Fire Safety Advisor

Job responsibilities

To be a member of the Fire Safety Team, maintain and deliver Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and ensure Trust compliance with all statutory legislation and regulations concerning Fire

To ensure that the Estates operational teams are compliant with Trust policies and procedures and that these documents are up to date

Support the Head of Fire Safety with expertise on fire matters

Compile and regularly review all risks appertaining to the fire system infrastructure, leading to the delivery of safe practice and measures to minimise the impact of risks

Providing expert advice on fire legislation. Providing expert technical advice on the application and interpretation of fire safety guidance, including DoH's Firecode as identified in HTM 05-01

Support the Head of Fire Safety in producing reports on performance as required.

Support the Head of Fire Safety in carrying out assurance audits within the Trust to ensure compliance.

Support the Head of Fire safety in actively managing the assurance of the Trust Fire Safety Policy, ensuring the required compliance and quality is achieved, within budget to include controls, assurance, planning and forecasting expenditure where required.

Be a positive role model and actively promote the Trust's vision and strategic aims, and values.

Work with members of the Trust and key stakeholders to develop and maintain a positive reputation for efficiency and operational responsiveness.

Act as the trust representative to professional bodies i.e. The Institute of Fire Engineers and National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers.

In the absence of the Head of Fire safety ensure the day-to-day implementation of the fire safety policy.

Assisting in the development, implementation, monitoring and review of the organisations fire safety management system.

Reporting of non-compliance with legislation, policies, and procedures to the Head of Fire Safety.

Providing expert advice on fire legislation.

Raising awareness of all fire safety features and their purpose throughout the trust.

Ensuring that fire risk assessments are reviewed, recorded and suitable action plans devised.

Ensuring that risks identified in the fire risk assessments are included in the trust's risk register as appropriate.

The reporting of fire incidents in accordance with trust policy and external requirements.

The assessment of fire risks within premises owned, occupied or under the control of the Trust liaison with the enforcing authorities on technical issues.

Give advice on the technical requirements for fire safety projects, Fire Risk Assessments and the Enforcement process under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

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

Develop & maintain a fire safety assurance system; undertake peer performance reviews; the co-ordination of day-to-day activities for the corporate management of fire safety within the Trust, and the development and implementation of the fire safety strategy.

Prepare and monitor fire risk assessments of premises as required by fire safety legislation and ensure the dissemination and practical application of fire risk assessments to functional heads and staff with specific fire responsibilities.

Maintenance of corporate fire safety records, and the development of local fire safety manuals for Trust premises

Fire safety advice on the interpretation and implementation of Fire-code and other legislation and provide fire safety advice and assistance to other employers where two or more of their staff share Trust premises.

Advise on fire emergency planning and the impact with security issues and the organisation's contingency plans. Develop and maintain an effective site fire tactical plan with security and the Fire and Rescue Service. Ensure the availability, currency and dissemination of fire strategy drawings incorporating fire hazards.

Assist in the delivery of the mandatory fire safety training programme and maintenance of training records.

Support the Head of Fire Safety with the liaison of the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS), and undertake the corrective actions required because of enforcing action by DSFRS.

Assist in the regular maintenance of fire safety risks on the Trust's Risk Register.

In the absence of the Head of Fire safety attend fire safety and health & safety meetings.

Liaison with external enforcing authorities, trust managers and the Authorising Engineer (Fire).

Monitoring the inspection and maintenance of fire safety systems to ensure it is carried out.

Ensuring that suitable fire safety audits are undertaken, recorded and the outcomes suitably reported.

Assist operational managers in the arrangement of practical fire drills and exercises with DSFRS to test local fire procedures.

Undertake specialist investigations of all fire incidents, producing appropriate reports and to report following Serious Untoward Incidents and Critical Incident Reviews.

Record, investigate & report on fire incidents and unwanted fire signals. 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.

Advise on the strategy for reducing unwanted fire signals within the organisation and liaise with local Fire Authority as part of the total fire safety strategy.

Support and represent the role on relevant Trust wide groups, and support and participate in clinical work with regards to arson prevention and fire-setting groups.

Monitor and audit the provision, positioning, availability, effective maintenance and record keeping of all firefighting equipment, fire hydrants, automatic fire doors, fire dampers, fire alarm systems and other fire safety equipment in accordance with Fire-code British Standards and other current legislation. Develop and produce fire safety maintenance regimes as required.

Recommending prioritised actions in respect of fire safety improvements for Capital investment where appropriate and periodic reports regarding the state of the current Fire Safety arrangements within the Trust.

Advise on the planning and design of new or existing buildings/structures in respect fire arrangements and fire precautions, compliance with applicable fire standards and legislation at both design and construction completion stages.

Support any changes needed in response to recommendations on changes to service delivery made by internal and external bodies including audit etc.

Support the delivery of change by supporting innovation, flexible working and staff involvement, through effective communication, team briefing and liaison and building of relationships with staff at all levels.

Qualifications

Essential

• Science- or engineering-based education or equivalent; or experience of fire safety
• Certificate in Training Practice or equivalent or experience of preparing and delivering training
• Membership of a professional organisation (e.g. the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE); the Institute of Fire Prevention Officers (IFPO))
• Working towards Continued professional development in Fire Safety Specialist Courses

Desirable

• Fire engineering/ fire safety degree or other relevant academic qualification or equivalent
• Corporate membership of professional organisation (Institution of Fire Engineers; Institution of Occupational Safety and Health)
• Professional qualification in a fire-related subject or equivalent
• Training in healthcare fire safety or equivalent
• Registered as a fire risk assessor with a recognised accreditation body

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience in fire safety
• Practical knowledge and interpretation of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
• Proven experience of preparing & delivering training courses
• Proven experience of working across organisational boundaries to improve standards
• Proven experience of working with external agencies & influencing internal change
• Demonstrable experience & knowledge of undertaking fire risk assessments

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience in the application of Firecode
• Knowledge of risk management techniques
• Practical knowledge and interpretation of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
• Practical knowledge and interpretation of the Building Regulations 2010

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Advanced & effective negotiating/ influencing skills & ability to develop & maintain constructive relationships with professional & managerial disciplines
• Advanced & effective verbal & written communication skills
• A clear Understanding of the principles of risk assessment
• The ability to prioritise and manage a varied and unpredictable work pattern.
• Initiative-taking & resourceful with a proactive approach to problem-solving
• Innovator with a cheerful outlook & willingness to take responsibility
• Initiative-taking & the ability to use own initiative
• Good collaborator
• Ability to work within a changing environment
• Willingness to participate in continued professional development
• Able to satisfy the physical demands of the job.
• Occasional working at heights and in confined spaces for example scaffold or roof voids.
• Occasional moderate physical effort required as duties dictate for example evacuation of patients etc.
• Occasional moving of heavy equipment for example extinguishers, training equipment

Desirable

• Ability to assimilate, analyse & present complex problems, identify necessary action, make recommendations & ensure actions are implemented
• Active interest in own self-development

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).