County council interview please help with specific Q

Flowerbasket9

Hi everyone I have a coco interview coming up for a homeless support worker and a friend of mine previously interviewed for another support worker role and she was asked the question do you expect to be working with local councillors and if so how would you approach this?

As Ive never worked for the council Im unsure on this to be honest...I expect at meetings you may have some dealings with councillors but I have no idea outside of this and also how would I approach this? Any help greatly greatly appreciated

Thank you

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058416628/county-council-interview-please-help-with-specific-q

Local councilors are people like me and you so I would treat them like I do any other person, that is to say professionally and to the best of my abilities

This is how I would personally answer the question I'm sure others on here would have another angle you should consider

Private Joker

Learn the role of the Councillors and ethics around their, and that of of a homeless support officer. The question is looking for your knowledge of how local government operates, i.e. what can the councillors ask you for.

There is an allocations policy in all local authorities that must be followed, no matter how much a councillor advocates on behalf of a waiting list applicant.

Flowerbasket9

Thank you, this is what I would have thought that you treat them the same as any other work colleague, but I wasn't sure if the interview board would feel like that was the correct answer.

Thank you

Flowerbasket9

Thank you so much. So I should add in that I would follow all policies and procedures in regard to my role as I would with any other work colleague? ie I wouldn't break the allocations policy in place?

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123548647#Comment_123548647

No problem. Please be aware that this is simply how I would deal with the question, I am far from an oracle on interviews as I've been in the same job for the last 9 years

Be glad they aren't asking you to list your weaknesses, always hated that question and always felt it was a cop out by the interviewer who just didn't want you for whatever reason

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123548659#Comment_123548659

A councillor is not a work colleague though.

They are an elected respesentative. So they have certain rights as a policy-setter for your area.

And many citizens ask them for advocacy help navigating "the system" and grantvthe rights with regard to this.

So you need to be aware of their role and how the parts might interact.

Flowerbasket9

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123549883#Comment_123549883

Thank you, I appreciate this info. Can I ask how you would answer this question? I have never worked in the council so I honestly have no idea and feel it is a question that is tough to answer unless you've worked in a county council before.

Thanks

homer911

I'd treat a Councillor as my boss. I'd try and anticipate the questions they will be asking but also asking them what their requirements and perspective is. I'd expect to be providing them with periodic stats on the homeless community and specific plans for my role to help these people address the problems that have got them into this suggestion - everyone will have their own story but there will be common threads - work skills, family, addiction etc, so developing relationships with the relevant support bodies in these areas will be important

It's the councillors who vote how to spend the money of the coco so a good communications plan setting out goals and achievements, esp coming up to budget setting, would be prudent