Retained Firefighter

Roscommon County Council is the Fire Authority for all of County Roscommon. Roscommon Fire Authority 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. The Fire Brigade also responds to non fire emergencies such as road traffic collisions.

The Headquarters for Roscommon Fire Authority is based at the Roscommon Town Fire Station, Circular Road, Roscommon Town, Co Roscommon. There are also Fire Stations in the following towns:

Ballaghaderreen

Boyle

Elphin

Strokestown

Position of Retained Firefighter part time

A Firefighter’s work and training is geared towards responding safely and effectively to emergency calls, regardless of weather conditions or the time of day or night. Every time Firefighters are called to the scene of an emergency, they must be prepared to deploy the skills in which they have been trained and respond to the instructions and commands of their Incident Commander.

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 fire fighting 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.

Action, serving the community, job satisfaction and training, with all this on offer, working in the Fire Service is very appealing. If you can meet the demands of a public service with a first class reputation for dealing with all types of serious incidents, the Retained Fire Service can offer you a fulfilling and satisfying job.

EMPLOYMENT

The employment is part time and pensionable.

EDUCATION

Firefighters must have attained a satisfactory level of education to enable them to perform satisfactorily as a Firefighter and to successfully undergo the appropriate training.

CITIZENSHIP

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

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

A citizen of the United Kingdom

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

A non EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or United Kingdom or Swiss citizen and has a Stamp 4 visa

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

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 United Kingdom or Switzerland and has a Stamp 4 visa

CHARACTER

A Firefighter must be of good character and shall not at any time bring the County Council into disrepute. Employment will be subject to the provision of satisfactory references and Garda Vetting.

AGE

A Firefighter must be not less than 18 years on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving application forms occurs. A birth certificate must be submitted to the County Council as proof of age before a person is engaged as a recruit.

RETIREMENT

The normal retirement age is 55. On reaching 55 years of age or sooner, if found to be medically unfit, a Firefighter shall cease to be a Firefighter.

Firefighters who would be physically capable of working beyond age 55 will have the option to continue working for a defined limited period, subject to compulsory medical examination on an annual basis assessed on the basis of set medical standards. The extended period will be to the maximum age of 62 subject to annual compulsory assessment under the Occupational Health Scheme.

HEALTH

A Firefighter shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Medical Examination

Before recruitment, in order to ascertain the health of a candidate, successful applicants shall undergo such medical examinations, which may include x ray and or other special tests, as the County Council considers necessary. The County Council will nominate the medical examiners. The candidate must comply, at their own expense, with such remedial requirements as the County Council considers necessary.

An operational Firefighter shall:

Agree to participate in the Occupational Health Scheme for Retained Firefighters in operation by Roscommon County Council

At any time, if requested by the County Council, undergo such medical examinations by medical examiners as nominated by the County Council

Attend medical examinations in accordance with the frequency set down in the Occupational Health Scheme for Retained Firefighters as issued by the Local Government Management Agency to Local Authorities

Any defects discovered pertaining to a medical examination will not be remedied at the County Council’s expense.

Retention as an operational Firefighter will depend upon receipt of satisfactory reports by medical examiners and to the general condition above as to health. An operational Firefighter is required to maintain an appropriate level of physical fitness.

RESIDENCE

Persons appointed must live and work within a maximum of 6 minutes travel time based on GPS navigation planner such as Google Maps or similar as determined by Roscommon County Council to allow them to respond for the duration of their employment as a Firefighter. The Council retains the right to request further evidence if required on the information supplied for the purpose of verification of place of residence and location of employment.

A Firefighter shall notify the County Council in writing of any subsequent changes of residence or place of employment. A change of residence or place of employment that would place the Firefighter outside these limits will mean automatic termination of employment. The Council will check this prior to appointment and at periodic intervals after appointment.

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 provided is acceptable. If the Firefighter’s primary employer subsequently changes their conditions of employment and does not allow the Firefighter to attend fire calls or drills during working hours, employment will be terminated. Self employed applicants must also provide written evidence as to availability prior to appointment. 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 the Firefighter may be required by the County Council to perform.

