Temporary Assistant Chief Fire Officer

THE POST:

The post is temporary, wholetime and pensionable. The holder of the post will be required to serve in the County Carlow Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, Green Lane, Carlow, or wherever assigned by the local authority. The post holder shall not engage in any gainful occupation, other than as an employee of a local authority, to such an extent as to impair the performance of his or her duties as an employee of a local authority or in any occupation which might conflict with the interests of the local authority, or which might be inconsistent with the discharge of his/her duties as a local authority employee. The Assistant Chief Fire Officer will be an employee of the Local Authority and subject to the terms and conditions of the Local Authority including re-assignment within the Authority.

DUTIES:

The duties shall be such as may be assigned to the employees from time to time by the local authority and shall include the duty of deputising for other officers of the local authority, when required, and such duties as may be assigned to them in relation to the area of any other local authority. The duties of an Assistant Chief Fire Officer 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 Act 2001 and Local Government Reform Act 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 sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, under the direction and supervision of the appropriate professional employee, such fire or ancillary services of an advisory, supervisory or executive nature as may be required by any local authority or body hereinbefore mentioned. These duties shall be the exercise or performance of any of the local authority’s powers, functions and duties, including the duty of assisting the appropriate Senior Fire Officers, in the supervision of the engineering, fire or cognate services of any of the foregoing local authorities or bodies. In addition, when required to do so, the successful candidate will be required to perform the duty of acting for appropriate professional employees of higher rank during the absence of such employees of higher rank.

The duties to be assigned include the following although this list is not exhaustive and may be reviewed from time to time as organisational needs require. Holders of the post will also be required to perform duties in relation to Fire Operations, Fire Prevention, Major Emergency Management, Civil Defence and Building Control as assigned to them. Holders of the post will undergo such training as it is considered appropriate to the performance of the duties of the post and will be expected to conduct, in a competent manner, the following activities:

• Management of all aspects of fire service operational activities in accordance with the Fire Authorities Operational Plan

• May attend incidents as an authorised rostered Senior Fire Officer, drill nights and exercises out of normal working hours

• Inspections in accordance with the Fire Service Act 1981 & 2003, Building Control Act 1990, and Carlow County Council’s Community Fire Safety Policy (including during performance inspections), and give evidence in court where required

• Management of the Fire Authorities Community Fire Safety programmes as well as providing advice and talks on fire safety to all members of our community which maybe outside of normal working hours

• Issue enforcement notices as an authorised officer in accordance with the Fire Service Act 1981 & 2003 and attend and give evidence in court where appropriate

• Validate and process Fire Safety Certificates, Disability Access Certificates and Commencement Notices in accordance with the Building Control Regulations 1997 - 2020

• Compilation of information and reporting on inspections, fire service training and operational activity, fleet management and requirements of the Health, Safety & Welfare Act 2005

• Management of the Fire Authorities Integrated Safety and Quality Management Systems ensuring annual reaccreditation to ISO 45001 & ISO 9001

• Management of Carlow County Council’s Major Emergency Plan including participation in both local and regional MEM training

ROSTERING AGREEMENT: The terms of the Senior Fire Officer Rostering Agreement 1996 (or as amended) may apply to this post.

SALARY: The scale for the post of the Assistant Chief Fire Officer is analogous to the Executive Engineer scale (Circular Letter EL 04/2026) as follows: €60,858 – €63,071 - €65,286 - €67,505 - €69,722 - €71,938 - €74,157 – €76,362 – €78,591 – €80,801 – LSI 1 €83,348 – LSI 2 €84,596

Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale in accordance with the relevant Department Circular. The starting pay for new entrants will be at the minimum of the scale. The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. The holder of the position shall pay to the Local Authority any fees or other monies (other than inclusive salary) payable to or received by such holder by virtue of the position or in respect of services, which are required by or under any enactment to perform.

