employee of a contractor). Declaration: Applicants will be required to declare whether they have previously availed of a Public Service scheme of incentivised early retirement. Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other Public Service employment and/or where they have received a payment-in-lieu in respect of service in any Public Service employment. Tenure The appointment is to a permanent position on a probationary contract in the Civil Service. The probationary contract will be for a period of one year from the date specified on the contract. During the period of your probationary contract, your performance will be subject to review by your supervisor(s) to determine whether you – (i) Have performed in a satisfactory manner, (ii) Have been satisfactory in general conduct, and (iii) Are suitable from the point of view of health with particular regard to sick leave. Prior to the completion of the probationary contract a decision will be made as to whether or not you will be retained pursuant to Section 5A(2) Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956– 2005. This decision will be based on your performance assessed against the criteria set out in (i) to (iii) above. The detail of the probationary process will be explained to you by the Irish Prison Service and you will be given a copy of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s guidelines on probation. Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs in this section, the probationary contract may be terminated at any time prior to the expiry of the term of the contract by either side in accordance with the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts, 1973 to 2005. • The probationary period stands suspended when an employee is absent due to Maternity or Adoptive Leave. • In relation to an employee absent on Parental Leave or Carers Leave, the employer may require probation to be suspended if the absence is not considered to be consistent with the continuation of the probation. • Probation may be suspended in cases such as absence due to a non-recurring illness, and • Any other statutory provision providing that probation shall - (i) stand suspended during an employee’s absence from work, and (ii) be completed by the employee on the employees return from work after such absence. Where probation is suspended the employer should notify the employee of the circumstances relating to the suspension. All appointees will serve a one-year probationary period. If an appointee who fails to satisfy the conditions of probation has been a serving civil servant immediately prior to their appointment from this competition, the issue of reversion will normally arise. In the event of reversion, an officer will return to a vacancy in their former grade in their former Department. Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977- 2015 The Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977–2015 will not apply to the termination of this employment by reason only of the expiry of this probationary contract without it being renewed. The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 The terms of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 will apply, where appropriate, to this employment.

Headquarters You will initially be assigned to the Irish Prison Service College for training for a period of 5 weeks, during which time you will be notified of your permanent location. However your headquarters may be reassigned from time to time by the Irish Prison Service. When required to travel on official duty the appointee will be paid appropriate travelling expenses and subsistence allowances, subject to normal civil service regulations.

Hours of attendance Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to not less than 39 hours net per week. The successful candidate will be required to work such additional hours from time to time as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper performance of his/her duties subject to the limits set down in the working time regulations. The rate of remuneration payable covers any extra attendance liability that may arise from time to time.

Annual Leave The annual leave allowance for this position is 22 days rising to 23 days after 5 years’ service 24 days after 10 years’ service, 25 days after 12 years’ service and 26 days after 14 years’ service. This allowance is subject to the usual conditions regarding the granting of annual leave in the civil service, is based on a five day week and is exclusive of the usual public holidays.

Outside Employment The position will be whole time and appointees may not engage in private practice or be connected with any outside business which would interfere with the performance of official duties.

Sick Leave Pay during properly certified sick absence, provided there is no evidence of permanent disability for service, will apply on a pro-rata basis, in accordance with the provisions of the sick leave circulars. Officers who will be paying Class A rate of PRSI will be required to sign a mandate authorising the Department of Social Protection to pay any benefits due under the Social Welfare Acts directly to the employing Department/Organisation. Payment during illness will be subject to the officer making the necessary claims for social insurance benefit to the Department of Social Protection within the required time limits.

Pay

The Prison Clerical Officer Salary PCC Scale (rates effective 1 October 2023) is as follows:

€30,293.00 €31,777.00 €32,888.00 €34,281.00 €35,346.00 €36,558.00

€37,935.00 €38,951.00 €40,278.00 €41,605.00 €42,935.00 €44,261.00

€45,581.00 €47,635.00 €49,251.00 €49,994.00