Retained Firefighter

The Role

Mayo County Council is the Fire Authority for all of County Mayo and, as such, is required to make reasonable provision for the prompt and efficient extinguishing of fires occurring in buildings and other places and for the protection and rescue of persons and property from injury by fire.

Mayo County Council, with one of the largest fire authority areas in the country, employs 150 retained Firefighters and has Fire Brigade units located at Castlebar, Ballina, Westport, Claremorris, Ballinrobe, Ballyhaunis, Swinford, Kiltimagh, Achill Sound, Belmullet, Crossmolina and Charlestown.

We are currently inviting applications from candidates who are passionate in supporting and serving their local communities, for the position of Retained Firefighter. Panels will be created for positions in our Fire Brigade units in Ballina, Claremorris, Ballyhaunis, Kiltimagh, Achill Sound and Belmullet.

In most circumstances a Retained Firefighter has another job or career and provides on call cover for a minimum of 24 weeks in the year for the Fire Service either from home, or in some circumstances, from their place of work. In the event of a fire call, the Retained Firefighter will be notified, typically by pager, and he or she must respond to the Fire Station immediately.

The Fire Service responds to all emergency calls from the public for assistance, primarily to protect life and save injury to individuals, but also to prevent and restrict damage to property. Many emergency calls, however, are not to fires, but to incidents where members of the community are trapped in vehicles, machinery or in other less life threatening circumstances.

The firefighter’s working life and training is geared to responding safely and effectively to emergency calls, regardless of weather conditions or the time of day or night. Fully qualified firefighters are skilled technicians capable of using the most modern equipment, methods and techniques to undertake the full range of duties which can be deployed at any emergency incident.

It is essential before applying for this position that you are aware of the ongoing training demands and the personal commitment that must be given to fulfil the role of a Retained Firefighter. This includes being able to drop personal responsibilities at immediate notice to respond to a fire call, which may last anytime from 10 minutes, 10 hours, or longer.

In order to function effectively in emergencies, Firefighters must demonstrate the following characteristics:

• Courage and physical strength

• A capacity for rapid, intense and sustained effort

• A capacity to use their own initiative when alone

• Complete and automatic familiarity with the equipment and tools of the profession which may range up to major items of plant such as Firefighting appliance vehicles

• A practical understanding of the basis of a wide range of subjects necessary to anticipate and overcome hazards

• Empathy with victims of emergency situations

• An ability to carry out their function in what may occasionally be emotionally difficult and harrowing circumstances

The role of a Firefighter is very challenging and rewarding and individuals are required to display determination, physical stamina and discipline in challenging situations.

Please take a moment to complete the questionnaire contained in Appendix B to determine if this is the career for you.

Qualifications

Character

Candidates 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.

Residence

Candidates, on appointment and during their employment thereafter, must live and work within either 3 km or a maximum of 4.5 minutes travel time based on GPS navigation planner for example Google Maps or similar as determined by Mayo County Council of the Fire Station. The distances are measured from the place of employment and from their primary residence home to the Fire Station. On receipt of a fire or other emergency call personnel should be in attendance at the station within five minutes.

Education, Training, Experience

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

• Have attained a suitable level of education to enable him or her to undergo successfully the appropriate training and to perform his or her duties satisfactorily as a Firefighter.

• Hold both a valid Category B Licence on the latest date for receipt of the application form and a valid Learner Permit for Category C licence on appointment.

In the event that an offer of employment is made, the candidate will be required to submit all relevant educational qualifications to meet the requirements above. Non Irish qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications, overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document.

Desirable

It is desirable but not essential to hold a valid Category C Licence.

Citizenship

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

a) A citizen of the European Economic Area. The European Economic Area consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

b) A citizen of the United Kingdom; or

c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the European Union and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

d) A non European Economic Area citizen who is a spouse or child of a European Economic Area or United Kingdom or Swiss citizen and 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 European Economic Area citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, a European Economic Area member state or the United Kingdom or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

Particulars of the Post

Position

The employment is part time and pensionable. A panel will be formed from qualified candidates from which appointments may be made.