HOURS OF WORK: The post entails a wide range of duties which require maximum flexibility and will be based on a 35-hour week, involving evening and weekend attendance, where necessary. Carlow County Council operate a flexi time scheme with the earliest start time of 8.00 a.m. and a latest start time of 10.00 a.m. and the earliest finishing time of 16.00 p.m. and the latest finishing time of 18.00 p.m. Lunch break consisting of a minimum of 30 minutes to a maximum of 2 hours must be taken between 12.30 p.m. and 14.30 p.m. The Flexi Leave Scheme is available, on request. There may be a requirement to work additional hours from time to time for which Time in Lieu on a time for time basis will apply. Overtime does not apply to this post. All hours of work will be subject to and recorded in accordance with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 and the Organisation of Working Time Act (Regulations) 2001. The working hours may be reviewed at any time and the Council reserves the right to vary the hours or days as required.

HEALTH: For the purposes of satisfying the requirement as to health it will be necessary for each successful candidate, before he/she is appointed, to undergo a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the local authority.

PROBATION: Where persons, who are not already permanent employees of a local authority, are appointed, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) there shall be a period after such appointment takes effect during which such persons shall hold such position on probation,

(b) such period shall be 12 months, but the Chief Executive may at his or her discretion extend such period,

(c) such persons shall cease to hold such position at the end of the period of probation unless during such period the Chief Executive has certified that the service of such persons is satisfactory,

(d) the period at (a) above may be terminated on giving one week’s notice as per the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts,

(e) there will be assessments during the probationary period.

ANNUAL LEAVE: The annual leave entitlement for the position of Assistant Chief Fire Officer is 30 days per annum.

SICK LEAVE: The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail.

LOCATION/WORK BASE: The successful candidate will be based at Carlow Fire & Rescue Service Headquarters at Green Lane, Carlow. Carlow County Council reserves the right to assign you to any premises in use by the Council, now or in the future. Changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation. The person appointed will be required to provide him/herself at his/her own expense with the necessary mode of travel to and from work.

RESIDENCE: The holder of the post shall reside in the district in which his/her duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof.

DRIVERS LICENCE: Holders of the office shall hold a full unendorsed driving licence for Class B vehicles and, shall provide and maintain their own car.

TRAVEL: Holders of the post shall hold a full driving licence for class B vehicles and shall drive a motor car in the course of their duties and for this purpose, provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the local authority. Travelling expenses and subsistence expenses necessarily incurred in the course of official duties will be refunded in accordance with appropriate rates in line with the relevant Department Circulars and Local Authority Travel and Subsistence Policy. Carlow County Council, as employer, must be indemnified on your insurance policy. If during your employment, your licence is revoked, even temporarily, or if you receive endorsements on your licence, which may affect your duties, you are obliged to notify the Council immediately.

TRAINING: 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 and to attend all mandatory training.

GARDA VETTING: Successful candidates will be subject to the Garda Vetting Procedures.

Qualifications for the post of Assistant Chief Fire Officer

Character

Each candidate must be of good character.

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. New entrants to the Fire Service must be medically fit to undertake operational training associated with fire services work.

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

Education, Experience, Qualities

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

(a) Hold, in the National Framework of Qualifications:

(i) a degree at Level 8 in engineering, architecture, or other building construction related discipline, or

(ii) a professional qualification equivalent to one of the foregoing awarded by the relevant professional body, or

(iii) a degree at Level 8 in a science or technology related discipline including, physics, chemistry, environmental or computer science, information communications technology; or a fire related discipline including fire safety, emergency management or emergency services, or

(iv) a degree at Level 8 together with a Level 9 qualification in a fire related discipline including fire safety, emergency management or emergency services.

(b) Have a satisfactory knowledge of one or more of the following:

➢ Principles and practices of fire safety

➢ Fire service operations

➢ Major emergency management

➢ Technological and industrial processes

➢ Telecommunications and information technology

(c) Have at least five years satisfactory relevant experience, including adequate experience in at least one of the areas specified at (b) above.

(d) Have a high standard of training in one or more of the areas specified in (b) above and, in the case of a new entrant to the fire service, successfully complete basic fire-fighter training and Breathing Apparatus Initial Wearers Course before the expiry of the probationary period

(e) Be competent to perform efficiently the duties of the office and possess the appropriate qualities.

Driving Licence:

Holders of the post must hold a full unendorsed driving licence for class B vehicles and shall drive a motor car in the course of their duties and for this purpose, provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the local authority. If you are required to travel as part of your official duties, Carlow County Council as your employer must be indemnified on your insurance policy.