www.cambsfire.gov.uk ON-CALL FIREFIGHTER S INFORMATION PACK

www.cambsfire.gov.uk ON-CALL FIREFIGHTER S INFORMATION PACK

CONTENTS Thank you for your interest in becoming an on-call firefighter with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service. This information pack is intended to give you an insight into the role of an on-call firefighter, the types of activities you can expect to be involved in during your career with us, as well as details about the current recruitment process. Fire Stations 4 Introduction 5 What are on-call firefighters? 6 Rates of pay 10 The selection process and how to apply 11 General information 20 Frequently asked questions and answers 23 Becoming a firefighter when you re self-employed 24 Appendix 26 3

LOCATION OF ON-CALL FIRE STATIONS IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE A CAREER WITH CAMBRIDGESHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE INTRODUCTION Peterborough Volunteer Yaxley Thorney Whittlesey March Wisbech Cambridgeshire is served by a total of 28 fire stations. A large majority (24 fire stations) are reliant on on-call firefighters. In addition to this, on-call firefighters are also needed on a volunteer basis (ie - without pay) at Peterborough Volunteer Fire Station. Kimbolton Sawtry St. Neots Huntingdon Ramsey Papworth Everard Gamlingay St. Ives Manea Chatteris Sutton Cottenham Sawston Littleport Ely Soham Burwell Swaffham Bulbeck Linton As well as fighting fires and attending incidents, firefighters are also called upon to provide community education and advice on fire safety. When they are called to an emergency, they could be dealing with any type of major or minor incident, such as road, rail or air collisions, floods, chemical spills and rescuing people trapped in lifts or other confined spaces. A part of a firefighter s role is to encourage a safe community, to prevent fires and emergencies before they happen and to make sure people understand the risks of fire and what they can do to protect themselves. Firefighters take part in activities such as giving talks to schools, visiting community groups, fitting smoke alarms in homes and advising homeowners on protecting their properties from fire risks etc. Firefighters therefore use a range of communication skills and have regular contact with all groups within the community. This type of work requires a range of personal skills such as courage, understanding, reliability, flexibility, determination, self motivation and the ability to work within a team. Above all the role requires a real desire to serve the community in which you live or work. If you think you have what it takes, please read on. 4 5

WHAT ARE ON-CALL FIREFIGHTERS? yourself or simply have time available to help protect the community. When you are on-call, and your pager goes off, you will need to stop whatever it is you are doing and report immediately to the fire station. On-call firefighters are men and women who may have other jobs and are able to provide evening, daytime or weekend cover. They are ready to go out to a call the moment a message comes through to their pager. They may be at home, working for themselves or for a company. On-call firefighters are trained to deal with a similar range of situations and incidents as their wholetime colleagues. They are skilled men and women who work as part of an effective team, using the latest equipment, methods and techniques to undertake a wide range of duties including tackling property fires, grass and farmland fires, road traffic collisions, chemical spills, animal rescues, floods and storm damage, delivering community fire safety and much more. On-call firefighters are a vital part of today s Fire and Rescue Service. They provide an efficient, effective service that gives emergency cover to more than 90% of the UK. In Cambridgeshire they make up 56% of the workforce and are generally located in rural communities, small towns and villages. On-call firefighters are paid for their services they also receive thorough training, which teaches them firefighting techniques, as well as other qualifications such as First Aid and Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) driver training. WHY ARE ON-CALL FIREFIGHTERS NEEDED? There s a shortage of people at the moment that will drop everything and help us on an on-call basis. The problem is worse in small towns and rural areas, because nowadays there are fewer people who both live and work in small communities and this has put local services under threat. ON-CALL PROFESSIONALS On-call firefighters can be anything cooks, factory workers, farmers, care workers, students or home workers. They re doing everyday jobs until the call comes and then quite literally they put on their other hat and become professional firefighters. That s not some kind of back-up team, it s the front line saving lives. CAN I BE AN ON-CALL FIREFIGHTER? Firstly you need to work or live within 5 minutes of an on-call fire station as you have to be able to get there within 5 minutes of receiving a pager message (driving at normal road speeds). Secondly, because we can t predict when you ll be called out, you have to be flexible in your work or home-based activities. The chances are that you work for a sympathetic employer who is prepared to let you off from time to time when the pager goes or you could be working for FIT TO FIGHT FIRES Don t believe everything you hear about the fire and rescue service firefighters come in all shapes and sizes and we re particularly keen for more women and people from black and ethnic minority communities to join. There s no denying it can be a tough job. You have to be at least 18 years of age with a good all-round level of fitness. You also need to be able to reflect the Service s values at all times. And just as important, you need qualities such as common sense, commitment and enthusiasm. YOU RE NEEDED, BUT HOW OFTEN? You will be required to attend an evening training session each week (drill night) for two hours at your local fire station for training and maintenance of essential equipment. In terms of being on call, we need people around the clock but particularly during daytime hours on weekdays. You could be called out only two or three times a week for a couple of hours (depending upon which station you are based at). Because we sometimes have more firefighters available than are needed for each call, you won t have to attend every call. In addition, when you really can t spare the time for some reason a holiday or deadline at work for example you can book off call. We realise that everyone needs to balance their working life with their private life and that means being able to enjoy some quality time off. Don t believe everything you hear about the fire and rescue service firefighters come in all shapes and sizes 6 7

