Post number: / Division: Technical & Environment Services
Grade: 4 / Section/team: Community Warden, Parking & Security Control Centre
Overall purpose of job:
To provide efficient and effective on and off street parking enforcement including ensuring the efficient operation of all associated equipment.
To provide a visible, uniformed presence and response to minimise incidents of environmental crime, low-level anti-social and similar behaviours.
To provide increased public reassurance and quality of life, working with a range of partners in the community to gain the trust and confidence of individuals, groups and communities.
Post holders will be expected to be flexible in undertaking the duties and responsibilities attached to their post and may be asked to perform other duties, which reasonably correspond to the general character of the post and are commensurate with its level of responsibility.
Main responsibilities:
1. Contribute to the efficient operation of the Community Warden Team.
2. Conduct uniformed street patrols and respond effectively to calls and requests for assistance, utilising designated powers, as appropriate, to deter instances of environmental crime, low level anti-social behaviour and similar behaviours as described in the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme to make people safe and feel safe.
3. The practical enforcement of legislation including the service of Fixed Penalty and statutory notices, collection of physical evidence, preparation of witness statements and giving witness testimony in court.
4. Adopt a problem solving approach to achieving sustainable solutions, gather intelligence on environmental crime and low level anti-social behaviour, and work effectively with other partners to tackle environmental and social matters which impact upon the quality of people’s lives.
5. Ensure that all work undertaken complies with the relevant Codes of Practice and is in accordance with Council and Statutory requirements, including that of any external service providers.
6. Ensure efficient operation of all ticket machines, including security and maintenance of stocks levels of materials, equipment and vehicles and inform Line Manager of any machine malfunctions, which may affect recovery of income.
7. Patrol with Assistant Community Wardens; inspect parking restrictions to ensure compliance of parking regulations and issue Penalty Charge Notices to vehicles contravening such regulations using hand held computer equipment and other digital technology. In addition to report specific issues with regard to Statutory notices and issue Enforcement tickets for litter, fly-tipping, and other associated nuisances as required.
8. Ensure correct use of equipment and take prompt and effective action when products, services and processes do not meet agreed requirements.
9. Monitor the IT system and equipment to ensure accurate and effective operation, ensure that all data is securely stored in accordance with statutory requirements, and handheld computers are downloaded daily.
10. Drive authorised vehicles and use the communications equipment provided to keep in contact with team and to liaise with local police regarding illegal parking, special events etc.
11. To assist in the development of service performance measures and the implementation of systems and procedures to gather the necessary data.
12. Provide a range of support to Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers and Council Officers in building and maintaining community relations and by providing a service that is responsive to the needs of all individuals and groups.
13. Acts as a point of contact for members of the community promoting accessibility to Council services through a visible presence and liaison with community partners, as appropriate
14. Undertake daily cash collections from ticket machines in line with Health and Safety procedures.
Knowledge, skill and experience:
· Experience of investigation and resolution of complaints.
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills, accurate and numerate.
· Experience of team working and on own initiative.
· The ability to carry out routine maintenance of ticket machines.
· The ability to lift heavy boxes (max. 10kg) and transport them to and from vehicles.
· Experience of dealing with customers, in often hostile/tense situations, demonstrating good customer care techniques.
· Ability to manage and prioritise own workload.
· Ability to display tact, diplomacy and sensitivity in a front line, political environment.
· Ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines.
· Knowledge of legislation and regulations relating to parking enforcement and anti-social behaviour.
· Knowledge of electronic information systems.
· Experience in enforcement related work.
· Able to demonstrate the need for maintaining confidentiality.
· NVQ Level 2in Parking Control or ability and willingness toundertakethe qualification.
· Understanding and knowledge of the Crime and Disorder Act and enforcement powers available to North Lincolnshire Council.
· Possession of a current clean driving licence.
· Ability and willingness to undertake Lift emergency training
Creativity and innovation:
· Problem solving in urgent situations
· Prioritisation of workload to meet deadlines and targets in conjunction with the manager.
· Prompt speedy action to correct any machine malfunction or equipment failure.
· Contribute to the development of agreed policies, practices and processes.
· Dynamic application of legislation and guidelines.
· Courses of action to be followed when emergency situations or incidents arise.
· Problem solving with customers to avoid and deal with confrontation using recognised techniques and strategies.
Contacts and relationships:
· Residents of North Lincolnshire (daily receiving complaints / enforcing & requests for service.)
· Elected members (frequently receiving complaints & requests for service.)
· Town / Parish Council’s members (infrequently receiving complaints & requests for service.)
