Fire Safety Officer

Job description

Job responsibilities

Provide professional input to all matters relating to fire prevention and precaution issues affecting, or likely to affect the management of Trust fire safety. Maintain and develop specialist knowledge on current trends and keep abreast of relevant legislation.

Provide interpretation and application of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) and other official guidance in respect of fire safety in NHS premises. Ensure that fire safety statutory compliance is achieved and maintained.

Create/review organisational policies and procedures relating to fire safety and ensure they are up to date. To be fully conversant with, and involved in, the Trust Risk Management system (QSAFE); in particular, incident reporting, hazard identification and risk assessment.

Assist the Director of Strategic Projects and the Head of Health and Safety in the development, dissemination and implementation of the Trust Fore Safety Policy/Strategy. Work with operational managers to ensure that fire safety is managed in line with the organisations strategy/policy documents. Ensure the effective and appropriate translation of fire safety strategy into practical application.

Assist the Director of Strategic Projects and Assistant Director of Estates and Planning in the compilation of information for the annual fire safety review/Premises Assurance Model (PAM). Collate evidence to enable the Chief Executive Officer to sign the annual certificate of fire safety management.

Carry out suitable and sufficient fire risk assessments as per the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO). Undertake specialist fire risk assessments within clinical and non-clinical secure environments as required. Ensure the dissemination and practical application of fire risk assessments to functional; heads and staff with specific fire responsibilities,

Recommend prioritised actions in respect of fire safety improvements for Capital Investment with appropriate and periodic reports regarding the state of fire precautions within the Trust. Communicate complex fire safety-related information to senior managers and staff.

Provide a specialist role in fire emergency planning, the impact with security issues ad the organisations business continuity plans. Ensure the availability, currency and dissemination of fire strategy drawings incorporating fire hazards.

Assist operational managers in the arrangement of practical fire drills and recommend remedial action when necessary.

Advise on the planning and design of new or existing buildings/structures with particular emphasis on specifications for fire precautions, compliance with applicable fire legislation at both design and construction stages. Ensure appropriate measures are developed and maintained to control the activities of contractors working on site and ensure their activities do not compromise the fire precautions.

Undertake specialist investigations of all fire incidents, producing appropriate reports for the Head of Health and Safety and the local manager with responsibility for fire safety issues.

Maintain comprehensive records of all fire incidents and investigations ensuring that trends are identified and that advice is given to the appropriate parties for remedial action to reduce incidents. Assist in the development of a strategy for reducing unwanted fire signals within the organisation and liaise with the Local Fire Authority as part of the overall fire safety strategy.

Establish and maintain contact with professional bodies, manufacturers and suppliers within the fire safety fields to maintain knowledge of technical developments, product appraisal and national trends.

Take an active role in appropriate Trustwide, divisional and departmental meetings.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Level 4 fire risk assessment qualification or equivalent

Desirable

• Membership of the Institute of Fire Engineers or equivalent

Experience

Essential

• Experience in the application of Fire Safety legislation, especially HTM-05.
• Experience in competently assessing and documenting fire-related risk

Desirable

• Fire risk assessments and audits within a healthcare environment.

Skills

Essential

• Comprehensive knowledge of current fire safety legislation, especially HTM-05.
• Comprehensive working knowledge of fire detection, emergency lighting and other systems in relation to fire precautions.
• Highly developed specialist knowledge across the range of fire procedures and practices underpinned by theoretical knowledge and relevant practical experience.
• Good oral and written communication skills with the ability to prepare reports and policies and present across a diverse audience.
• Ability to assimilate and analyse large amounts of information quickly and accurately

Desirable

• Working knowledge of NHS or other public sector environments.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Lowestoft Road

Great Yarmouth

NR31 6LA

Employer's website

https://www.jpaget.nhs.uk/work-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)