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Careers Guide

Careers Booklet 2014 - Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service€¦ · Operational, Control and Support roles. Operational Roles require active involvement at the scene of emergencies,

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Page 1: Careers Booklet 2014 - Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service€¦ · Operational, Control and Support roles. Operational Roles require active involvement at the scene of emergencies,

Careers

Guide

Page 2: Careers Booklet 2014 - Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service€¦ · Operational, Control and Support roles. Operational Roles require active involvement at the scene of emergencies,

Index

Page 1

Background to Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS)

2

Diversity within NIFRS

2-3 Women in the Fire & Rescue Service

3-12 Jobs within NIFRS

3 Operational Roles

4 Control Centre Roles

4 Support Staff Roles

4-7

Focus on roles - Firefighter

7-8 Focus on roles – Firefighter (Control)

8-12 Focus on roles – Support Staff

13 More information

Page 3: Careers Booklet 2014 - Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service€¦ · Operational, Control and Support roles. Operational Roles require active involvement at the scene of emergencies,

1

This booklet provides information on career options within Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS). Roles are outlined along with the selection and training process, where applicable. Background to NIFRS NIFRS serves the entire population of Northern Ireland, an area of over 5500 square miles, with a population of 1.81million. NIFRS Headquarters is situated at 1 Seymour Street, Lisburn. We have a Training Centre (currently situated in Belfast), four Area Commands comprising of 14 Districts, managing a total of 68 Fire Stations across Northern Ireland:- • 45 Retained Fire Stations

(Part-time Firefighters respond to calls when alerted)

• 7 Wholetime Fire Stations

(Full-time Firefighters on station 24 hours a day

• 7 Wholetime/Retained Fire

Stations (Mixture of Full-time and Part-time Firefighters)

• 7 Variable Crewed Fire Stations (Full-time Firefighters on station from 11am to 11pm; Retained Firefighters provide back up when required during core hours and respond to emergencies first outside core hours)

• 1 Wholetime (Defined Hours)

Fire Station • 1 Volunteer Fire Station

(Rathlin Rescue Station is manned by Volunteer Firefighters who live on Rathlin Island).

Everyday we help save lives and this is not only by fighting fires. Our work includes responding to road traffic collisions, flooding, collapsed buildings and attending specialist rescue incidents. We also promote community safety and educate through talking and engaging with different groups, explaining the risks of fire or installing smoke alarms. Behind the scenes there are roles that the public does not see; the Firefighter (Control) Operators who take 999 calls and mobilise fire appliances, administration teams, Human Resources and Information Technology specialists, accountants, technicians and more.

Page 4: Careers Booklet 2014 - Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service€¦ · Operational, Control and Support roles. Operational Roles require active involvement at the scene of emergencies,

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Diversity within NIFRS NIFRS prides itself on the services it provides and the close contact maintained within the community. We are striving to recognise and promote diversity amongst our staff. We are aiming for an inclusive organisation irrespective of gender, age, race, disability, religion, political opinion, marital status or sexual orientation. Having a diverse workforce made up of people from different backgrounds, with different life experiences, ideas, skills and talents enables us to deliver a better service to our community.

Women in the Fire & Rescue Service We actively encourage women to consider Firefighting as a viable career. We are under-represented in the numbers of women who apply for Firefighter vacancies and who work on our Fire Stations. However, this is improving with more women becoming interested and applying to become Firefighters and the number of female Firefighters employed in NIFRS has steadily increased over recent years. We wish to demonstrate that women are valued at all levels within our organisation in a variety of occupational roles, including that of a Firefighter. We endeavour to achieve this through raising the profile of firefighting as an attractive and challenging career choice for women. Regular outreach activities assist in raising awareness amongst girls and women.

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We have also worked towards creating and sustaining a working environment that enables women to undertake their role effectively. Jobs within NIFRS

Jobs within NIFRS come under Operational, Control and Support roles. Operational Roles require active involvement at the scene of emergencies, or working with team members to handle emergencies. Operational roles are:- • Firefighter - attends any

kind of incident and also can provide fire safety advice within the community.

• Crew Commander –

responsibility for the fire engine and the crew. Can take charge of smaller incidents and provide support to the Watch Commander.

• Watch Commander - leads

a number of smaller teams at larger incidents.

• Station Commander - main

duty is ensuring service delivery at one or more fire stations. Can also be asked to take charge of larger incidents.

• Assistant Group

Commander – assists the Group Commander to plan, co-ordinate and support service delivery within the Area.