· Regular meetings with team and line manager
· Customers - to provide advice and information. These contacts may often be confrontational, and requires the application of consistency, fairness and firmness (Daily)
· Daily contact with team to resolve problems and develop work tasks
· Security Control Centre regarding security/incidents/emergencies on a daily basis
· Legal Representatives (bi-monthly)
· Internal suppliers eg. cleansing, sweeping, grounds maintenance on a daily basis
· Local Link Staff - to obtain information relating to visitors, as and when required.
· Cashiers regarding delivery of cash boxes daily
· Maintenance Engineers regarding ticket machines, as and when required.
· Police and Emergency Services - to share and report information (Weekly)
The post holder is required to provide support and advice to staff and may be required to assist with interviews. The service has a major interface with the public and providing advice and information is a regular part of the post. The car parks are all covered by CCTV and liaison with control centre and the Police is a daily occurrence.
Decision making:
· Prioritising own workload in the delivery of tasks carried out in response to changing and conflicting demands to meet both the team’s service plan and customer care requirements. E.g. officers will routinely use their initiative to divert from planned patrols and community activities to respond quickly to more urgent or serious environmental crime or antisocial behaviour that they encounter.
· Quick decision making in dynamic situations such as the application of legislation and determining the existence of statutory contraventions, the most appropriate method of resolution, including the extent of remedial measures required, the most appropriate legal powers, and the parties responsible for taking action e.g. To issue a Penalty Notice or alternative action.
· Determining the next course of action to secure compliance e.g. formal notice and/or prosecution/simple caution in line with the service enforcement policy.
· Negotiating with those responsible for contraventions to achieve a mutually convenient resolution.
· Implementation of the Car Parking Order, when it is being contravened and what the appropriate course of action is.
· Courses of action to resolve problems/equipment failure.
Whilst the role often requires problem solving and quick decision making in dynamic situations any decisions made will be in accordance with a framework of established guidelines and procedures.
Any decisions taken on equipment failures can have an impact on customers and the Council's image, finance in the recovery of income and the Council's overall policies.
Responsibility for resources:
· Cash collected from all car park machines on a daily basis (up to £3,000 total from all machines) will be transported to the cashiers at the Civic Centre (Shared responsibility)
· On a daily basis, the post holder will be responsible for their own hand-held device which may be used away from the base (more than 50% of the time). £500
· Personal uniform, protective equipment, mobile telephone, body camera. £1500
· Van – (on rota shared with others) £15000
· Keys – post holder has own set of machine keys. Locks cost £4000 to replace if keys are lost.
· Preservation and safe keeping of evidence
· Ticket supplies (shared between post holder and manager).
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work demands:
· Requests from wardens/CCTV
· Information requested by Line Manager(s)
· Breakdown of equipment/machinery
· Ability to work at weekends/evenings
Although the post works to an established routine this can be interrupted due to mechanical breakdowns, changes in demand, deadlines for supply of information and staffing shortages, which can result in conflicting priorities.
These need to be addressed and work re-prioritised to ensure service delivery.
Physical demands:
· Fitness to enable patrols on foot involving substantial walking in excess of 10 miles per day and standing.
· Bending, climbing to gather evidence
· Driving duties.
· Lifting of cash boxes approx. 10kg max each.
· Cleaning of stairwells in multi storey car park.
Working conditions:
· Mainly all outdoor working at various locations with driving duties
· Daily exposure to noise, dirt, car fumes, vibration, inclement weather (often unable to take shelter)
Work context:
· Exposure to moving traffic in car parks.
· Extremes of weather.
· Due to the nature of the service, verbal abuse from members of the public is a daily occurrence. Also potential for physical abuse from customers.
· Collecting large amounts of cash.
· Disposing of discarded syringes, human excrement and urine.
· Visits to remote locations undertaken. Some out of hours working required. Investigation of waste deposits will involve contact with the same, which may be prejudicial to health, hazardous and / or verminous.
· Exposure to noise, dirt, car fumes, vibration, inclement weather (often unable to take shelter)
Position in organisation:
Indicate how many staff the post is directly accountable for: 0
Are posts in more than one location? N/A
Is this at the same site? Are the posts managed highly mobile? N/A
Is the supervision/management shared with another post in the structure? N/A
Please indicate which post(s) ______
*= Back office post
The post is subject to:
Disclosure of convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exemption) Act 1974 Yes X No □
Political restriction Yes □ NoX
Employee:
(signed) / (print) / Date:
Manager: (signed) / (print) / Date:
Policy and Resources Cabinet Member – 19th September 2012, Implemented – 8th October 2012 Page 1 of 5