School Warden

1. CHARACTER Each candidate must be of good character. 2. HEALTH Each candidate must be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service and have good eyesight and hearing and be active and alert. 3. EDUCATION/ EXPERIENCE, ETC.: Each candidate must :- (i) Have a good standard of education to enable him/her to carry out efficiently the duties assigned to him/her satisfactorily and be capable of assimilating the training which shall be necessary for the performance of their duty; (ii) Have the ability to use initiative and judgement; (iii) Have a satisfactory knowledge of health and safety matters; (iv) Have very good communication and interpersonal skills; (v) A thorough knowledge of the Rules of the Road. 4. 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. THE ROLE The role of the School Warden is to ensure the safe crossing of school children at or in the vicinity of schools at opening and closing times of schools. The Road Safety Officer has overall responsibility for School Wardens in County Westmeath. A School Warden is recognised by the bright visibility coat and the Stop sign that they carry. School Wardens are empowered under the Roads Traffic Act to stop traffic during times of operation in order to allow school children to cross the road safely. The School Warden service provided by Westmeath County Council caters for hundreds of children attending schools across Westmeath on a daily basis during school terms. This is an opportunity to make a positive impact in your local community. Join Westmeath County Council to be part of a team and act with purpose to provide a great service. We offer competitive compensation, supply full training and uniform and the opportunity to contribute to your local area in a valued way.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES The person employed shall be required to carry out duties as may from time to time be assigned to them in relation to their employment and as may be appropriate to any particular function of any local authority for which the Chief Executive is responsible and carry out such instructions as may be given in relation to the performance of duties.

The duties of the School Warden will include but will not be limited to :- • Be responsible for the safeguard of any children while using the school crossing/pedestrian crossing between specified times. The discharge of these duties must not be to the detriment of the welfare of other road users. • Be in attendance at the crossing to which they are assigned punctually each day during the school term. • Be required to perform your duties under the direction of the Council’s Senior General Services Supervisor/General Services Supervisor/District Engineer or any member of the Garda Siochana. • In the event of being unable to attend through illness or for any other reason, it is essential that the Senior Supervisor for the District and the School Principal be informed in advance. If possible, the school warden must give at least 24 hours notice if unable to attend for duty. • To ensure compliance with work safety procedures in operation in Westmeath County Council and to full participate in any safety programme that may be implemented. • Be responsible for the custody of materials/equipment in his/her area. • Wear the uniform supplied by Westmeath County Council and use any safety equipment provided. • Be required to make himself/herself available for training programmes as required by Westmeath County Council and he/she shall be required to update this training as necessary. • Before attempting to stop traffic, the warden should consider traffic conditions at this point, whether it is of such a sparse nature that they can wait for a lull before going out to conduct children across, or if it is of such a nature that they will have to make breaks in it. In some areas, it is possible that such lulls will obviate the necessity of much stopping of traffic, but in busy areas or on fast traffic routes, breaks will have to be made. Great care will have to be exercised by the warden in breaking up traffic, due consideration being given to the speed of the approaching traffic and conditions of road and weather. Sufficient time should always be given by the warden for traffic to pull up in safety • To notify the Senior General Services Supervisor/General Services Supervisor/District Engineer and Road Safety Officer immediately of any traffic accident or irregularities that may occur during the performance of duties. • To furnish such records and report relating to the employment as may be required by the employer • If the wardens have any trouble in controlling, or encounter disobedience by the children, they should inform the Principal of the school concerned. Any disobedience by traffic in general should be reported forthwith to the Gardai. In the case of motor vehicles, the description, registration number and so on of person driving, together with time and place of the occurrence, should be noted for the information of the Gardai. Frivolous complaints should, however, be avoided. • The warden should never break up organised convoys, weddings, funerals, parades, or hold up Fire Appliances or Ambulances for the purpose of allowing children to cross. The warden should wait for suitable opportunities when they have passed. Heavily laden horses should not be held up on inclines. • School Wardens must be flexible and be prepared to perform their duties at any location within reason as directed by the Line Manager. • To carry out any other duties as may be assigned by the Senior Supervisor /District Engineer/Road Safety Officer or as delegated. Particulars of Office 1. The Post: The School Warden post is part time and pensionable. A panel will be formed for an initial period of one year and this may be extended for a further year at the discretion of the Chief Executive. The panel will be used to fill both permanent and temporary positions that may arise for its duration. Vacancies will be offered in order of merit as per the panel. Employment will be suspended during periods of closure of the particular school or schools for holidays or any other reason and during other such periods as may be determined by employer.

2. Salary: The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale in accordance with the relevant Department Circular. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay.

The current pay scale applicable to this post is €17.37 - €19.42 per hour as per Circular EL 03/2025. Payment of increments is dependent on satisfatory performance. New Entrants to the Local Authority Service commence on the 1st point of the scale in accordance with current Government Policy as set out in Department of the Environment Circular Letter EL 02/2011 of 28th January 2011 and Circular EL 05/2016 dated 5th February 2016.

