Retained Firefighter

Qualifications

1. Character: Each applicant must be of good character.

2. Age: Each applicant must be at least 18 years of age and not more than 55 years on the closing date for receipt of application forms. Any candidate who reaches the age of 55 years prior to appointment will cease to be eligible for appointment on the result of this competition.

3. Education: On the closing date for receipt of completed applications, each candidate must: (a) have obtained a good standard of general education. (b) hold a full Class B driver's license.

4. Health: Each candidate shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

For the purpose of satisfying the requirement as to health it will be necessary for a successful candidate, before he/she is appointed, to undergo a medical examination (which may include x-ray, physical fitness test and/or other special tests), and any further medical examinations required during his/her employment with the Fire Service, by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the local authority.

Candidates shall be required to submit details of their medical history to the Council's medical advisor. This information will be treated in the strictest confidence. Failure to successfully complete the medical may necessitate release from the Fire Service.

5. Garda Vetting: Each candidate will be required to co-operate with a Garda vetting procedure. The successful candidate must have Garda clearance.

6. Citizenship: Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, 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 is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK 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-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 Selection shall be by means of a competition based on an interview, a basic numeracy/literacy test and a practical assessment, conducted by or on behalf of the local authority.

Conditions of Employment

1. The employment is part-time and will be probationary for 6 months following appointment.

2. Age: A Fire-fighter must submit a birth certificate to the County Council as proof of age before they are engaged as a recruit.

3. On reaching 55 years of age, or sooner if found to be medically unfit, a Firefighter shall cease to be a Firefighter. The maximum age limit of 55 years may be lowered by the County Council should the normal age for retirement in employment generally be lowered and in such case, the age lower than 55 years shall apply.

Fire-fighters who would be physically capable of working beyond age 55 have the option to continue working for a defined limited period (subject to compulsory medical assessment, on an annual basis). The extended optional period would be to age 58. No Retained Fire-fighter shall be employed beyond age 58, in accordance with the Report of the Expert Group on retirement age for Retained Firefighters (April 2003).

4. Rostering: Firefighters shall participate in any rostering arrangements as agreed.

5. A Firefighter must attend and satisfactorily complete each of the following courses during his/her probationary period or such longer time as the Council decides: (a) Retained Recruit Firefighters Course AND (b) Breathing Apparatus Wearers Course AND (c) Any other course that the County Council may consider necessary.

One repeat course will be provided should any Firefighter fail on the first attempt. Failure to successfully complete the repeat course(s) will result in the termination of the Firefighter’s employment.

Some or all of the above courses will be held at a recognised training centre which may or may not be situated locally.

Drill fees will be paid at the current hourly rate for Firefighters during training.

6. A Firefighter must reside and work within 2.5 kms of the Fire Station. In addition, on receipt of an alert a Firefighter must be able to attend at the Fire Station within five minutes.

A Firefighter, rostered on duty, must remain within convenient proximity of the Fire Station. Failure to respond promptly to fire or other calls shall, at the discretion of the County Council, result in termination of service.

A Firefighter shall notify the Fire Authority 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.

A Firefighter shall be required to report for duty to the Fire Station in its present location, or in the event of change of location to such new location as may be decided by the Fire Authority. Changes in the location of the Fire Station will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation.

7. It shall be necessary for Firefighters to be released from their normal employment, on any occasion that attendance at fires or other emergencies shall be required. Written evidence from the employer as to availability must be provided 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 on recruitment for fire and other calls, drills, training, and such other duties which he/she may be required by the County Council to perform. If the County Council deems his/her attendance to be unsatisfactory, it may terminate his/her service.

8. Absence from training or fire calls without good reason will lead to disciplinary proceedings which may include suspension without pay and dismissal from the Fire Service.

9. All Firefighters joining the Fire Service after the 15th June 1996 will, as a condition of their employment, operate and be remunerated in accordance with the revised working practices introduced on the basis of the report of the Wexford Fire Services Working Group (November 1995) and the findings of the Arbitrator, Mr. John O'Connell, dated 14th June 1996 and will be subject to Composite Agreement of August 1999. This condition will apply whether or not the changes proposed have been introduced on the date of appointment.

10. Firefighters are required to attend Fire Service Training Programmes which will include: • Regular or weekly training sessions • The training itemised at 5 above • Full day training session or major emergency exercises • Other training arranged by the Chief Fire Officer including training courses outside County Wexford • It shall be necessary for each Firefighter to undertake driving instructions for fire brigade appliances, as and when decided by the employer in order to qualify as a Category C driver

11. A Firefighter shall be available at all times when required for attendance at fires or other incidents.

12. Firefighters will be called to attend fires in a manner to be decided by the Chief Fire Officer which may include the following:

(a) Pocket Alerter Firefighters will co-operate in reasonable measures designed to facilitate call out. In particular, each Firefighter shall carry a Fire Service pocket alerter at all times and it shall be his/her responsibility to ensure that it is kept in proper working order.

13. When required, a Firefighter will substitute for any other Firefighter absent through sickness, annual leave or any other reason.

14. A Firefighter shall be responsible for items of personal equipment issued to him/her in connection with his/her employment.

15. Firefighters are issued with personal protective clothing as listed below: a) one firefighters helmet b) two pairs of firefighters boots c) two firefighters tunics d) two pairs of firefighters pants e) two pairs of firefighters gloves f) two flash hoods

Firefighters shall ensure that all personal protective clothing issued is maintained to a satisfactory standard.