• Group Commander -

assists the Area Commander to plan, co-ordinate and support service delivery within the Area.

• Area Commander

Responsible for a larger geographical area or head of section within NIFRS.

• Assistant Chief Fire Officer

Strategic responsibility for one or more departments/ functions within NIFRS.

• Deputy Chief Fire Officer

Main duty is strategic responsibility for operations, but also to support the Chief Fire Officer.

• Chief Fire Officer

The Head of NIFRS. Responsible for ensuring effective delivery of all Fire and Rescue Service duties.

Page 6: Careers Booklet 2014 - Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service€¦ · Operational, Control and Support roles. Operational Roles require active involvement at the scene of emergencies,

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Control Centre Roles include:- • Firefighter (Control) • Crew Commander (Control) • Watch Commander (Control) • Station Commander(Control) • Group Commander (Control)

Support Staff Roles involve supporting others in the operational field and running the business side of NIFRS. Support Staff roles are based at our Headquarters in Lisburn and at our four Area Commands, District Commands and Training Centre locations. These include roles within:- • Administration/Clerical

support • Area Business • Communications • Corporate Communications • Estates • Finance & Accounting • Health & Safety • Human Resources • Information Technology • Internal Audit • Management (various levels) • Manual Technicians • Operations Research • Payroll/Accounts • Personal Development • Planning • Purchasing & Procurement • Stores • Transport

Focus on roles - Firefighter

The role of a Firefighter is incredibly varied and our Firefighters are made up of people from all walks of life, working as a team to get the job done. To be a Firefighter it is essential to have good composure and understanding. A Firefighter may need to react quickly in a crisis, or communicate vital information clearly. Many people have preconceptions about Firefighters. A lot think they have to be both big and strong, or that only men can join NIFRS. This simply is not true – in NIFRS highly skilled teams are made up of both men and women of all different ages and backgrounds and their working days are as diverse as they are. Fitness is important for the day-to-day challenges a Firefighter might face, and they need to be able to lift certain pieces of

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equipment on their own. There are other additional skills we look for.

To be able to do the role well, mental agility and communication skills are important. This is also the case for other roles in our organisation. Our Firefighters advise people on fire prevention, escape routes and hazards at home and in business. They visit schools to teach and work with children to raise awareness of dangers like fireworks and matches. Firefighters also get involved in the wider community to promote safety initiatives and inspect buildings to make sure they meet fire safety regulations. Much of the job involves working with the public. This means that successful applicants must have good communication skills whether they are out and about or visiting peoples’ homes to provide fire safety advice, dealing with an emergency or organising activity within the team. Our Firefighters need to be able to listen to people, empathise and make themselves understood.

Successful applicants should enjoy working as part of a team. Much of the job will involve working together which means being considerate, resourceful, innovative and decisive. A Firefighter needs to accept instructions, on other occasions they will be asked for their views and input. Within NIFRS we have three categories of Firefighter – Wholetime, Retained and Volunteer. Wholetime Firefighters work at any of our Wholetime Stations or combined Wholetime/Retained Stations. They are employed in a full-time capacity and work on a “Watch” basis. Training is normally on Station as part of a shift or at our Training Centre in Belfast. Retained (Part-time) Firefighters serve the community by responding to calls from Retained Fire Stations across Northern Ireland. The Retained Firefighter career path is from Retained Firefighter to Retained Watch Commander. Retained Firefighters respond to pagers when an emergency call is received and must live and work within 5 minutes of the fire station. Clearly, flexibility is the key and an applicant will need to be meet the availability criteria. It is common for Retained

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Firefighters to be either self-employed or have an employer who is supportive and willing for them to leave work at a moments notice to attend an emergency. Retained Firefighters do training at both weekends and on drill nights.

Currently all our recruits must meet some essential standards:- • Be 18 years of age and over • For Wholetime Firefighters –

GCSE Maths and English Language at Grade A to C (or equivalent)

• Must be able to

demonstrate the necessary skills and experience to be a Firefighter

• Have a current driving

licence or be prepared to obtain one when eligible. Adjustments will be made, where reasonable, should a disability prevent applicants from driving.

