Supplementary Clerical Officer

The Local Government sector in Ireland is made up of 31 Local Authorities and 3 Regional Assemblies. Local Authorities are the closest and most accessible form of Government to citizens. They have responsibility for the delivery of a wide range of services in their local area with a focus on making cities, towns and the countryside areas attractive places to live, work and invest. These services generally include housing; transportation; planning; infrastructure; environmental protection; recreation and amenity provision and community development. Local Authorities also play a key role in supporting economic development and enterprise promotion at local level.

Waterford City and County Council (Comhairle Cathrach agus Contae Phort Láirge) is the authority responsible for local government in the City & County of Waterford, Ireland. The organisation came into operation on 1st June 2014 after that year's local elections and is a merger of Waterford City Council and Waterford County Council. The mission of Waterford City & County Council is to make Waterford the best possible place for all its people and for those that wish to live, visit, work or invest here.

There are 32 Elected Members. The 2024 Revenue Budget of the Council is €183.31 million. At a strategic level, the Council operate through its Corporate Policy Group comprising of the Cathaoirleach of the Council and the Chairs of the local authority’s Strategic Policy Committees. The Chief Executive and the Council’s Management Team play a key role in supporting and advising this policy group. Day to day management of services takes place under the stewardship of the Chief Executive, four Directors of Service and a Head of Finance who collectively comprise the Senior Management Team.

Working with Waterford City & County Council is now a more inviting prospect than ever. This local authority has immersed itself in many exciting projects in recent years, some which have reached completion while some are ongoing and providing exciting challenges and career highlights for our enthusiastic staff.

This competition presents an opportunity to gain employment with Waterford City & County Council in the role of Temporary Clerical Officer.

This Candidate Information Booklet is intended to provide information on the post of Temporary Clerical Officer and the selection process and candidates are advised to familiarize themselves with the detailed information in advance of submitting their application.

Waterford City & County Council is committed to a policy of open and fair recruitment, in line with good practice, recruitment & selection standards, employment legislation and relevant circulars from the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.

Candidates should satisfy themselves that they are eligible under the Qualifications to apply for the post of Temporary Clerical Officer. Where a candidate provides false or misleading information or has deliberately omitted relevant information on their application form this may result in their disqualification from the competition.

ROLE & DUTIES OF THE POST

Introduction to Role:

The Council is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Temporary Clerical Officer. It is proposed to form a panel of qualified candidates from which temporary vacancies will be filled during the lifetime of the panel. The Temporary Clerical Officer will report directly to the Staff Officer, or such person as may be assigned from time to time by Waterford City & County Council. Temporary Clerical Officers make a valuable contribution to the provision of the Council’s services. The Temporary Clerical Officer will work as part of a multidisciplinary team, assisting with the implementation of work programmes to achieve goals, targets and standards set out in Departmental and Team Development Plans. He/she will also be required to operate the Council’s existing and future IT systems as part of their work. As part of Waterford City & County Council’s commitment to providing quality services to citizens, the Temporary Clerical Officer will assist in delivering a wide range of services across the organisation. Temporary Clerical Officers provide a point of contact for customers to carry out their business and access information about the Council’s services.

Duties

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

(a) the local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive 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 referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph under the general direction and control of the Chief Executive or of such officers as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate Temporary Clerical Officer, management, administrative, executive, supervisory, advisory and ancillary services 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 and 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 holder of the post will, if required, act for an officer of a higher level.

The duties of the Temporary Clerical Officer shall be such clerical/administrative duties as may be assigned from time to time by Waterford City & County Council. They shall include deputising, when required, for other employees of the Council and such duties as may be assigned in relation to the area of any other Local Authority, including but not limited to:-

• dealing with members of the public/customers;

• public counter/reception work;

• PC work - word processing, spreadsheets, database, e-mail and internet;

• inputting computer data;

• general clerical duties - filing, faxing, photocopying;

• handling mail;

• cashiering;

• processing invoices and payroll for payment;

• accounts - purchasing, creditors, debtors;

• secretarial work;

• taking minutes of meetings, drafting of letters and reports;

• interviewing customers, e.g. people applying for housing loans;

• carrying out such other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

The particular duties and responsibilities attached to these temporary positions may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibilities entailed. The temporary post holder may therefore be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above, and to take instructions from and report to, an appropriate Officer or such designated Officer as may be assigned from time to time by the Council.

Qualifications & Requirement of the Post

The Minister for Housing, Local Government & Heritage has declared that the qualifications for the Temporary Clerical Officer position shall be as set out hereunder:

(a) Character:

Each candidate shall be of good character.