WHAT ARE ON-CALL FIREFIGHTERS? (continued) STEVE MERRY WHAT DO I GET OUT OF IT? Firefighting is not like any other job. It can be unpredictable, exciting and rewarding coupled with the satisfaction and respect that comes with providing a crucial service to your local community. You will learn new skills along the way such as first aid, road traffic collision procedures and fire safety, and there is an opportunity for you to learn other skills, such as Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) driver training. As an on-call firefighter you receive an annual salary, plus hourly rates (paid when you attend incidents or drill nights) and disturbance fees (paid when attending incidents). JOIN THE TEAM Joining the Fire and Rescue Service is a great way of meeting new people both the people you work with and those in the community who you help. There s a special kind of bond amongst firefighters. It comes from working together as a team in conditions that are sometimes potentially dangerous or emotive. That helps bind you together as few jobs could. FIREFIGHTERS COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE On-call firefighters come from every walk of life. They include shopkeepers, builders, cooks, consultants, secretaries, engineers and directors of companies together with people who are not currently employed. Previous experience is not required due to the comprehensive training programme. Unfortunately we are unable to accept applications from serving members of a Police Force or reserved Armed Forces (including Territorial Army, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve or Royal Auxiliary Air Force). INFORMATION FOR YOUR EMPLOYER If you are planning on responding to incidents while you are at your place of work, you must have the permission of your employer. It is important that they understand what this involves so please ensure your employer receives the Employer Information Booklet. Employers will also need to sign a form confirming that you can be released from work. These can be found on our website www.cambsfire.gov.uk/recruitment.php INFORMATION FOR YOUR PARTNER/FAMILY Without the support and encouragement of their partners and families, on-call firefighters would struggle to carry out their role. This support does mean that occasionally the lives of partners and families can be affected. The main disadvantages to being on-call are: It is difficult to plan spur of the moment activities Firefighter at Sutton Fire Station Crew Commander at Ramsey Fire Station Manager at Hills Harnwell & Rutterford butchers in Sutton, East Cambs I became an on-call firefighter after speaking to a friend who already did the role. It s something that I believe in very passionately. It feels good to help my community. It s not just emergency incidents that we attend, we also work to prevent fires as well, so we get involved in teaching fire safety at schools and ensuring that everyone in the area s got a working smoke alarm. One of the things that I didn t realise when I joined is that it s a paid position. It s not a tremendous amount, but the money can come in really handy. You can be called out in the middle of the night On-call firefighters cannot be relied on to be the sole-carer when on call. Alternative child or dependant care arrangements need to be made in case you need to respond to an emergency quickly. However, having an on-call firefighter within the family are: Giving and caring to the community in which you live Financial reward They can carry out a risk assessment of your home Trained in first aid They are a positive role model. A recent survey of partners asked the question: What makes you feel that your partner s work as an on-call firefighter is worthwhile? Steve Merry On-call Firefighter Steve Merry Manager at Hills Harnwell & Rutterford Butchers The answers that were received included the following responses: As a family we are very proud of their work and it s a nice thing to be able to tell people. He has helped save lives, made many friends and is very proud to be a firefighter. It has given my partner more confidence and boosted their self-esteem. My partner finds the job rewarding, exciting and satisfying, this is what makes the job worthwhile not the amount of money she earns. Serving the community, learning valuable skills, achieving qualifications such as LGV driver. 8 9

