FIREFIGHTER JOBS

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JOB DESCRIPTION / EMPLOYEE SPECIFICATION

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PROCESS

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

KEY DATES


Apprentice Firefighter with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service


Apply to become an Apprentice Firefighter with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service


If you are looking for a job with variety, a challenge and good career progression, we are currently recruiting Apprentice firefighters.

You must be able to deal calmly and professionally with people in distress and emergencies like fires, road traffic collisions, chemical spills and floods, working alongside other emergency services and your colleagues as part of a multi-disciplinary team. In addition, you must be able to communicate clearly and be capable of delivering community safety messages to local groups and also be able to support vulnerable people with different needs who live in the community.

In addition, we are keen to recruit people who can reflect our core values in terms of working in a positive, non-judgmental way, who actively listen and value the contribution of others.

We have many specialist roles such as Fire Investigation, Urban Search and Rescue and Community Safety. Depending on your ambition, we offer the potential of a rich and varied career.

Please note candidates must hold a current category "B" car full driving licence that entitles the individual to drive in the UK without restrictions.

Successful candidates will either be appointed as an apprentice firefighter and will undertake the Level 3 Operational Firefighter Apprenticeship standard which will typically take up to 24 months or they will be appointed as a firefighter in development and will undertake an internal development programme.


JOB DESCRIPTION / EMPLOYEE SPECIFICATION


Job Title

Apprentice Firefighter

Responsible To

Crew/Watch Manager

Grade

Firefighter in development

Hrs

LFRS operates a number of shift systems including:

Day Crewing (DC) and Day Crewing Plus (DCP) who on average work 42 hpw positive hours with an on call commitment.

Standard Operation System: 42hpw

Location

A Station within the Lancashire Area

For some vacancies there will be requirement to provide a base within 5 minutes of the Station

Other terms and conditions

National Joint Council for Local Authorities Fire Brigades

Special Requirements

Able to drive and possession of a full UK Driving licence that entitles you to drive in the UK without restrictions.

Ability to work at heights.

Ability to work in confined spaces.

Ability to work in situations where you may see blood, seriously injured and deceased people.

Good aerobic capacity.

Satisfactory hearing.

Willing to work on any of LFRS current shift systems which will include nights, weekends and public holidays including DC and DCP shift systems and at any location in Lancashire.

Ability to serve at any station on any full-time duty system according to the changing needs of the service.

Willing to undertake apprentice standard learning with successfully completing an end point assessment.

Willing to complete Level 2 English and Maths if this has not been achieved prior to the end point assessment.

Successful candidates will either be appointed as an apprentice firefighter and will undertake the Level 3 Operational Firefighter Apprenticeship standard which will typically take up to 24 months or they will be appointed as a firefighter in development and will undertake an internal development programme. Both development programmes will be delivered by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and there is no difference in terms and conditions.


Our Aim


The intended result of all our efforts is to: make Lancashire safer.

This is what we are here to achieve. We seek to do this by delivering prevention, protection and emergency response services; using our trusted position in the community to influence the wider safety of people and working in partnership with other organisations where we have shared objectives.


Our Priorities


Our main priorities: -

  • Preventing fires and other emergencies from happening.
  • Protecting people and property when fires happen.
  • Responding to emergencies quickly and competently.
  • Valuing our people so they can focus on making Lancashire safer.
  • Delivering value for money in how we use our resources.

The way we work to achieve Our Priorities is as important as what we do.

‘STRIVE’ reflects the Service’s on-going desire to make great effort to achieve our purpose of making Lancashire safer:

Service: making Lancashire safer is the most important thing we do.

Trust: We trust the people we work with.

Respect: We respect each other.

Integrity: We do what we say we will do

Valued: We actively listen to others.

Empowered: We contribute to decisions and improvements.

You can read our full Integrated Risk Management Plan here


Job Role


To deliver an emergency service by performing firefighting, rescue and other work as part of a team which resolves incidents, saves and preserves life, property and the environment.

To deliver a range of community safety programmes and services to protect the public and make communities safer.