(b) Health:

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

(c) Education, Experience, etc.:

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

(i)               have obtained at least Grade D (or a Pass), in Higher or Ordinary Level, in five subjects from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education Established Leaving Certificate Examination or Leaving Certification Vocational Programme. (At least Grade B in Foundation Level Mathematics and Grade C in Foundation Level Irish may be considered as equivalent to Grade D (or a Pass), in Higher or Ordinary Level, from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education Established Leaving Certificate Examination or Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme);

or

(ii)             have passed an examination of at least equivalent standard;

or

(iii)            have had at least two year’s previous service in the office of Temporary Clerical Officer, Clerk/Typist (Clerical Duties), Clerk Typist (Typing and Clerical Duties) or Clerk/Typist under a local authority, or health board in the State;

or

(iv)            have satisfactory relevant experience which encompasses demonstrable equivalent skills.

Salary:

Current Salary Scale: €30,811 - €47,945

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. New entrants will commence on the minimum point of the scale.

Remuneration is subject to all statutory deductions, e.g. P.A.Y.E. and P.R.S.I. Increments are paid annually subject to satisfactory attendance, conduct and performance and national agreements. Increments may be withheld if performance, attendance and/or conduct are not satisfactory.

Superannuation:

The relevant Superannuation Scheme will apply. The provisions of the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 may apply. Persons who become pensionable officers who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required, in respect of their superannuation contribution, to contribute to the local authority as follows:

1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of social insurance old age contributory pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependent or qualified children).

Persons who become pensionable officers who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required, in respect of their superannuation contribution, to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration. The provisions of the Spouses and Children’s/Widows and Orphans Contributory Pension Scheme will continue to apply.

New entrants will be admitted to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme with effect from the date of appointment. The scheme is contributory and provides pension, retirement gratuity, death gratuity and survivors benefits. To qualify for a pension the successful candidate must have served a minimum of two years employment in a Local Authority.

Retirement Age

There is no mandatory retirement age for new entrants to the public service as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004. Anyone who is not a new entrant to the public service, as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, is subject to a compulsory retirement age of 70 years or as determined in accordance with Department Circulars and in line with Government Policy.

The maximum retirement age for new entrants as defined by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012 is 70 years.

The Council may refer staff to a medical advisor at any time to determine fitness to carry out the duties to which they have been assigned.

Hours of Work:

The normal working hours are 35 hours per week. Flexible working arrangements apply. All hours worked are subject to and recorded in accordance with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997, and the Organisation of Working Time Regulations, 2001. Waterford City & County Council requires employees to record their hours using the CORE/TDS Clocking system.

Annual Leave:

The annual leave entitlement for the grade is 27 days per annum.

The Chief Executive of Waterford City & County Council retains autonomy with regard to office closures, (e.g. Christmas Office Closure); any days arising from such closure will be reserved from the employee’s annual leave entitlement. Proposed office closure days will be reviewed and advised to all employees each year.

Base:

Waterford City & County Council reserves the right to, at any time, assign an employee to any premises in use by the Council now or in the future.

Residence:

The successful candidate shall reside in the district in which his/her duties are to be performed, or within a reasonable distance thereof.

Drivers Licence:

Temporary Clerical Officers employed by Waterford City & County Council will be required to use their car on occasions on official business. In such situations the employee must hold a current clean driver’s licence and have available adequate means of transport.

It is the responsibility of the employee to arrange the appropriate car insurance for business use and to indemnify Waterford City & County Council with the indemnity specified on the insurance certificate under the heading “Persons or classes of person who are covered”. Documentation to confirm the appropriate insurance cover will be required to be supplied to the Council on an annual basis.

Code of Conduct/Organisational Policies:

Employees are to be required to adhere to all current and future Waterford City & County Council codes of practice including Code of Conduct of Employees and all current and future organisational policies including, but not limited to Health and Safety, Communications, Data Protection, Equality, Staff Mobility, Attendance Management and Use of Electronic Equipment. A full list of relevant policies is contained on the council Intranet.

Training:

Employees are required to attend and participate fully in training programmes as may be decided by the Council from time to time and to apply their learning in the course of their daily working activities.

Commencement:

Waterford City & County Council shall require a person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of not more than one month (subject to notice requirements) and if they fail to take up the appointment within such period or such other longer period as the Council in its absolute discretion may determine, Waterford City & County Council shall not appoint them.

Reporting Arrangements:

Temporary Clerical Officers report directly to the appropriate Staff Officer of a section or to any other employee of Waterford City & County Council as the Chief Executive, Director of Services or other appropriate employee may designate for this purpose.

A system of regular appraisal (PMDS) will be operated during employment which will involve discussions between the employee and the line manager regarding performance and conduct.

Health & Safety:

Waterford City & County Council as an Employer is obliged to ensure, in so far as it is reasonably practicable the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work of all of its employees. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, the County Council has a legal duty to exercise all due care and take all protective and preventative measures to protect the Safety, Health and Welfare of its employees.

All employees also have a legal obligation under Safety and Health legislation to co-operate with management and not engage in any improper conduct or behaviour or do anything, which would place themselves or others at risk.

Employees must not be under the influence of an intoxicant at the place of work. Employees must comply with all Safety and Health rules and regulations and attend all required Safety and Health Training.