The Human Resources Department deals with the following areas:

• Staff
• Recruitment & Selection
• Staff Training

 

Staff

Staff Structure

The following Resignations and Retirements took place during 2008:

RESIGNATIONS		RETIREMENTS
Administrative	10	Administrative	0
Technical	4	Technical	1
Outdoor	1	Outdoor	6
Contract Posts	4	Fire	5
TOTAL	19	TOTAL	12

 

Staff Returns

Human Resources compiles a return of staff numbers which is submitted to the Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government every quarter. A more comprehensive Annual Return is also submitted each year which provides overall figures of staff employed by the Council. The following staff details were returned for quarter ending 31.12.2007:

SECTOR	NUMBER OF STAFF	WTE (WHOLE TIME EQUIVALENTS)
Managerial	6	6
Clerical/Administrative	172	155
Professional/Technical	75	75
Outdoor	261	219
Supernumeries	7	7
Contract	6	6
National Development Plan Project Staff	4	4
Site Supervisory Contract Posts	5	5
Temporary/Seasonal Staff	34	34
Fire-Fighter	68	20
Non DoEHLG	14	10
TOTAL	652	541

 

Staff Welfare

Kilkenny Local Authorities have an Employee Assistance Programme in partnership with Quinn Healthcare. The Programme is designed to assist individuals in dealing with their personal and work related problems. The service is provided through a confidential helpline and face to face interaction offering both counselling and information services. The service is a valuable management tool in maintaining employee well-being and enhancing organisational performance.

 

Industrial Relations

Kilkenny Local Authorities maintained its good industrial relations record.

 

Staff Leave

The following staff availed of Work Life Balance Schemes:

Term Time Leave	11
Work Share	9
Parental Leave	14

 

Equality and Diversity

Kilkenny Local Authorities fully subscribe to the principles of equality as set out in the Employment Equality Acts 1998 & 2004. During the year training was provided to staff in equality and diversity which is ongoing. The Equality Action Team work in partnership with the Human Resources Department in ensuring compliance with all policies in relation to equality and diversity.

 

O2 Awards

Kilkenny County Council won two O2 Ability Awards in 2007 for the following areas of best practice:

• Customer Service
• Environmental Accessibility

The Awards recognise progressive attitudes in organisations that see disability and diversity as corporate opportunity and key to its success. The Awards Programme involved six stages with Stage Three of the competition involving an on site assessment

 

Service Indicators

The Service Indicators for 2007 are as follows:

C1.      Percentage of Working days lost to sickness absence through

Certified Leave	4.44%
Uncertified Leave	0.54%

C2.      Expenditure on Training & Development as a percentage of total Payroll Costs

4.23% (Kilkenny Local Authorities)

 

 

Recruitment and Selection

Kilkenny Local Authorities is an equal opportunities employer. Independent Interview Boards are appointed to recommend the most suitable candidates for employment in accordance with the various qualifications and particulars of employment which apply to the grades concerned. Vacancies arising in Kilkenny Local Authorities are advertised as follows:

• Local or National Press
• Kilkenny Local Authorities Website: www.kilkennycoco.ie
• National Website: www.localgovernmentjobs.ie

Forty Two [42] separate interviews were held during the year for various permanent and temporary positions. See Table for breakdown of competitions.

 

List of Interviews

Competition	No. of Applicants		Placed on Panel		Appointed
	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
Environmental Enforcement Officer	3	1	3	0	1	0
Assistant Resident Engineer [Ring Road]	4	0	1	0	1	0
Driver B [Newrath]	11	0	7	0	1	0
Director of Artlinks	6	13	0	2	0	1
Temporary Executive Engineer	4	0	1	0	1	0
Partnership Facilitator	1	0	1	0	1	0
Retained Firefighter [Thomastown]	3	1	1	1	1	1
School Warden	2	0	0	0	0	0
Field Monuments Advisor	11	6	0	1	0	1
Executive Chemist	1	0	1	0	1	0
Driver A	15	0	10	0	1	0
Lifeguard	9	4	5	2	5	2
Executive Planner	2	8	1	4	1	0
Executive Technician	10	4	7	0	2	0
Executive Librarian	2	10	1	5	0	1
Project Development Manager	2	2	1	1	0	1
Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer	1	0	1	0	1	0
Assistant Chief Fire Officer	4	0	0	0	0	0
Temporary Senior Executive Engineer	1	1	0	0	0	0
Temporary Senior Executive Engineer	1	1	1	1	0	1
Temporary Clerical Officer	3	31	1	28	0	22
Executive Planner	5	6	2	2	1	1
Part Time Road Safety Officer	0	0	0	0	0	0
Project Engineer Construction	3	1	3	1	1	0
Project Manager	1	0	1	0	1	0
Temporary Administrative Officer	1	1	1	1	0	1
School Warden	1	0	1	0	1	0
Driver B Dunmore	3	0	2	0	1	0
Sanitary Services Supervisor	2	0	1	0	1	0
Clerical Officer [Special]	12	9	4	3	1	0
Estate Management Liaison Officer	1	1	0	1	0	1
Standby Driver Salting	5	0	4	0	4	0
Student Work Placement	6	1	2	0	2	0
Assistant Landscape Architect	4	2	3	1	1	0
Library Summer Team	7	0	7	0	5	0
Conservation Officer	3	10	1	3	1	0
Station Officer	7	0	3	0	1	0
Sub Station Officer	5	0	4	0	1	0
Staff Officer	12	53	1	5	1	5
Senior Staff Officer	10	36	4	7	0	1
Students	24	37	15	24	12	16
Caretaker Grade V	5	0	3	0	1	0

 

 

Training Learning and Development

Training, Learning and Development is a core function of the Human Resources Department. Kilkenny Local Authorities has a Training Policy in place. This Policy shows that the Council is committed to ensuring the professional and personal development of all staff within Kilkenny Local Authorities.