• Have good eyesight Meeting these criteria is just the start of the process to assess an applicant’s abilities. An applicant will have to undergo a range of written assessments (working with numbers, understanding information, situation awareness and problem solving), as well as physical/practical tests. The current physical tests involve a breathing apparatus exercise, ladder climb, hose running test, dead lift and ladder extend exercise. If successful at the written and physical tests stages, an applicant would be required to attend an interview and then undergo a medical. Appointment is subject to satisfactory medical and ophthalmic examinations, and medical and fitness standards are high. If successful in the selection process, a candidate will undertake a Trainee Course over the next 12-18 weeks. Upon passing the Course, he or she will be placed at their station. A two year probationary period then follows. For those considering applying for a Firefighter position, it is beneficial to continue with or commence a fitness programme. It is important to check with your

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doctor before commencing a fitness programme. Some of the best ways to improve fitness include swimming, running and circuit training. It also helps to build upper body strength for tasks such as lifting and climbing. Volunteer Firefighters go through a similar recruitment process to Retained Firefighters. Rathlin Rescue Station is manned by Volunteer Firefighters (who live on Rathlin Island). This facility is shared with the Coastguard. Focus on roles – Firefighter (Control)

Each time someone in Northern Ireland dials 999 and requires the Fire & Rescue Service, the call is passed to our Control Centre. Within the Control Centre, a Firefighter (Control) will use the information available to them and a range of sophisticated technology to evaluate each situation and despatch fire appliances and other resources

needed to deal with the incident as appropriate. Whatever the incident a Firefighter (Control) must keep in touch with the Firefighters at the scene and other Fire & Rescue Service officers who are either in attendance or otherwise involved. If front-line staff demand additional information, or extra resources and specialised equipment are required, then again it will be the Firefighter (Control) who will respond to their needs. An applicant for Firefighter (Control) vacancy must have:- • 5 GCSE’s A, B, C or

equivalent (including English Language)

• Keyboard qualification such

as RSA Stage 2 in Word Processing or equivalent

• Working knowledge of

Windows environment

• Good oral and written communication skills; and

• Have a current driving

licence or be prepared to obtain one when eligible.

Should disability prevent an applicant from driving, adjustments will be made where reasonable.

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Initial training for this specialised role is intensive during the first month. On completion of the initial training, a Firefighter (Control) is attached to a Watch Team, working under close supervision for the duration of their probationary period. Regional Control Centre staff undergo training throughout their careers. Focus on roles – Support Staff

Varied work goes on behind the scenes in support of service delivery. Management and Support Service functions range across NIFRS including Finance, Human Resources, Information and Communications Technology, Estates and general Administration. For these posts, entry requirements are dependent upon the area of work and the skills required. Some may require professional qualifications e.g. Human Resources Chartered

Institute of Personnel & Development membership, accreditation by examination from Accounting Bodies and specialised IT analyst/computer programming expertise. Finance Staff working within Finance have responsibilities including management accounting, invoice monitoring and payment, payroll processing etc. In order for staff to carry out these roles effectively, applicants must have both professional experience and qualifications.

Human Resources Human Resources support all areas of NIFRS in relation to recruitment, promotions, industrial and employee relations, attendance management and equality and diversity. To work in Human Resources, staff need expertise in Human Resources issues and are

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required to be professionally qualified. Information Technology Information Technology is used both in mobilising our appliances across Northern Ireland and in facilitating our administrative functions. In order for staff to carry out roles effectively within our IT Department, we ask that some post holders must have both professional experience and qualifications.

Administration Administration supports the day-to-day running of NIFRS, through a range of roles and functions such as Personal Assistant, administrative support (e.g. Clerical Officer) and Secretarial Support (Clerk Typist). Administration staff are employed throughout Departments at Fire & Rescue Service Headquarters and Area/District Command locations.

Examples of administrative roles include; Clerk Typist Post holders are required to provide efficient and effective clerical, secretarial and administrative services. Duties can vary depending on work location and Department. Duties can include distributing mail, operating a switchboard, typing, designing presentations, reprographics, filing and other administrative work. To be short listed for Clerk Typist posts, applicants must demonstrate on their application form that they possess the following:- • A minimum of 3 GCSEs at

“A”, “B” or “C” grades or equivalent including English Language;

• RSA Stage 2 Word

Processing or equivalent; • Good communication

skills. In addition an applicant may be required to demonstrate on their application form that they have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office, e.g. Excel, Word and Outlook software.

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The selection process for this position may also include an Assessment Centre.

