EMERGENCY SERVICES DISPATCHER - Ulster County Test

[JetPhoto 626]

http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/personnel/announce.html

Ulster County Personnel Department

Civil Service Examination Announcement

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FILING FEE $20.00

#65651 EMERGENCY SERVICES DISPATCHER

OPEN-COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION

LAST DATE FOR FILING APPLICATIONS: September 5, 2007

EXAMINATION DATE: October 13, 2007

SALARY: The starting salary is currently listed at $16.20 per hour.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must meet the following requirement(s) on or before the date of the examination:

Either:

A. Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and one year of experience or its’ part-time/ volunteer equivalent in the operation of two-way radios in police, fire or ambulance services or related work; OR

B. Two (2) years of experience as described in A above; OR

C. An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of A and B above.

Special Note: A background investigation will be performed on all candidates. If a candidate has been convicted of any crime (felony or misdemeanor), it does not represent an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered and evaluated on individual merits in relation to the duties and responsibilities of the position.

APPLICATION REVIEW TOLERANCE POLICY

For the purposes of this policy, "tolerance" shall mean the leeway given regarding work experience when reviewing an application. Applicants lacking a small amount of work experience when applying for promotional or open-competitive examinations may qualify under the following conditions:

1) Candidates will be given a maximum tolerance of one (1) month.

2) Tolerance will be given only when the minimum qualification requires one or more years of work experience.

3) Tolerance Policy does not apply to education or licensure/certification requirements. (See particular examination announcement for "Anticipated Eligibility" information).

4) Tolerance Policy does not apply where required work experience is set forth by law or rules.

5) Tolerance Policy does not apply to enable applicants to meet residence requirements.

For more information regarding Tolerance Policy, please contact our office at (845) 340-3550.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: The work involves responsibility in dispatching police, fire and medical services to various situations and locations. The position may be filled at the trainee level. Upon successful completion of a one year training period in accordance with civil service rules, the incumbent is automatically appointed to the full performance level without further examination. Work is performed under direct supervision of a higher level employee in accordance with well established policies and procedures with leeway to resolve problems as they occur. Employees in this class must exercise sound judgement in response to various emergency situations. This class differs from that of Senior Emergency Services Dispatcher by virtue of the lack of supervisory responsibility. Does related work as required.

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION: Written test will cover knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

Coding/decoding information

These questions test for the ability to use written directions to code and decode information accurately. You will be asked to apply sets of coding rules to code information and to interpret coded information. Complete directions will be provided; no previous knowledge of or training in any coding system is required.

Following directions (maps)

These questions test your ability to follow physical/geographic directions using street maps or building maps. You will have to read and understand a set of directions and then use them on a simple map.

Retaining and comprehending spoken information from calls for emergency services

These questions test retention and comprehension of information in calls for emergency services. Some questions test retention of specifics, such as street addresses, or comprehension of the spoken information, such as determining the location of a site in relation to landmarks. Each of these questions is weighted 1.0. Other questions test comprehension and application of directions for filling in a form. Each of these questions is weighted 0.2. Several simulated 911 calls will be played on audio CD. After listening to each call, candidates will be asked from two to four questions about the information that was presented in the call. The time to answer them will be limited. The CD will keep track of the time and, at the end of each answer period, will automatically begin to play the next call. Note paper will be provided. Candidates will be permitted to take notes and to refer to them when answering the questions.

Radio operations and dispatching procedures

These questions test for knowledge of two-way radio systems and operations, and may cover dispatching procedures when appropriate.

Understanding and interpreting written material

These questions test how well you comprehend written material. You will be provided with brief reading selections and will be asked questions about the selections. All the information required to answer the questions will be presented in the selections; you will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the subject areas of the selections.

CALCULATORS: "Unless specifically prohibited, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand‑held, solar or battery powered calculators. Devices with typewriter keyboards, ‘Spell‑Checkers’, ‘Personal Digital Assistants’, ‘Address Books’, ‘Language Translators’, ‘Dictionaries’ and any similar devices are prohibited."

PERFORMANCE TESTS: Performance tests are qualifying (pass/fail), if you pass the performance test(s), your final score for the exam will be the score that you achieve on the written test. Candidates may be invited to the performance test(s) in the order of the scores they achieve on the written test. Ulster County reserves the right to give the performance test(s) to only as many candidates as are needed to fill available vacancies. Performance tests will be given at a later date. Candidates will be notified by mail.

Performance Test: A performance test will also be held at a later date, to be announced. The written test will be a ranking test and the performance test will be a qualifying (pass/fail) test. You must pass both the written and performance tests to be considered for appointment. You will not be called to the performance test unless you have passed the written test. Since the performance test is qualifying (pass/fail), if you pass the performance test your final score for the examination will be the score that you achieve on the written test.

Candidates may be invited to the performance test in the order of the scores they achieve on the written test. Ulster County reserves the right to give the performance test to only as many candidates as are needed to fill available vacancies.

The test will be administered on a conventional personal computer (PC). You will be using a conventional PC keyboard, but you will not be using a mouse.