RATES OF PAY THE SELECTION PROCESS This page contains the pay rates for an on-call firefighter Firefighter 1 24 hours (full cover) 2 less than 24 hours (reduced cover) Hourly Rate paid on top of annual wage Disturbance Allowance paid on top of annual wage if you are disturbed in the night per annum per annum per hour per hour Trainee 2116 1587 9.66 3.70 Development 2204 1653 10.06 3.70 Competent 2821 2116 12.88 3.70 Crew Commander Development 2998 2249 13.69 3.70 Competent 3127 2345 14.28 3.70 Watch Commander Annual Wage Development 3193 2395 14.58 3.70 Competent A 3284 2463 14.99 3.70 Competent B 3496 2622 15.96 3.70 Martin Ward Watch Commander 1 100% salary over 96 hours per week 2 75% salary 72-95 hours per week 3 50% salary less than 72 hours per week *A two hour drill night fee based on the hourly rate is also payable for attending weekly drill nights. **If you are currently receiving benefits you need to check with your local benefits office to find out if these benefits would be affected. The recruitment and selection of on-call firefighters is dependant upon you either living and/or working within five minutes of one of the Service s on-call fire stations. Details of the locations of on-call fire stations in Cambridgeshire can be found on page 4 of this information pack. On-call firefighters carry out their duties as required, via a pager system which alerts them to attend the station when an operational call is received. The information you give on your availability form tells us when you would be able to respond to operational calls and forms part of the on-call firefighter selection process. You will therefore be expected to maintain this availability ailability if you are successful in being offered a post as an on-call firefighter er within Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service. The length of time it takes to complete the process varies, but it may take up to six months from the initial application. We run regular monthly information meetings for people considering becoming an on-call firefighter and would encourage you to attend one of these. Details of these can be found on our website www.cambsfire.gov.uk or by calling Recruitment on 01480 444500. MARTIN WARD Watch Commander at Papworth Fire Station NHS Medical Engineering Technician at Papworth Hospital My role at the hospital is to inspect the equipment on a regular basis to ensure that it s working, and then to repair it if it does break down. The irony is not lost on me that one moment I could be inspecting and carrying out minor repairs on a defibrillator which is used to re-start people s hearts, the next I could be dashing out of the door to use this piece of equipment for real in my job as a firefighter. Martin Ward Engineering Technician 10 11

