AT801922 - Victorian Catholic Schools and Catholic Education Offices Award 1998 [Transitional]

52. CLASSIFICATION

52.1 School Services Officer Level 1 (Entry Level)

52.1.1 General work description

This classification applies to employees who are engaged in routine duties requiring no specific skill, prior experience or prior training. On the job training may be provided. The School Services Officer may be undertaking external training.

On the successful completion of a training program, or on attaining satisfactory experience or progress towards the acquisition of a relevant qualification, the School Services Officer will progress to the next level. The maximum duration for appointment at this level is one year.

52.1.2 Direction

The School Services Officer at this level requires direct supervision meaning:

• the work performed is checked regularly;
• the choice of actions required is clear;
• routines are established, methods and procedures are predictable.

52.1.3 Supervision

The School Services Officer at this level receives direct supervision from a higher level School Services Officer (excluding level Two), manager or the Principal. A School Services Officer at this level shall not supervise other School Services Officers.

52.1.4 Roles

Indicative but not exclusive of the roles to be performed by an employee at this level are:

(a) cleaners,
(b) food and domestic services staff,
(c) security staff,
(d) gardeners etc,
(e) building and/or maintenance staff, and
(f) drivers of school vehicles

52.1.5 Experience/Qualifications

A School Services Officer at this level has no relevant experience or qualification to perform the tasks required.

52.2 School Services Officer Level 2

52.2.1 General work descriptions

An employee at this level is not required to have any qualifications and is required to perform any combination of a wide range of functions under supervision. The School Services Officer, after gaining experience, may exercise some degree of autonomy and discretion. The School Services Officer at this level will need some prior experience to perform the tasks required.

Such positions may include positions similar to those of Level 1 but involving more skill and experience.

An employer may require an employee at this level to exercise responsibilities in respect of students. Where from time to time responsibilities at this level include supervision and direction of students a duty of care is required of the School Services Officer. In this context that duty of care is no less than that required of other school employees.

52.2.2 Direction

The School Services Officer at this level receives specific direction meaning:

• receives instructions on what is required and how it is to be performed;
• is subject to progress checks with tasks being continuously monitored.

52.2.3 Supervision

The School Services Officer at this level receives supervision from a higher level School Services Officer, manager or the Principal. The School Services Officer at this level will not be required to supervise other School Services Officers.

52.2.4 Roles

Indicative but not exclusive of the roles of an employee at this level are:

(a) cleaners,
(b) food and domestic services staff,
(c) security staff,
(d) gardeners etc,
(e) building and/or maintenance staff, and
(f) drivers of school vehicles.

52.2.5 Experience/Qualifications

A School Services Officer at this level has some previous relevant experience to perform the tasks required.

52.3 School Services Officer Level 3

52.3.1 General work description

An employee at this level undertakes duties which require knowledge and skills which may be gained by the completion of a relevant one or two year post-secondary certificate or approved trade certificate or equivalent or from the on- the-job experience considered relevant by the employer. The employee may be required to perform any combination of a wide range of functions under routine direction but may, after gaining experience, exercise some degree of autonomy. Such positions may include positions similar to those of previous levels but involving more complex tasks and include qualified tradespersons.

An employer may require an employee at this level to exercise responsibilities in respect of students. Where from time to time responsibilities at this level include supervision and direction of students a duty of care is required of the School Services Officer. In this context that duty of care is no less than that required of other school employees.

52.3.2 Direction

The School Services Officer at this level receives routine direction meaning:

• receives instructions on what is required, on unusual or difficult features and when new techniques or practices are involved, on the method of approach;
• is normally subject to progress checks usually confined to the unusual or difficult aspects, and has assignments reviewed on completion;
• has the technical knowledge and/or experience to perform basic duties usually without technical instructions.

52.3.3 Supervision

The School Services Officer at this level receives direct supervision from a higher level School Services Officer, manager or the Principal. The School Services Officer at this level may be expected to supervise School Services Officers from Level one or two.

52.3.4 Specialist Knowledge and Skills

Indicative but not exclusive of the knowledge and skills of an employee at this level are:

• Performance of trades and non-trade tasks incidental to the work;
• Provision of trade guidance and assistance as part of a work team;
• Supervision of one or two School Services Officers from Levels 1 and/or 2;
• Supervisory skills.