DRIVING LICENCE

A recruit Firefighter shall possess a valid full current Category B Driving Licence at the time of applying for the post and ideally a Category C Driving Licence for heavy goods vehicles with up to eight passengers.

All newly appointed Retained Firefighters will be required to obtain a Category C Driving Licence. Firefighters will cooperate with further driver training and will be required to drive fire service vehicles if operationally needed.

If a Firefighter has their licence suspended or removed for any reason, they must immediately inform the County Council and it shall be dealt with through the Council’s disciplinary procedure and may result in termination of service at the absolute discretion of the County Council.

GARDA VETTING

The successful candidate will be subject to the Garda Vetting Procedures in line with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau Children and Vulnerable Persons Act 2012 to 2016 or any subsequent amendments to the legislation mentioned in advance of appointment and on a periodic basis thereafter for the duration of their employment.

PROBATION

Before appointment as a Firefighter, a recruit shall attend and successfully complete the three week Firefighter Skills Training Course and a two week Breathing Apparatus Initial Wearers Course.

Recruit Firefighters will be required to undergo and successfully complete the following recruit training programmes during their probationary period:

A one week Breathing Apparatus Compartment Fire Behaviour Course

Any other course that the County Council may consider necessary

Training fees will be paid at the current hourly rate for Firefighters during training. This hourly rate is currently €26.04.

Failure to successfully complete all of the above courses will result in the termination of the Firefighter’s employment. Some or all of the above courses will be held at a training facility which may or may not be situated locally.

From the date of commencement as a recruit Firefighter there shall be a period of 12 months during which the recruit Firefighter shall be on probation. During this time the recruit Firefighter shall be continually assessed to determine suitability for continued employment. Such period of 12 months may be extended at the absolute discretion of the County Council. The recruit shall not become a permanent Retained Firefighter at the end of the period of probation unless the County Council is satisfied that the Firefighter has been satisfactory in all respects.

REMUNERATION

A Firefighter shall be paid at the appropriate approved national rates of fire and drill fees and retainer fees and in accordance with any national agreements for retained Firefighters. Payment of fees is currently made quarterly but will be moving to fortnightly payment in due course.

€16,852.00 to €20,251.00 per year

ANNUAL LEAVE

The terms of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 shall apply. The annual leave year is aligned to the calendar year and runs from 1 January to 31 December.

A Firefighter is entitled to a maximum of 4 working weeks, that is 28 days paid annual leave. Payment for annual leave will be 8 percent of earnings inclusive of community fire safety, station duties, drill hours, training hours and average of calls in the previous 52 weeks. A Firefighter will be required to comply with the terms of the Crew Management Arrangements for Retained Firefighters as operated by Roscommon County Council.

SAFETY HEALTH AND WELFARE

Roscommon County Council acknowledges its role in protecting the safety, health and welfare of its Firefighters. The County Council is committed to implementing and maintaining a programme that ensures, where possible, that all risks and hazards are eliminated or controlled to an acceptable level. The County Council will implement safe systems of work and methods to protect the safety, health and welfare of its Firefighters.

A Firefighter shall comply with Section 13 of the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and shall familiarise themselves and cooperate with the terms of Roscommon County Council’s safety management system.

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

It is a condition of employment that successful candidates will be required to participate in training programmes relevant to the skills necessary for the performance of the duties attaching to the post. In addition there are many opportunities for further professional and personal development.

A Firefighter will be required to comply with the requirements of the Roscommon Fire Service Training Policy and Drill Night Programme.

A Firefighter shall attend and participate in drills and shall undergo from time to time courses and further training as required or deemed appropriate by the County Council. The County Council shall decide the location of the training. Adequate advance notice shall be given to Firefighters. This training may include ongoing assessments as deemed appropriate. Attendance at drills and training will be required whether the Firefighter is rostered on or off unless on approved leave.

A Firefighter shall be expected to acquire a level of training and knowledge to enable them to interchange with and act as substitute for all personnel at operational level in the fire service of the County Council.

Training fees will be paid at the current hourly rate for Firefighters during training. This hourly rate is currently €26.04.