HOW TO APPLY SELECTION PROCESS APPLICATION PACKAGE An application form and availability form can be found in the inside cover of this pack. To request an additional information pack, application form or availability form, please: Call Recruitment on 01480 444500 Email recruitment@cambsfire.gov.uk Application Form This contains your personal details and will be held in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Availability Form This details when you say you are available for duty. Availability is the hours and days that you are free to be on call. Diversity Monitoring Form This helps us ensure we are as accessible as possible to all groups in the community. The data is held in accordance with the Data Protection Act and is not used to assist or make selection decisions. Complete it, place it in the envelope marked personal and confidential and return with your availability information. It will be used for statistical analysis only. Employer s Consent Form If you are employed and you are being allowed to be released by your employer, they must give written consent, via the employer form which is available to download from the Service website. When completed, return the application form, diversity monitoring form, availability form and employers consent form to Recruitment by email or by post to: Recruitment, Fire Service Headquarters, Hinchingbrooke Cottage, Brampton Road, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 2NA. Your availability will be assessed to ensure that there are vacancies at the fire station during the hours that you are available to be on-call. Once your predicted availability has been assessed you will either: Be contacted by the Station Commander and be invited to attend a meeting to discuss your application in more detail, or, Be advised that your availability does not match the station s requirements at this time and that your details will be added to a holding list for your chosen station. STATION VISIT If you are interested in becoming an on-call firefighter you need to visit your local station on drill night (details of when these are can be found on our website or by calling recruitment on 01480 444500) to talk to them about what it is like being an on-call firefighter. They will also be able to talk you through the current availability needs of the station and assist you with completion of any forms. WRITTEN TESTS These tests consist of a series of multiple choice questions designed to assess your abilities and aptitude for becoming a firefighter. The tests are conducted in a classroom style environment at Service Headquarters in Huntingdon and take approximately three hours including breaks. They consist of three tests which need to be completed in a set time and include: Working with numbers Understanding information Situational awareness and problem solving These tests are marked and you will receive a score together with feedback on whether you have passed or failed. For further information on written tests please visit our website www.cambsfire.gov.uk KEITH MANNION Crew Commander at Linton Fire Station Self employed scaffolder at Kam Scaffolding I enjoy all aspects of being an on-call firefighter. It s something different to my day job and it s good to be part of a team. I got married in September and I have a little boy who is one year old. You juggle your life around it. You do your hours without even noticing sometimes. However, that said, you will always get a call out when you don t want one. Linton Crew 12 13

SELECTION PROCESS SELECTION PROCESS OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH MEDICAL Once you have successfully completed your written tests you will be invited to attend a medical appointment with the Service doctor. These are day time appointments and take place at our Occupational Health Unit based at St Ives (next to the fire station). They normally take approx one hour to complete. The purpose of the medical is to assess the general level of health, including weight, blood pressure and lung function to allow the Service doctor to decide whether a candidiate is fit to undertake firefighting duties, allowing for any reasonable adjustments that may be made in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. Candidates will also have a hearing, eyesight and urine test. Prior to attending this appointment, candidates should visit the opticians for an eyesight test. The visual entry standards for firefighters are as detailed below: Unaided visual acuity of 6/60 and read N48 at least 30cm with both eyes open. Have a corrected visual acuity of at least 6/9 and read N12 at 30cm with both eyes open. Please note, applicants can use glasses of an appropriate specification on the fire ground should they be needed to obtain this standard of vision. Have normal binocular visual field determined by confrontation techniques or formal testing methods. PATRICK HEANEY Patrick Heaney On-call Firefighter Firefighter at Papworth Fire Station Group Fire Safety Manager for Sainsburys, based at head office in Central London I became an on-call firefighter at Papworth Fire Station in 2008 after retiring as a wholetime firefighter at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service in 2005. Being an on-call firefighter is incredibly important. It s a chance for you to be active in your local community. I enjoy the camaraderie and the training. When you re a firefighter you become part of a bigger team - a fire service family. My role as an on-call firefighter is good for me personally as well, It creates a good balance for me, as a lot of my day job is spent in an office environment. A report may also be required from a hospital where you have received treatment or an independent specialist if the Service doctor requires it. Your consent is required to access these records and in order for you to complete the selection process it is necessary that this consent is given as requested. ASSESSMENT DAY If you pass the written test part of the process and your medical, you will be invited to attend an assessment day which will include the fitness test, physical test, interview and uniform fitting. Fitness Test Candidates will be asked to complete a medical screening form prior to undertaking either the fitness or physical tests to ensure that you are fit enough to undertake them. You will be required to undertake a treadmill assessment which lasts for 12 minutes and accesses your basic level of fitness. You juggle your life around it. You do your hours without even noticing sometimes. Physical Tests As part of the selection process, you will be required to undertake physical tests which aim to assess your level of fitness, strength and manual dexterity as well as your level of confidence in simulated exercises. These tests are designed to reflect operational practice. For further information about levels of fitness required please visit our website www.cambsfire.gov.uk. The tests take place at our Training Centre based at Huntingdon Fire Station. They take approximately 2.5 hours to complete. There are currently six tests: Enclosed space Ladder climb Casualty evacuation Ladder lift/lower simulation Equipment carry Equipment assembly 14 15