Remuneration

A Firefighter shall be paid at the appropriate approved national rates of Fire Fees, Drill Fees and Retainer Fees and in accordance with any national agreements for Retained Firefighters.

A Firefighter shall be paid an annual retainer allowance depending on years service as shown below:

€16,190 0 to 1 Year; €17,192 2 to 4 Years; €18,428 5 to 7 Years; €19,555 8 plus years

A Firefighter shall be paid for all hours worked at the appropriate approved national rates shown over.

Duties

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

a) Such other local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive, for the purposes of the Local Government Acts 2001 and 2014, 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 mentioned in subparagraph a of this paragraph under the general direction and supervision of the Chief Executive or such other employee as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate services of an executive, administrative or management nature 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 to exercise such powers, functions and duties as may be delegated to him or her 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 post holder will, if required, act for an employee of a higher level if qualified to do so.

The following are among the principal duties envisaged:

A Retained Firefighter:

• Shall be required to attend at fires and other emergencies, drills, displays and other duties at such times and for such periods as required by the County Council. Failure to respond promptly to fire or other emergency calls will be addressed through the Local Authority’s disciplinary procedure.

• Who attends for Fire Brigade service must be prepared to accept the work entailed and to fulfil to the best of their ability their duty as a Firefighter in the saving of life, saving of property and the fighting of fires or other such emergencies.

• Must comply with the County Council’s Crew Management Arrangements for Retained Firefighters. Firefighters who are on standby during fires or other incidents shall remain at the Station and perform such duties as may be assigned by the Station Officer from time to time during the callout.

• Shall ensure that the Fire Station is kept clean and tidy at all times. Firefighting equipment shall be kept clean, maintained properly and stowed away in a safe manner.

• Is required to adhere to and cooperate with all National and Local Agreements pertaining to the Fire Services.

• Must attend training courses as directed.

• Must undertake driving duties as required.

• Must comply with all organisational policies, procedures and legislation.

• Must undertake any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

The above specification 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 or her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Competencies

Candidates for the post must demonstrate that they have competency and skills in the following areas. Application forms should include one practical example which demonstrates these competencies. Interviews will be competency based and marks will be awarded under these skill sets.

Age

A Firefighter must be not less than 18 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receipt of applications occurs. A Birth Certificate must be submitted to the County Council as proof of age on or prior to employment.

Residence

Successful candidates must live and work within 3.0 km of the Fire Station in which they are employed so as to allow them to respond for the duration of their employment as a Firefighter. However, other locations in excess of the 3.0 km from the Fire Station may be considered if the travel time based on GPS navigation planner for example Google Maps or similar as determined by Mayo County Council does not exceed 4.5 minutes and the Council are satisfied that it does not adversely affect turnout times at their Fire Station. The routes are measured from the place of employment or their primary residence home to the Fire Station.

Successful candidates will be required to provide documentary evidence of both the addresses of their primary residence and place of employment prior to being appointed. Such evidence may include, but is not limited to, house, car or business insurance policy documents, employer letter, bank statements, correspondence from the Revenue Commissioners, tenancy agreement etc. The Council reserve the right to seek any other documentation deemed necessary to ensure that it is satisfied that the evidence so required is provided.

Other Employment

Written evidence must be provided from the employer as to availability prior to appointment, and the County Council in its sole discretion shall decide as to whether the availability, as so evidenced, is acceptable. Self employed persons must provide written evidence as to availability.

Such written evidence must cover a candidate’s availability for initial training and for fire and other calls, drills, training and such other duties which he or she may be required by the County Council to perform.

Annual Leave

Annual leave entitlement is 28 days per year pro rata.

Driving Licences

Successful candidates must hold a current valid learner permit for Category C licence on recruitment, and obtain the full valid Category C and Category BE driving licences within their probation period.