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Staff
Staff Structure
The following Resignations and Retirements took place during 2006:
| RESIGNATIONS | RETIREMENTS | ||
| Administrative | 15 | Administrative | 1 |
| Technical | 8 | Technical | 2 |
| Outdoor | 1 | Outdoor | 3 |
| Contract Posts | 2 | Fire | 4 |
| TOTAL | 26 | TOTAL | 10 |
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.
| SECTOR | NUMBER OF STAFF | WTE (WHOLE TIME EQUIVALENTS) |
| Managerial | 5 | 5 |
| Administrative | 184 | 169 |
| Engineering/Technical | 83 | 83 |
| Operational/Outdoor | 336 | 294 |
| Contract | 5 | 5 |
| Fire-Fighter | 66 | 31 |
| Non DoEHLG | 14 | 10 |
| TOTAL | 693 | 597 |
Staff Welfare
Kilkenny Local Authorities have an Employee Assistance Programme in partnership with BUPA Ireland. 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 oraganisational 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 | 12 |
| Work Share | 9 |
| Parental Leave | 16 |
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 three O2 Ability Awards in 2006 for the following areas of best practice:
- Customer Service
- Environmental Accessibility
- Recruitment & Selection
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. Kilkenny County Council has entered the competition for 2007 in the following categories:
- Customer Service
- Environmental Accessibility
- Leadership
- Learning Development & Progression
- Recruitment & Selection
and looks foward to further success.
Kilkenny Business Awards 2006
Kilkenny Chamber created the "Kilkenny Business Awards" to highlight the outstanding achievement of Kilkenny Business. On 1st April, 2006 Kilkenny County Council won the "Human Resources Award".
Service Indicators
The Service Indicators for 2006 are as follows:
C1. Percentage of Working days lost to sickness absence through
| Certified Leave | 4.32% |
| Uncertified Leave | 0.54% |
C2. Expenditure on Training & Development as a percentage of total Payroll Costs
4.38% (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 [40] 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 | |
| Treatment Plant Operative | 16 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Assistant Engineer | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Temporary Executive Engineer | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Assistant Caretaker/Projects Co-Ordinator | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Temp. Senior Executive Planner | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Senior Executive Librarian | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Executive Librarian | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Senior Library Assistant | 1 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| Assistant Librarian | 1 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Temporary Driver, Machinery Yard | 30 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Carpenter | 22 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Plumber | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Temp.Executive Engineer | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Assistant Engineer | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sub Officer, Kilkenny | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Arts Officer | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Heritage Officer | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Environmental Awareness Officer | 22 | 63 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| Temporary Lifeguards | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| General Operative | 113 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Technician Grade 1 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver [Kilkenny Fire Station] | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Assistant to Health and Safety Officer | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | candidate withdrew | |
| Executive Engineer | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Administrative Officer | 10 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Project Engineer- Construction | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Assistant Staff Officer | 17 | 175 | 5 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Clerical Officer | 10 | 126 | 1 | 26 | ||
| Driver/Fire-Fighter [Kilkenny] | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver/Plant Operator A | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Assistant to Health and Safety Officer | 11 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Retained Fire Fighters [Thomastown] | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Retained Fire Fighters [Kilkenny] | 13 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Working Driver/Plant Operator B | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Caretaker Grade V | 13 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| GIS Graduate | 13 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Executive Planner | 3 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| Temporary Director of Services | 3 | 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 roll out of PMDS 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 2006:
- Coaching Skills
- Mentoring Skills
- Recruitment & Selection Skills
- Equality & Diversity Training
- Sign Language Training
- Anti-Racism Awareness Training
- People Leadership Skills
- Pre-Retirement Planning
Health and Safety
Consultation/ Committees
Joint Consultative Safety Committee - JCSC
- Nominations sought for areas where reps were present >3 years
-
Limerick County Council attendance HSA SERAC consultation - · Proposed regulations on:
- Intoxicant testing
- On - the spot fines
- Joint H&S agreements
o Employers with <3 employees
LASAG (Local Authority Safety Advisors Group)
- Staff Safety Handbook Launch
- Safety Week - Newsletter
- LASAG Annual Report 2004 - 2005
Department of Transport
Consultation on revised - Chapter 8
SERAC
- Legislative consultation (as JCSC) - Occupational Health Sub - Committee Setup National draft guidelines development
Safety Week - Young People at Work
-
Information Awareness on H&S websites for employers and employees young and older through the library services and the workplace:
- Bookmarks
- Posters
- Safety Representative Nominations
- Safe Start Literature - by The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
- Local Authority Safety Advisor Group (LASAG) Safety Week Newsletter
Safety Statements
- Register of Electors
- Arts - draft
- Ancillary roads - update
- Ringroad
Training
- Trainer tenders
- Safepass - staff requiring same i.e. those entering a construction site at any time
- Safepass refresher - was rolled out for all staff whose card was to expire
- Occupational First Aid
- Occupational First Aid Refresher
- C1 - Confined Space Manager
- C3 - Safe working in confined spaces
- Fire marshal briefing (as above)
- Signing, lighting and guarding - continued to be rolled out since last year for roads staff
- Surface dressing - continued to be rolled out since last year for roads staff
- Ride on roller
-
Induction/ Safety Statement Awareness
- Register of Electors
- Students
- IOSH managing Safely for Project Supervisors (As above)
- Spraying Safety Course - priority areas i.e. Nursery/ Woodstock
- Forklift
- Manual Handling - being rolled out for ALL staff
- Abrasive Wheels
- Ride-on Lawnmower
- Hoist/MEWP
- Mini Digger - beginner course ran
- Client/Contractor Relationships
- Evacuation Chair - Fire Marshals: County Hall
- Chainsaw
- CAT
- Location of Underground Services - to be rolled out to any staff member using CAT
Departmental Health & Safety
Parks
- Sharps - Safe Handling Policy & procedures
Roads
-
Review of management of health & safety:
- Updating of Ancillary Safety Statement - Roads
- Review of one page risk assessment/ safety & health plan checklist forms
- Cable avoidance tool purchase. Each GSS in possession of one currently
Sanitary Services
- Confined Space Register
- Plant safety & health inspections & reports
-
Equipment
- CAT (Cable Avoidance Tool) - underground service detection
- South of County
- Whole set for CIS Office
- Workstation Analysis and Office reports
- Laptop solutions
- Stands
- Blinds
Emergency Planning & Equipment Programme
- Review & Monitoring of Procedures - County Hall
- Fire Register - Library Headquarters, County Hall & City Hall
- Fire Marshal Briefing - County Hall
- Evacuation Chair Training - Fire Marshals
- Lone Worker Systems Review
Construction Management
Kilkenny Local authorities PSDP and PSCS Appointments - in accordance with The Safety, health & welfare at work (Construction) regulations 2006 which came into force on the 6th of November 2006.
Training provision
- Director/management briefing
- IOSH Managing safely for construction project supervisors. The majority of relevant technical grade staff attendance
- IOSH Client/Contractor Relationships
PPE Programme
- Tender requirements revision