Remuneration is paid fortnightly by PayPath directly to the employee’s nominated bank account. The current pay cycle may be revised during the period of employment. Remuneration is subject to all statutory deductions e.g. PAYE and PRSI. Increments are paid annually subject to satisfactory attendance, conduct and performance and national agreements.

3. Location Permanent Part-time School Wardens will be based at the following pedestrian crossing or school. • MULLINGAR TOWN, COUNTY WESTMEATH

Westmeath County Council reserves the right to assign the successful candidates to any premises in use by the Council or any other school crossing managed by the Council, now or in the future. Changes to location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation. The person appointed will be required to report to their place of work by their own means of transport and at their own expense. 4. Working Hours: The working hours are currently a maximum of 3 hours per day (15 hours per week): Hours can vary depending on assignment. An example of one current work pattern would be from 8.30am to 9.30am and from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. The Council reserves the right to vary these working hours and times at its discretion, depending on the requirements of the school or the employer. The School Warden must be flexible in terms of working hours and availability to work. It shall be the responsibility of the warden to remain on duty each day for such hours as are necessary to protect children proceeding to and from school via the warden’s duty point

FULL ATTENDANCE WILL BE REQUIRED DURING SCHOOL TERMS I.E. WARDENS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO TAKE HOLIDAYS DURING SCHOOL TERMS.

5. Annual Leave & Public Holidays Entitlement Public holiday and annual leave will be granted in accordance with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 and the nationally agreed annual leave scheme for the sector. The annual leave year runs from 1st January to 31st December. Annual leave entitlements for School Wardens will be 8% of overall hours worked. FULL ATTENDANCE WILL BE REQUIRED DURING SCHOOL TERMS I.E. SCHOOL WARDENS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO TAKE ANNUAL LEAVE DURING SCHOOL TERMS

6. Sick Leave The terms of the Public Service Management (Sick Leave) Regulations 2014 as amended will prevail.

7. Probation There shall be a period after appointment takes effect during which the person appointed shall hold office on probation. (a) such period shall be twelve months, but the Chief Executive may at his/her discretion extend such period; (b) the person appointed shall cease to hold office at the end of the period of probation unless during such period the Chief Executive has certified that the service of the person in such office is satisfactory.

8. Superannuation & Retirement A person who becomes a pensionable employee of the County Council will be required in respect of their Superannuation to contribute to the Local Authority at the appropriate rate. The terms of the Local Government Superannuation (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 as amended or the Public Services Superannuation(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 or the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme & Other Provisions) Act 2012 will apply as appropriate on appointment. Retirement age for employees is dependent on their relevant contract of employment, with due consideration being given to the rules of the Superannuation Scheme to which they belong. • For appointees who are deemed not to be “new entrants” as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, retirement is compulsory on reaching 65 years of age. • The minimum retirement age for “new entrants” to the public service as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 is 65.

There is no mandatory retirement age. • Effective from 1st January 2013, The Single Public Service Scheme applies to all first-time new entrants to the public service, as well as to former public servants returning to the public service after a break of more than 26 weeks: - Retirement age is set, initially, at 66 years; this will rise in step with statutory changes in the State Pension Contributory (SPC) age to 67 years in 2021 and 68 years in 2028. - Compulsory retirement age will be 70.

9. Recruitment Shortlisting: Normally the number of applications received for a position exceeds that required to fill existing and future vacancies to the position. While a candidate may meet the eligibility requirements of the competition, if the numbers applying for the position are such that it would not be practical to interview everyone, Westmeath County Council may decide that a number only will be invited to same. In this respect, Westmeath County Council provide for the employment of a short-listing process to select a group for interview who, based on an examination of the application forms, appear to be the most suitable for the position based on the specific competencies identified in the job description. An expert board will examine the application forms against a pre-determined criterion based on the requirements of the position. This is not to suggest that other candidates are necessarily unsuitable or incapable of undertaking the job, rather that there are some candidates, who based on their application, appear to be better qualified and/or have more relevant experience. It is therefore in your own interest to provide a detailed and accurate account of your relevant qualifications/ experience on the application form. On occasion a shortlisting interview may take place.

Competitive Interview: Selection will be by means of a competition based on an interview conducted by or on behalf of the local authority. The number of persons to be invited shall be determined by the Local Authority having regard to the likely number of vacancies to be filled. Interviews will be held via ‘face to face’ interview. Candidates will be required to pay any expenses incurred by them in attending the interview. A panel may be formed on the basis of interviews. Candidates whose names are on a panel and who satisfy the local authority that they possess the qualifications declared for the post and that they are otherwise suitable for appointment may within the life of the panel be appointed as appropriate vacancies arise.