Duties
  • To provide an immediate response to all emergency and special services calls (including fire, transport and HAZMAT incidents), saving and preserving endangered life and property.
  • To assess risk, understand risk and undertake appropriate risk assessments.
  • To treat casualties and support people involved in incidents and emergencies.
  • To collect and record information from incidents for future use in reports etc.
  • To prepare and present evidence for formal proceedings if required.
  • To monitor, check, test and maintain fire appliances and related equipment to ensure a high state of preparedness and maintain operational readiness.
  • To drive, manoeuvre and deploy LFRS vehicles as required.
  • To effectively utilise Information Technology.
  • To maintain an up to date knowledge and apply health, safety and risk management legislation and practice.
  • To acquire and maintain a good working knowledge of buildings and structures, local topography, environmental or special risks and controls, potential hazards, water supplies and fixed installations.
  • To take responsibility for personal performance and attend drills, exercises, lectures, training programmes and fitness programmes to maintain a high standard of fitness, practical and technical knowledge and competence.
  • To maintain a high standard of personal discipline.
  • To consistently display excellent positive workplace behaviours towards colleagues and members of the public.
  • To create and maintain a good working relationship with colleagues and contribute to decision-making for the effectiveness of the team.
  • To work collaboratively with other partners, agencies and other blue light services.
  • To inform and educate the community to improve awareness of community safety matters and to deliver risk reduction programmes, including presentations, to protect the public and to make communities safe.
  • To engage with the media and provide information about community safety.
  • At all times promote a positive image of LFRS in dealing with other organisations and members of the public.
  • To support and contribute to local initiatives that may arise from the Station, Watch and local community.

It is unacceptable for any LFRS employee to be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs at work. Such employees pose unnecessary risks to themselves and to their colleagues. Further, the behaviour of those who work in safety critical roles and safety critical support roles can affect both the safety of members of the public and public confidence in the Authority. LFRS has legal obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of its employees, and employees are obliged not to endanger the health or well-being of others by their acts or omissions.

To this end, LFRS will screen all candidates selected for employment for illegal drugs and alcohol. This will be carried out at our Occupational Health Unit, under strict protocols and confidentially. Any candidate who refuses to be screened will not be employed. Any candidate who tests positive for illegal drugs or unsafe levels of alcohol will not be employed.


EMPLOYEE SPECIFICATION


APPRENTICE FIREFIGHTER

Qualifications

Essential

Desirable

Assess By

Possession of a current category ‘B’ car full UK driving licence that entitles you to drive in the UK without restrictions.

Possession of a current Category ‘C’ driving licence.

X

X

A

A

Experience

Paid, Unpaid, or voluntary work experience in any capacity

X AI

Supporting, or working with, or contributing to your own, or a local community

X AI

Working in a practical way and identifying solutions to problems

X AI
Using IT in particular Microsoft Office X AI

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

An awareness of the role of a Firefighter. X AI
Evidence of an understanding of diversity and some involvement with different communities and with people from different back grounds. X AITR
An ability to work as a member of a team X AITR
The ability to support vulnerable people with different needs. X AITR
The ability to deal sensitively with people in difficult situations. X AITR
The ability to present written work neatly, accurately and concisely. X A
The ability to communicate clearly and at a level appropriate to the audience X AI
Actively seeks to support change and improvement in the workplace. X AITR
Is committed to developing oneself and can demonstrate regular participation in training (If in employment more than mandatory requirements). X AITR
An ability to maintain a calm, confident and resilient response in highly challenging situations. X AITR
An ability to understand the importance of a safe working environment and an ability to take active steps to promote safe working and effectively assess risk X AITR
The ability to learn, understand, retain, recall and apply information and follow instructions X AITR
Able to swim 50 metres in less than 70 seconds, able to jump/dive into deep water, tread water for 30 seconds. X AITR

Special Requirements

X AITR

Able to drive and possession of a current category ‘B’ car full UK driving licence that entitles you to drive in the UK without restrictions.

Ability to work at heights.

Ability to work in confined spaces.

Ability to work in situations where you may see blood, seriously injured and deceased people.

Good aerobic capacity.

Satisfactory hearing.

Willing to work any of LFRS rostered shifts including nights, weekend and public holidays also including DC,FDC and DCP

Willing to work at any location within LFRS

Willing to undertake apprentice standard learning with successfully completing an end point assessment.

Willing to complete Level 2 English and Maths if this has not been achieved prior to the end point assessment.

These are all essential requirements

Key


A : Application Form

I : Interview

T : Test

R : Reference

Candidates will be assessed throughout the recruitment process in relation to all areas identified within the employee specification and therefore the application form should address all areas of the employee specification