SELECTION PROCESS FINAL STAGE Uniform Fitting During the assessment day you will attend a uniform fitting. This is necessary to ensure that you receive your full firefighting uniform before attending the new recruit s course (subject to successful completion of the selection process). Interview Interviews are carried out during the assessment day and are conducted by two Station Commanders. The purpose of the interview is to assess your general aptitude for the role of an on-call firefighter. Candidates will be asked questions about life experiences with regard to the Fire Service Personal Qualities and Attributes (see Appendix 1) required to be an on-call firefighter and will cover: Working with others Commitment to Development Commitment to Excellence Commitment to Diversity and Integrity Effective Communication There are no right or wrong answers; candidates need only answer in a considered way drawing from their own experiences. OFFER AND CONTRACT Once you have successfully completed the recruitment and selection process and subject to your ongoing availability meeting the current requirements of the station, you will be sent an offer of employment letter together with your contract. All offers made are subject to confirmation of your legal right to work in the UK, our receipt of references satisfactory to this Service and medical fitness (including an eye sight examination) appropriate to the job and consistent with our Equality policy. Subject to us receiving the above you will receive your uniform and be required to attend drill nights at Huntingdon Training Centre for 4 weeks prior to the start of the initial two week training course. MICK WILSON On-call firefighter at Linton Fire Station Night shift factory worker at Printpack in Saffron Walden Being an on-call firefighter is a really good way to make friends. As a night shift worker I don t often get the chance to socialise during the week, but through my job as an on-call firefighter I now know nearly everyone in the village! 16 17

TRAINING TONY BURTON INITIAL TRAINING If you are selected to join Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, whatever your educational achievements, you and other new recruits will receive the same basic training, consisting of technical, practical and theoretical work. The initial training will be held at our Training Centre in Huntingdon, Monday to Friday over a two week period. Once you have completed initial training, you will then be an on-call firefighter and able to go out on 999 calls. After six months you will then go on a second two-week course which will take place from a Monday to Friday, at the Training Centre in Huntingdon, to train you in breathing apparatus and firefighting techniques. TRAINING THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER After your initial training you will be a trained firefighter. However, to become fully trained you will need to go through a development training package which will take place during drill nights. This normally takes three years to complete. You will receive further training throughout your career to ensure that you are kept up to date with the latest technology and equipment. If, after your three years development training you want to be promoted and are successful, you will have the opportunity to undertake courses, both internally and externally including attending the Fire Service College in Gloucestershire, to broaden your existing knowledge of firefighting and rescue. Firefighter at Manea Fire Station Engineering Manager for Edstrom of Sweden Ltd in Corby I conquered my fear of heights and became an on-call firefighter six years ago. Although I was still afraid when I did my training, the ladders were much sturdier than what I was used to at home and I had lots of people around me making sure I was safe. Being an on-call firefighter has helped me in so many aspects of my life. It s widened my skills and confidence as a person and my children loved it when they were younger. There s nothing cooler for a child to say than my dad is a firefighter! PROMOTION AND LONGER TERM CAREER PROSPECTS There are several opportunities for promotion and you can begin to take on extra responsibilities involving you having a more managerial role as a Crew Commander or Watch Commander. Within Cambridgeshire, career progressions occurs as follows: Tony Burton On-call Firefighter You and other new recruits will receive the same basic training, consisting of technical, practical and theoretical work TRAINEE FIREFIGHTER DEVELOPMENT FIREFIGHTER FIREFIGHTER CREW COMMANDER WATCH COMMANDER 18 19

