BOOK: Support SECTION: Human Resources (CAPTAIN NOTES) Page 2 of 2

Human Resources
(Updated through 8/7/04)

OPS/001 TEST SECURITY

§  The Human Resources Officer is responsible for security of written/practical exam material and assessment center material.

§  At the end of each day, examination/assessment material must be locked in the safe.

§  Material pertaining to hiring/promotions is NOT public record.

OPS/001.1 PROMOTIONAL TEST QUESTION CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES
(UPDATED 7/04)

§  Subject matter for tests should be derived from study material on that specific subject.

§  Subject matter in OCFD Standard Operating Procedures manual has precedence over other material covering the same subject matter.

§  Efforts will be made to eliminate distracters that are incorrect simply because they come from another source of information (correct answer will be from stated material in question).

§  Questions on test should be limited to terminology and procedures that would encompass job description.

§  Certified study material will be published once a year (in Human Resources SOP) on the first working day of July.

§  The Fire Chief or designee determines if new SOPs or IFSTA manuals are added to certified study material for the following year.

§  Updates to existing SOPs that are necessary to correct spelling and grammar or that do not change the intent or specific procedures contained in the document shall be testable.

§  If the intent or specific procedures are changed in an SOP, the changed/added material will NOT be testable for the remainder of the study list year.

§  Promotional exams given within 90 days of the release of new certified material (in July) will require that the "old" certified material be used for tests

§  The S.O.P. Committee shall meet prior to the month of July to review the certified study lists for possible revisions (revisions approved by Fire Chief).

§  Certified Study Material Committee may be appointed as Fire Chief designee to approve revisions.

§  Study Material Committee is made of 3 from Administration (chosen by Fire Chief) and 3 from Union (chosen by union President).

§  Fire Chief decides Study Material Committee chairperson.

OPS/001.2 CERTIFIED STUDY MATERIAL

Certified Study Material Lists - No notes

OPS/002 PROTEST AND GRADE REVIEW PERIOD

§  Candidate must sign out a copy of the examination for review during the protest period.

§  The protest period for written exams will be 1pm to 5pm the day of the test and 8am to 12pm (noon) the following business day.

§  Protests must be submitted in writing to the Deputy Chief of Support Services or designee.

§  At the close of the protest period, candidates may review adjustments made by the Deputy Chief or designee.

§  The adjustment review period will be 1pm to 5pm the day the protest period closes and 8am to 12pm (noon) the next business day.

§  After the closing of the adjustment review period, test content may NOT be protested and answers may ONLY be reviewed for accuracy of grading.

§  During the grade review period, the candidate will receive their graded answer sheet and the grading key (on transparency).

§  Test scores may ONLY be given in person with a photo ID.

§  A small check mark is placed on the right hand corner of the answer sheet to indicate the test score has been given out.

§  The grading review period will be 1pm to 5pm the day the adjustment review period closes and 8am to 12pm (noon) the next business day.

§  After all review periods have closed, the list of academy or assessment center candidates will be published.

§  Review period times are subject to change.

OPS/003 PROMOTIONAL TEST ORIENTATION

§  Items the Human Resource Officer designated to administer a written exam include: Stop watch, answer sheets, pencils, sign-in sheets, scratch paper, and master answer sheet.

§  If testing room is crowded, overflow may be put in a different room.

§  Prior to the test, all personnel will sign in and check seniority points.

§  The number of candidates, if known, to be promoted will be announced prior to the test.

§  Candidates will remain in the room for the 1 1/2 hour test period unless a unanimous vote is taken for individuals to leave the room after completion of the test (option to leave is NOT available if exam consists of multiple sessions).

§  Questions pertaining to the content of tests will be limited to typographical errors.

§  Time remaining will be posted every 5 minutes until the last 5 minutes at which time will be posted every minute.

§  Based on number stated in Bargaining Agreements, top scoring candidates will proceed to the assessment/academy.

§  Always choose the MOST correct answer.

§  Reference to study material found in a question is NOT part of the question.

OPS/005 RETIREMENTS

§  Retirement packets are processed by the Human Resource work section.

§  Retirement worksheets/checklists are available from the receptionist at Fire Admin.

§  An appointment should be made with Human Resources about 5 weeks prior to the effective retirement date.

OPS/006 INCENTIVE PAY

§  Incentive pay forms, along with appropriate documentation, are required to stop/start incentive pays.

§  Employees who no longer meet incentive requirements are required to fill out an Incentive Pay form to STOP pay.

OPS/007 FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT

§  Human Resources work section continues to recruit firefighters who exhibit intellectual, emotional, and physical attributes necessary to enhance OCFD's level of service.

OPS/008 VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS

§  New vacancy announcements are produced by Human Resources at the request of the Fire Chief and/or Deputy Chief of the respective division where the vacancy exists.

OPS/011 SUGGESTION POLICY

§  Suggestions may be made by Suggestion form, email, and memos.

§  A separate Suggestion form should be used for each suggestion.

§  Suggestion forms should be routed to the appropriate department.

§  Interoffice mail may be used for suggestion forms/memos.

§  Suggestion forms are sent through Battalion Chief to Human Resources, who copies the suggestion and forwards it to the appropriate work section chief.

§  The Human Resources Major will be notified of evaluation time frames, implementation of suggestion, and recognition of individual.

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