Subject: The test consists of three parts, each preceded by a separate practice session. It will test your ability to enter the kinds of information that dispatchers and related personnel must process for fire, police, and emergency medical services. You will not need any specific information prior to the test; rather, complete on-screen instructions will tell you all that you need to know in order to take the test. In order to pass, you must enter the data at a rate of at least 6,000 keystrokes per hour (which is equal to typing approximately 20 words per minute), with an accuracy rate of at least 97.5 %.

PERFORMANCE TEST (911) RETEST POLICY:

1. A CANDIDATE MAY APPLY AND BE RETESTED ONE MONTH AFTER ORIGINAL TESTING.

2. A CANDIDATE WHO HAS PARTICIPATED IN ONE RETEST MAY APPLY FOR ANOTHER RETEST EVERY TWO MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST RETEST FOR THE LIFE OF THE ELIGIBLE LIST.

WAIVERS: If you have passed a performance test of this type, in any other local jurisdiction in New York State, within the past five years you may be entitled to have the performance test waived. If you have done so, provide written documentation from the jurisdiction in which you were tested.

*FEES*: Send your check or money order for twenty dollars ($20.00) (made payable to ULSTER COUNTY TREASURER) with your application. Please include the examination number, title, and applicant’s name on your check or money order. DO NOT SEND CASH. NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED, therefore, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the qualifications for admission and apply only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.

EXCEPTION TO FEE REQUIREMENT: An exception to the processing fee will be made for persons receiving Supplemental Social Security payments or public assistance (Safety Net Assistance or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), provided Foster Care or certified Workforce Investment Act of 1998 eligible through a state or local social service agency, and for those who are unemployed AND primarily responsible for the support of a household. Individuals wishing to claim this waiver of fee on the basis of Supplemental Social Security, Safety Net Assistance or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, must certify on their application, under number 20 Remarks, that they are receiving public assistance and must indicate the type of assistance they are receiving, the agency providing the assistance and their case numbers. Persons claiming this waiver through Foster Care or Workforce Investment Act of 1998 Certification must specify the program and name of their contact agency. Persons claiming this waiver, who are unemployed AND primarily responsible for the support of a household must provide a written statement indicating such under number 20 Remarks. Such claims are subject to later verification and, if not supported by appropriate documentation, are grounds for barring appointment.

Applications may be obtained at the Ulster County Office Building, Personnel Department, 244 Fair Street ‑ 5th Floor, P.O. Box 1800, Kingston, NY 12402‑1800 OR by mail (INCLUDE A STAMPED SELF‑ADDRESSED, LEGAL‑ SIZE ENVELOPE) OR from our website at: http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/personnel/index.html. Applications must be received by the Ulster County Personnel Department or postmarked no later than the ‘LAST DATE FOR FILING APPLICATIONS’ stated on page one of this announcement.

For those applications submitted in person on the last file date, please submit no later than 4:30 PM. All applications must be in our office no later than 5:00 PM on the last file date. Applications postmarked by the last file date will also be accepted.

This examination is being prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23‑2 of the Civil Service Law. The provisions of the New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations dealing with the rating of examinations will apply to this test.

SPECIAL NOTE: All public agencies are required by law to provide full and equal opportunities for minorities, women and to people with disabilities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to compete without regard to race, creed or national origin. Applicants requesting special testing arrangements as a Saturday Sabbath Observer, alternate test date candidate (in accordance with Alternate Test Date Policy), or an active member of the military away from the area on the scheduled test date must clearly indicate this fact on the application. All such requests must be supported by appropriate documentation.

VETERANS: Non-disabled and disabled veterans who wish to claim additional credits must request a Veterans Credits application from our office. This form must be completed and submitted along with a war service (DD214) form prior to the establishment of the resulting eligible list. Veterans credits may only be added to a passing score and may only be used for appointment once. Candidates currently in the armed forces may apply for and be conditionally granted veteran’s credits. Any candidate who applies for such credits must provide proof of military status to receive the conditional credits. You may not claim additional Veterans Credits after the eligible list has been established. It is the candidate’s responsibility to request the Veterans Credits application forms and submit these forms and any required supporting paperwork before the eligible list is established.

ADDITIONAL CREDITS FOR CHILDREN OF FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY: In conformance with section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty in this municipality, please inform this office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has been established.

APPLYING FOR CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS WHEN EXAMINATIONS ARE SCHEDULED ON SAME DATE: If you have applied for any other Civil Service examinations for employment with New York State or any other local government jurisdiction, you must make arrangements to take all the examinations at one test site.

If you have applied for both State and Local government examinations, you must make arrangements to take all your examinations at the State examination center by calling (518) 457‑7022 no later than two weeks before the test date.

If you have applied for other local government examinations, call or write to each Civil Service Agency to make arrangements. You must make your request for these arrangements no later than two weeks before the date of the examinations. You must notify all local government civil service agencies with whom you have filed an application of the test site at which you wish to take your examination(s). For this examination call (845) 340‑ 3531 OR write to Ulster County Personnel Department, 244 Fair Street ‑ 5th Floor, P.O. Box 1800, Kingston, NY 12402‑1800.

*If candidates have not received notification of this examination within four (4) days of the examination, they should contact this office immediately.

#65651

ISSUED: August 3, 2007