GENERAL INFORMATION Declaration of Criminal Offences You are required to declare any offence for which the conviction is not yet spent. Within the meaning of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 incorporating the Rehabilitations of Offenders Act (exemptions) 1975 and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (exemptions) (Amendment) Order 1996 you are advised to declare any charge that is pending as a subsequent conviction could lead to your dismissal from the Service. Broadly the Act provides for anyone who has ever been convicted of a criminal offence and not sentenced to more than 2.5 years in prison to become a rehabilitated person at the end of the Louise Halsall On-call Firefighter rehabilitation period, provided there have been no further convictions. At the end of this period, the conviction is considered spent and thus to be treated as it had never happened. If you are unsure whether you have to declare a previous conviction you should contact your local Probation Office, Citizens Advice Bureau or your Solicitor. Alternatively you can consult the Home Office publication A Guide to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Driving If you hold a driving licence you must inform us if your licence is endorsed, giving details to the nature of the offence, offence code (e.g. CD10 driving without due care and attention) and also give details of the penalty (e.g. fine and number of penalty points). If you have had to attend court you need to give details of the outcome. LOUISE HALSALL On-call firefighter Food Services Assistant at Kimbolton School It s quite funny when a pupil finds out that I m also an on-call firefighter, because normally their first reaction is: but you normally serve me pasta!. It s good to let them know that one person can be many different things. References If you are currently in employment you will be required to provide the name and contact details of at least two referees. The references must cover a minimum period of 3 years. Your present employer must be one of your referees. If you have had more than two jobs in the last 3 years, please provide the contact details of all previous employers in this period so that they can be contacted for a reference. If you have only had one employer for the last 3 years, please provide the details of a previous employer or someone who can provide a personal reference. If you are currently in full/part time education you should give the name of your college/university tutor plus a personal or an employment reference as appropriate. If you are currently not employed or if you have never been in employment your nominated referees should be someone in a professional capacity who can provide a personal reference and must have been known to you for a minimum of 3 years. Neither of the names supplied should be people who you are related to or who are living with you. It is important that these referees are willing to supply us with details regarding your character. You should therefore contact them to verify this prior to submitting their names. Right to Work in the UK The service is required by law to ensure that any person it employs has the right to work in the United Kingdom. Any person to be offered employment will be required to produce relevant original documentation when requested. Health and Safety Policy Statement Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service are committed to the implementation and maintenance of the highest standards of health, safety and welfare for all our employees and also to other persons who may be affected by our activities. To achieve this, the Service operates a system of health and safety management designed to be proactive, which will integrate health and safety into all aspects of our work. The Service is committed to the provision of information, support and training to enable all employees to carry out their responsibilities with the minimum of risk. To achieve this, the Service will maintain our plant, equipment and workplaces to a high standard and conduct risk assessments to produce safe systems of work. The Service will strive to maintain a positive culture that encourages participation, co-operation and commitment of all employees to work together to promote health and safety. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Equality and Diversity at Work Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is a community service and is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and to giving the highest level of service to our diverse communities throughout Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Our aim and commitment is to ensure that no employee or job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or age or is disadvantaged by requirements that cannot be shown to be justifiable. In delivering services we ensure that members of the public are treated with dignity and respect regardless of culture, background or lifestyle. We are committed to listening to the varied 20 21