Kilkenny Local Authorities also has a Training & Development Strategy in place; one of the main purposes of this strategy is to ensure the delivery of training programmes that will focus on the delivery of better customer service, development of potential improved job satisfaction and career development. The PMDS process is currently playing a central role in identifying training needs of staff in a focused manner.

The following are an example of some of the training courses carried out in 2007:

• PMDS Training for Managers
• Time Management
• Equality Training
• Interpersonal Communication Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Basic Computer Skills
• Customer Services Skills
• Dealing with Difficult and Aggressive Customers

 

Health and Safety

Safety Management

Roadworks Safety management System implementation

Construction: Competency Assessment implementation

 

Consultation/ Committees

Joint Consultative Safety Committee - JCSC

• KCC & KBC amalgamated Committees
• 'Safety Representative Guidance Document' was reviewed and amended
• All Safety representatives were given refresher training

 

Safety Management Committee

This was re-established meeting three times over the year. Members of the committee

Projects approved by the committee included:

• Corporate Safety Statement
• 'Safety Representative Guidance Document' amendment
• Sunscreen provision
• PPE programme

 

LASAG (Local Authority Safety Advisors Group) -

• Legislation Guidelines

 

Local Authority

Consultation on Safety at Roadworks Guidelines

 

 

SERAC

• Safety Week Initiatives
• Occupational Health Sub-Committee
• National draft guidelines development

 

Safety Week - Musculoskeletal Disorders

• Lighten the Load Seminar - HSA
• Literature
• Quiz

Article - Partnership Magazine: "Mind your ear"

Emails - new legislation / First Aid box / Fire alarm test

 

 

Safety Statements

• Revised Risk assessment format in line with Local Authority best practice

The following Safety Statements are almost at approval stage:

• Arts
• Woodstock - Draft
• Heritage - Draft
• Area Offices - in progress
• School Wardens

Safety statements which, were rolled out in 2007 included;

• Ancillary Roads - update
• Parent/Corporate Safety Statement Amendment & roll out
• Site Specific Safety Statement Template
• Landfill
• County Hall

 

 

Training

Induction Software Development - in progress

Course

• SafePass Refresher - was rolled out for all staff whose card was to expire
• AED Responder
• Manual Handling - being rolled out to all staff
• Safety Statement - Roads Safety & Health Awareness
• Surface Dressing - Basic
• Ride On Roller
• Mini Digger
• Forklift - Experienced
• Trench Reinstatement & Pothole Repair
• Abrasive Wheels - ConSaw Refresher
• Ride on Lawnmower Refresher
• Tractor/Trailer Refresher
• Ride on Lawnmower
• Telescopic Handler
• 180° Excavator
• Site Dumper
• Strimmer
• Chainsaw
• Confined Spaces C1 Managers
• Confined Spaces C2 Supervisors
• Confined Spaces C3 Refresher
• Difficult and Aggressive Behaviour
• Evacuation Chair
• Occupational First Aid
• Managing Safety for Construction Project Supervisors
• Safety In excavations
• Manual Handling Instructors
• IOA Noise Assessment
• H&S Law Conference
• General Application New Regulation Seminar
• Avian Influenza Seminar
• Safety Representative Course/li

   

   

  Departmental Health & Safety

  Landfill

  • Safety Statement Update
  • Action taken as result of risk assessments

   

  Roads

  • Roadworks SMS implementation
  • Roadworks Safety Awareness Sessions

   

  Sanitary Services

  • Confined Space Register
  • Safety Statement updates

   

  Office

  • County Hall Safety Statement
  • O2 Ability Award Initiatives completed for County Hall
  • Disability Risk Assessments
  • Update County Hall Safety Statement
  • PEEP development & circulation
  • Workstation analysis and reports as required
  • Blinds provision
  • Mouse wrist support advice
  • Trolley provision
  • Chair replacement - Motor tax
  • Pregnancy risk assessments

   

  General

  Lone Worker & dealing with Violence & Aggression

  • Procedure manual/posters/cards development
  • Risk Assessments

   

  Event Safety

  • Homecoming Event Safety Plan

   

  Pesticides

  • Risk assessment
  • Safety Data Sheet
  • Circulation to all Areas/KBC with letter of recommendation

   

  Tar Remover - SDS

   

  Emergency Planning & Equipment Programme

  • Review & Monitoring of Procedures - County Hall
  • Fire Alarm Test - Co. Hall
  • Fire Register - Library Headquarters, County Hall & City Hall development
  • Fire Marshal Appointments - County Hall
  • Fire Marshal Briefing - County Hall
  • Evacuation Chair Training - Fire Marshals

   

  Occupational Health Programme

  • Medicals/Health Surveillance
  • Confined Spaces
  • Eye Tests
  • Pre-employment medical revision
  • Inoculation programme Update
  • Radon re-monitoring organisation
  • Manual Handling assessments and training

   

  Construction Management

  • PSDP & PSCS/Designer & Contractor Assessment
  • Contract: H&S Tender questionnaire
  • Roadwork Safety Management System/Procedures
  • Template Design H&S Plan

   

  Training provision

  • IOSH Managing safely for construction project supervisors
  • Rolled out to all relevant technical staff

   

   

  PPE Programme

  • Tender requirements revision
  • PPE Programme Roll out
  • Expansion and implementation using pilot groups
  • Sun screen provision