Job summary
An opportunity has arisen for a full-time experienced competent Fire Safety Officer for a 12-month fixed term position, at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust.The Trust has over sixty premises ranging from in-patient mental health buildings to GP practices, and Queen Mary's Hospital Sidcup.
You will have extensive knowledge and experience in the application of Health Technical Memorandums (HTM-05 series Firecode), Health Building Notes (HBN series), Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and the Building Regulations, and their practical implications and application in varied healthcare environments. The Fire Safety Act 2021 and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 also apply to a small number of our premises.
You must act in collaboration with our Estates and Facilities department and our Health and Safety Team. You will be an excellent communicator, able to train other multidisciplinary team members, partners and contractors regarding risks, controls, design requirements and complex procedures, to provide assurance to the Trust board as to fire safety compliance.
Main duties of the job
Ensure compliant standards of fire safety are implemented and maintained across a large and complex Trust. Ensuring legislative compliance, and the continuing development and provision of a safe environment for staff, patients and the public.
Program and conduct a comprehensive programmes of fire safety risk assessments and keep accurate up-to-date records. Communicate the findings of the assessments to the appropriate managers, including where necessary escalation to the Estates department and Head of Safety and Compliance as appropriate.
Deliver a structured program of fire safety drills and keep detailed records and organise and run planned exercises to test efficacy of the implementation of precautionary measures.
Maintain a comprehensive database of the fire safety risk assessments, fire drills, fire safety reports, training material and training records.
Formulate and successfully deliver various fire safety training to staff and managers.
Provide advice to Estates and Facilities staff on the design, build and refurbishment of premises in compliance with HTM-05 series Firecode, building regulations, and legislation.
Provide expert advice and guidance to managers and staff at all levels of the organisation.
About us
Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.
Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:
- We're Kind
- We're Fair
- We Listen
- We Care
Job description
Job responsibilities
Ensure there is compliance with all regulatory provisions regarding fire safety in all Trust owned or operated properties.
- Schedule and conduct a program of fire risk assessments in all Trust occupied or owned premises, working to the standards in Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Health Technical Memorandums (HTMs), Building Regulations, British Standards and other relevant documentation, to ensure the Trust and its buildings comply with current fire legislation.
- Undertaking overarching fire risk assessments in complex hospital buildings, to ensure efficacy of shared arrangements, horizontal evacuation and compartmentation, taking into consideration the profile of occupants.
- Schedule and conduct a comprehensive program of fire drills across all Trust occupied premises, including where necessary outside of core hours to ensure all staff are prepared.
- Be the Trusts lead expert for fire safety, providing expert professional advice to the Trust board and senior management on all current fire safety legislation and RRO.
- Maintain suitable clear structured records of all risk assessments, evacuation plans, fire drills and training, kept and accessible, this includes analysis of same when required.
- Take a leading role within the Trust's Fire Safety Committee and prepare agendas and papers.
- Compile end of month and annual fire safety statistics, analyse and produce reports to inform Head of Safety & Compliance, and the Health & Safety Committee.
- Investigate all incidents of fires and fire alarm actuations. Monitor and Analyse trends and patterns to assist the Trust in learning from fire related incidents.
- To maintain an up-to-date resource base of legislation, codes of practice and other relevant literature. To make the resource readily available to other Estates and Facilities staff.
- To lead, provide expert specialist and professional fire information service, for all capital projects, provide advice to other clients/partners, directors and senior management of the Trust.
- Formulate and deliver a suitable program of fire safety training to a workforce of approximately 4300 staff. Methods to include e-learning, remote training using Microsoft Teams, and face to face training methods as appropriate; include specialist methods where appropriate such as the use of a fire training simulator used in conjunction with fire extinguisher training, and the use of Evac-Chair and other associated evacuation equipment.
- Review with the Head of Safety and Compliance the Trust fire related policies and procedures, updating where appropriate, and communicating to Trust employees.
- Advising and liaising with staff and management at all levels regarding fire safety matters.
- Plan, organise, conduct and report on emergency planning exercises of all types, with an emphasis on fire scenarios, but potentially also covering other emergency planning risk and threat areas. This includes regular communications test exercises, through to live-play exercises with inter-agency involvement i.e. emergency services, other Trusts, Local Health Resilience Forums, Borough Resilience Forums, and other Category 1 & 2 Responders.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Ensure there is compliance with all regulatory provisions regarding fire safety in all Trust owned or operated properties.
- Schedule and conduct a program of fire risk assessments in all Trust occupied or owned premises, working to the standards in Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Health Technical Memorandums (HTMs), Building Regulations, British Standards and other relevant documentation, to ensure the Trust and its buildings comply with current fire legislation.
- Undertaking overarching fire risk assessments in complex hospital buildings, to ensure efficacy of shared arrangements, horizontal evacuation and compartmentation, taking into consideration the profile of occupants.
- Schedule and conduct a comprehensive program of fire drills across all Trust occupied premises, including where necessary outside of core hours to ensure all staff are prepared.