Or knowledge and skills gained through on-the-job training commensurate with the requirements of work at this Level.

52.3.5 Experience/Qualifications

A School Services Officer at this level would usually be a qualified tradesperson or equivalent.

52.4 School Services Officer Level 4

52.4.1 General work descriptions

The employee, in addition to the knowledge and skills required at level three, is required to undertake duties needing additional experience or knowledge such as may be gained by the completion of a relevant three year post secondary qualification or approved trade certificate or from equivalent on-the-job experience. Such positions may include positions similar to those of previous levels but involving experienced trades persons and/or supervisory responsibility.

The employee is often required to exercise significant initiative and discretion and is required to demonstrate expertise.

An employer may require an employee at this level to exercise responsibilities in respect of students. Where from time to time responsibilities at this level include supervision and direction of students a duty of care is required of the School Services Officer. In this context that duty of care is no less than that required of other school employees.

52.4.2 Direction

The School Services Officer at this level will receive general direction meaning:

• receives general instructions, usually covering only the broader technical aspects of the work;
• may be subject to progress checks usually confined to ensuring that, in broad terms, satisfactory progress is being made;
• although technically competent and well experienced, may on occasion, receive more detailed instructions.

52.4.3 Supervision

The School Services Officer at this level receives little direct supervision and would be expected to take significant initiative and responsibility but would still be responsible to a manager, or the Principal. The School Services Officer at this Level may be expected to supervise School Services Officers from Levels One, Two and Three.

52.4.4 Specialist Knowledge and Skills

[52.4.4 varied by PR962601 ppc 13Sep05]

Indicative but not exclusive of the knowledge and skills of an employee at this level are:

• More than 5 years experience as a tradesperson;
• Tradesperson in possession of more than one trades qualification;
• Foreperson;
• Highly skilled horticultural work;
• Supervision of three or more School Services Officers from Levels 1, 2 or 3.

52.4.5 Experience/Qualifications

A School Services Officer at this Level would be an experienced qualified tradesperson.

52.5 School Services Officer Level 5

52.5.1 General work descriptions

The employee at Level 5 would be required to directly supervise or manage the provision of all cleaning, catering, security, gardening , building maintenance, and transport services for the whole school by other School Services Officers .

As the duties of a Level 5 School Services Officer are associated with the provision of all the above mentioned services by a group or groups of School Services Officers, such positions would usually be found only in very large schools.

An employer may require an employee at this level to exercise responsibilities in respect of students. Where from time to time responsibilities at this level include supervision and direction of students a duty of care is required of the School Services Officer. In this context that duty of care is no less than that required of other school employees.

52.5.2 Direction

The School Services Officer at this level will receive limited direction meaning:

• receives limited instructions comprising a clear statement of objectives;
• has work usually measured in terms of the achievement of stated objectives;
• is fully competent and very experienced in a technical sense and requires little guidance during the performance of work.

52.5.3 Supervision

The School Services Officer at this level would be responsible to the Business Manager or Principal. The School Services Officer at this level supervises School Services Officers from Levels 1, 2, 3 or 4 and has overall responsibility for the provision of all services provided by School Services Officers. The School Services Officer at this level would have a high degree of initiative, discretion and capacity to program work.

52.5.4 Specialist Knowledge and Skills

Indicative but not exclusive of the knowledge and skills of an employee at this level are:

• Experience and knowledge to manage or supervise the provision of all of the services provided by School Services Officers;
• Supervision of five or more School Services Officers from Levels 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• an appreciation of the long term goals of the school in respect to all of these services

52.5.5 Experience/Qualifications

A School Services Officer at this Level may be an experienced qualified tradesperson or have the knowledge/experience to manage the provision of services by such people.

52.6 If an employer requests a School Services Officer to obtain a higher level of skill through a qualification, this request shall be put in writing. The letter shall include the guarantee that upon successful completion of the study, the school services officer shall advance to the appropriate higher level of pay.

52.7 Possession of a qualification is not an automatic guarantee of classification at a particular level.

52.8 If the School Services Officer believes that the nature of the job has changed to such an extent as to warrant a re-classification, the School Services Officer shall apply to the principal with supporting evidence. If a dispute arises as to the level of classification clause 10 – Grievance procedures, shall apply.