Clerical Officer Clerical Officer duties vary and may include telephonist/ reception duties, arranging travel for Service staff, checking invoices and raising appropriate paperwork to enable payment, updating computerised records and receipt and distribute mail, supervisory management, participation on appropriate recruitment and selection panels, typing of reports including confidential matters etc. To be short listed for a Clerical Officer post, applicants must demonstrate on their application form that they possess the following: • A minimum of 5 GCSEs at

“A”, “B” or “C” grades or equivalent including English Language or Mathematics.

• Computer keyboard

experience, knowledge

and understanding of Information Technology systems including various packages, e.g. Word, Excel

• RSA Stage 2 Word

Processing or equivalent. • Good communication

skills, both oral and written.

An applicant may be required to demonstrate on their application form their experience of working in an office environment and experience of telephonist/ receptionist duties. Some Senior Clerical Officer posts may stipulate a preferred recognised qualification appropriate to the area of work or appropriate experience in that field. The selection process for this position may also include an Assessment Centre. Telephonist/Receptionist The main purpose of this job is to provide a telephonist and reception service at Fire & Rescue Service Headquarters, greet visitors, operate a PA system, operate a security system and handle internal mail. To be short-listed for the post, applicants must demonstrate on

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their application form that they possess the following:- • A minimum of 3 GCSEs at

“A”, “B” or “C” grades, or equivalent (including English Language).

• Previous

telephonist/receptionist experience in a busy working environment.

• Previous computer

keyboard experience. • RSA Stage 2 Word

Processing or equivalent. • Good oral communication

skills. In addition an applicant may be required to demonstrate on their application form that they have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office e.g. Excel, Word and Outlook software. The selection process for this position will also include an Assessment Centre. Recruitment process for Clerical positions Short listed applicants may be required to undertake a job related assessment centre, and if they have successfully completed the assessment centre, will then attend an interview.

Technical Development and Transport Roles Roles within this area include Communications Technician, Manual Technician and Workshop Mechanic. These roles provide essential support to NIFRS. Our Communications Technicians maintain communications technology across our locations and our Manual Technicians support Stations and Departments by providing a daily delivery service between locations. The Transport Workshops ensure that our fleet of vehicles and fire engines are serviced, equipped and roadworthy. Workshop Mechanic Transport Workshops are currently situated at Fire & Rescue Service Headquarters. However, a number of our mechanics are mobile in that they attend to our vehicles at our other Fire & Rescue Service locations.

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Applicants must have: • Served a full certified

apprenticeship which included one module on heavy vehicles;

• Post apprenticeship

experience working on heavy vehicles, light petrol and diesel vehicles;

• The ability to work

unsupervised; • A current LGV Driving

Licence (category C); and • A positive and flexible

attitude. The selection process for this position may also include a job-related assessment centre, and if successfully completed, the next stage is an interview. Manual Technician Manual Technician roles include driving, delivering mail, constructing flat pack office furniture, transporting heavy items between locations, cleaning and maintaining NIFRS vehicles. The job can also entail driving to other NIFRS locations or other places, as required. Applicants must have:- • A current LGV Driving

Licence (Category C);

• A minimum of 12 months’ experience of driving vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass; and

• A minimum of 6 months’

experience of maintenance and cleaning in a working environment.

In addition; applicants may have to demonstrate their experience of driving and cleaning in a workshop environment. Short listed applicants may be required to undertake a job related assessment centre, followed by an interview.

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Further information

The information contained in this booklet may be updated from time to time in accordance with changes to our functions and roles. Should you have any queries relating to the various roles within NIFRS please contact our Human Resources Department at:- Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service Fire & Rescue Service Headquarters 1 Seymour Street Lisburn BT27 4SX Or alternatively please telephone: 028 9266 4221 We advertise our vacancies in the Belfast Telegraph on Tuesdays and in the Irish News on Thursdays.

Retained Firefighter vacancies are advertised in the local press. Details of our vacancies can also be found on our website www.nifrs.org All information is correct as at January 2014. NIFRS routinely reviews entry requirements for Firefighting positions and these may be subject to change. Information on NIFRS can also be found on our Facebook and Twitter Accounts: www.facebook.com/NIFRSOFFICIAL www.twitter.com/NIFRSOFFICIAL NIFRS is committed to providing equal access to information for everyone. To access a copy in an alternative format (including large print, Braille, audio cassette or in minority ethnic languages for those not fluent in English) please contact NIFRS Headquarters on 028 9266 4221. Produced by NIFRS Equality Unit

Page 16: Careers Booklet 2014 - Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service€¦ · Operational, Control and Support roles. Operational Roles require active involvement at the scene of emergencies,