GENERAL INFORMATION (continued) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS needs of our diverse community and to provide services appropriately to them. We expect the same commitment from any agencies/partners who work on our behalf. All employees have the right to be treated with dignity and consideration at work. This extends to the right to work in a safe and healthy environment free from harassment, bullying and discrimination or intimidation either directly or indirectly by other employees. Pension From the start of your employment you will be able to contribute to the new firefighter s pension scheme, which is currently at the rate of 8.5% of your salary. Sickness You are entitled to full pay when on sick leave, subject to national conditions. Probation From the date of your appointment you will serve a probationary period of approximately three years. Training and Development Effective and regular training will be essential for the proper performance of your duties. Some training courses that you will undertake are compulsory and training venues may be outside of the Cambridgeshire area. Uniform Uniform and personal protective equipment is provided and must be worn while you are on duty. When wearing uniform, you should ensure that your conduct is professional at all times. Personal appearance Hair (including facial hair) must not impair the seal of the breathing apparatus face mask nor must it impair vision or hearing. Whilst on duty the use of make-up or hair preparations, such as gel or hair spray, is not allowed. What is the on-call system? An on-call firefighter provides an on-call service responding to fire and emergency calls using the appliances and equipment as the full time (wholetime) firefighters. The difference is that on-call firefighters are on-call in their homes or at work rather than at a fire station. Can anyone be an on-call firefighter? Yes provided you are over 18 years of age, meet the entry criteria and meet the conditions of living/working in the right area. There is no upper age limit, though a medical will be required once every three years once the age of 55 years is reached. Are there any height limits? There are no maximum or minimum height restrictions. What hours would I be expected to work? This depends on the needs of the station and what hours you can provide. It will also depend upon whether you are able to respond from work or home. Candidates may wish to offer evening, daytime or weekend cover. The minimum cover we would look for is 49 hours per week. How often will I be called out? This is very much dependant upon your station area but on average two to three times per week. In hot summers you may be very busy with grass fires. Alternatively during prolonged wet periods, you may attend lots of flooding incidents. No two calls are ever the same. Can I go shopping, visit people or go out while I am on call? Yes, but you must make sure that you carry your pager and that you can still get to the station within five minutes. If you need to go further afield you may be able to arrange for an off duty member of your team to provide cover for you. Please remember that whilst on call you must be fit for duty. How will I know when to respond to an incident? On successful completion of your recruit training course you will be issued with a pager which will activate when you are required to attend an emergency call. You will then be required to get to your station promptly, but safely, within five minutes. Do I need any qualifications? No, but you will need to pass the selection tests detailed in this booklet. Do I need my employer s consent? If you plan to attend emergency incidents while at work, you must have the permission of your employer before you make the commitment to the Service. If you will be responding outside of normal working hours then your employer needs to be aware that you could, on occasions, be delayed due to operational commitments and therefore late for work. They also need to be aware that you may be required to attend short training courses, some of which may be during weekdays and as well as evenings. Can I pick which station I work at? Due to the response times required (five minutes) you need to live or work in close proximity to one of our on-call stations. Can I socialise while I m on-call? Yes you can, as long as you stay within five minutes travelling time of the fire station. You do need to be fit for work (ie you must be in accordance with UK drink-drive limits and be physically fit for work). What if I am caring for dependants? If you are caring for dependants when you are on call, you must ensure that you have alternative arrangements in place for their care in case you need to attend an emergency. 22 23

