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.

 

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL WARDEN POSITION

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.