BECOMING A FIREFIGHTER WHEN YOU RE SELF EMPLOYED In Cambridgeshire a large percentage of our on-call firefighters are self-employed. These include mechanics, bricklayers, plumbers and shop owners. Many of these people have found that being an on-call firefighter has a positive impact on their business. This is because they have better links with their local businesses and communities and they are well known and trusted by the people in their area. Phil Thacker On-call Firefighter Phil & Tony Thacker Mechanics Tony Thacker and his son Phil run a mechanics, Thackers Auto Care Ltd in Ramsey, where they are both on-call firefighters. Tony said: My son and I are both on-call firefighters and we also run a busy mechanics in Ramsey. We are a small business it s just us two. So, if we get a 999 call the business effectively closes down for half an hour or so. We haven t got money to burn, we need to make a profit and pay a mortgage just like anyone else. So if we thought that being on-call firefighters had a negative impact on our business, we couldn t afford to do it. In an average week, we ll get about three 999 calls. Some of these happen during the day when we re at work and some in the evening and weekends when we re with our families. Most of the calls only last about 30 minutes. If they happen at work, we just stay late and catch up. All our customers are aware that we are on-call firefighters. And on the rare occasions that we are called out for a longer time they completely understand. Especially when you tell them where you ve been the incidents that last longest are usually house fires, road traffic collisions or businesses on fire. I ve been a mechanic for the past 12 years and I ve never felt that I ve lost any customers through being an on-call firefighter, quite the reverse actually. When you re an on-call firefighter people treat you differently. They know that you re saving lives and they re very appreciative of that. I often get stopped in the shop or the pub and thanked for attending an incident, even if the person thanking me was not involved! You also develop strong links with your community and you become well known as a firefighter. People know who you are and what you do and they are very appreciative of that. In an average week, we ll get about three 999 calls. Steve Jackson has been an on-call firefighter at Linton Fire Station for over 20 years. He also runs his own building contracting company, called Steve Jackson Ltd. Steve, who lives with his wife and two grown up children, said: I joined up as an on-call firefighter 20 years ago and haven t looked back. I love the excitement of being on-call, you never know what you re going to be doing next. I love the excitement of being on-call, you never know what you re going to be doing next. We normally have around two 999 calls a week, but some weeks we can have five and other weeks none at all. If we get lots of incidents, or a big incident like a house fire or road traffic collision, sometimes it can have an impact on my business. However, once I tell my customers what I ve been doing they really don t mind at all. Because I live and work in the local community, I often go to incidents where I know the person involved. It can be difficult, but for the person involved it s enormously comforting to see a friendly face that they recognise. 24 25

APPENDIX FIREFIGHTER ROLEMAP Job Specific Responsibilities As part of these responsibilities you will be required to: Inform and educate your community to improve awareness of safety matters Take responsibility for effective performance Save and preserve endangered life Promote safety matters to inform your community Facilitate learning through demonstration and instruction Take responsibility for personal performance Establish and maintain effective working relationships with people. Develop your own skills to improve your performance Conduct a search to locate life involved in incidents Rescue life involved in incidents Provide treatment to casualties Support people involved in rescue operations NOS FF1.1 FF1.2 FF2.1 FF2.2 FF2.3 FF3.1 FF3.2 FF3.3 FF3.4 Resolve operational incidents Protect the environment from the effects of hazardous materials Support effectiveness of operational response Support the development of colleagues in the workplace Contribute to fire safety solutions to minimise risks to your community Drive, manoeuvre and re-deploy fire service vehicles Control and extinguish fires Resolve incidents other than those involving fire or hazardous materials Support people involved in an operational incident Mitigate damage to the environment from hazardous materials Decontaminate people and property affected by hazardous materials Support people involved in hazardous materials incidents Collect information on risks in your community Collect information on resources in your community Maintain internal resources Communicate your own skills and knowledge to colleagues Support development of colleagues Inspect premises to minimise risks to people, property and the environment Report on issues arising from an inspection Drive vehicles to incidents Manoeuvre, site and re-deploy vehicles FF4.1 FF4.2 FF4.3 FF5.1 FF5.2 FF5.3 FF6.1 FF6.2 FF6.3 FF7.1 FF7.2 FF8.1 FF8.2 FF9.1 FF9.2 PERSON SPECIFICATION Personal Qualities and Attributes Personal Style Interpersonal Skills Working with Information Organisational Effectiveness Commitment to Diversity and Integrity Openness to Change Confidence and Resilience Working with Others Effective Communication Commitment to Development Problem Solving Situational Awareness Commitment to Excellence Planning and Implementing Political/Organisational Awareness Understands and respects diversity and adopts a fair and ethical approach to others Is open to change and actively seeks to support it Maintains a confident and resilient attitude in highly challenging situations Works effectively with others both within the Fire and Rescue Service and in the community Communicates effectively both orally and in writing Committed and able to develop self and others Understands, recalls, applies and adapts relevant information in an organised, safe and systematic way Maintains an active awareness of the environment to promote safe and effective working Adopts a conscientious and proactive approach to work to achieve and maintain excellent standards N/A N/A FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT RECRUITMENT 01480 444500 26

www.cambsfire.gov.uk