- Be the Trusts lead expert for fire safety, providing expert professional advice to the Trust board and senior management on all current fire safety legislation and RRO.
- Maintain suitable clear structured records of all risk assessments, evacuation plans, fire drills and training, kept and accessible, this includes analysis of same when required.
- Take a leading role within the Trust's Fire Safety Committee and prepare agendas and papers.
- Compile end of month and annual fire safety statistics, analyse and produce reports to inform Head of Safety & Compliance, and the Health & Safety Committee.
- Investigate all incidents of fires and fire alarm actuations. Monitor and Analyse trends and patterns to assist the Trust in learning from fire related incidents.
- To maintain an up-to-date resource base of legislation, codes of practice and other relevant literature. To make the resource readily available to other Estates and Facilities staff.
- To lead, provide expert specialist and professional fire information service, for all capital projects, provide advice to other clients/partners, directors and senior management of the Trust.
- Formulate and deliver a suitable program of fire safety training to a workforce of approximately 4300 staff. Methods to include e-learning, remote training using Microsoft Teams, and face to face training methods as appropriate; include specialist methods where appropriate such as the use of a fire training simulator used in conjunction with fire extinguisher training, and the use of Evac-Chair and other associated evacuation equipment.
- Review with the Head of Safety and Compliance the Trust fire related policies and procedures, updating where appropriate, and communicating to Trust employees.
- Advising and liaising with staff and management at all levels regarding fire safety matters.
- Plan, organise, conduct and report on emergency planning exercises of all types, with an emphasis on fire scenarios, but potentially also covering other emergency planning risk and threat areas. This includes regular communications test exercises, through to live-play exercises with inter-agency involvement i.e. emergency services, other Trusts, Local Health Resilience Forums, Borough Resilience Forums, and other Category 1 & 2 Responders.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Fire Safety Experience
- Fire Safety Qualifications in high risk environments
Desirable
- Additional relevant Qualifications
Experience
Essential
- Experience in Undertaking High Risk Fire Risk Assessments
- NHS Experience in Fire Safety or large Organisation
- Experience in dealing with external Organisations (Cat-1 Responders)
- Experience in Delivering Fire Safety Training Courses
Desirable
- Experience in Working Across Organisational Boundaries
- Experience in Preparing Fire Safety Training Courses
Skills
Essential
- Information technology skills, Microsoft Office packages
- Writing and Producing Expert Reports to Board Level Meetings
- Communication skills
Desirable
- Influencing Skills/Negotiating Ability
- Report Writing on general Fire Safety Data and Statistics
- Prioritising Workload
Knowledge
Essential
- Legislative Knowledge (Firecode/HBNs/Building Regs [Approved Document B])
- In-depth knowledge of Fire Risk Management
Desirable
- Knowledge of EPRR Exercising (Live/Field, Drills, Workshop - Syndicate/Functional - Command Post - CPX/ table top etc.)
- Ability/Knowledge to Undertake Fire Safety Audits, including in Complex Health Care Settings
Environment
Essential
- Leadership/Managerial/Organisational Skills
Desirable
- Evidence of Adaptability with Working in Different Environments/ Under Mental Pressure to Meet Deadlines/Emotional Stressors (MH Wards)
- Physically Fit
Additional
Essential
- Cross Site Experience
- Good Knowledge of English Language
Desirable
- Continued professional Development (Membership of IFE or IFPO)
- Analytical Skills
- Flexibility to Work Out Of Hours
Other Requirements
Essential
- Valid and Current Driving Licence
- Access to Road Worthy, Taxed and Insured Vehicle
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Fire Safety Experience
- Fire Safety Qualifications in high risk environments
Desirable
- Additional relevant Qualifications
Experience
Essential
- Experience in Undertaking High Risk Fire Risk Assessments
- NHS Experience in Fire Safety or large Organisation
- Experience in dealing with external Organisations (Cat-1 Responders)
- Experience in Delivering Fire Safety Training Courses
Desirable
- Experience in Working Across Organisational Boundaries
- Experience in Preparing Fire Safety Training Courses
Skills
Essential
- Information technology skills, Microsoft Office packages
- Writing and Producing Expert Reports to Board Level Meetings
- Communication skills
Desirable
- Influencing Skills/Negotiating Ability
- Report Writing on general Fire Safety Data and Statistics
- Prioritising Workload
Knowledge
Essential
- Legislative Knowledge (Firecode/HBNs/Building Regs [Approved Document B])
- In-depth knowledge of Fire Risk Management
Desirable
- Knowledge of EPRR Exercising (Live/Field, Drills, Workshop - Syndicate/Functional - Command Post - CPX/ table top etc.)
- Ability/Knowledge to Undertake Fire Safety Audits, including in Complex Health Care Settings
Environment
Essential
- Leadership/Managerial/Organisational Skills
Desirable
- Evidence of Adaptability with Working in Different Environments/ Under Mental Pressure to Meet Deadlines/Emotional Stressors (MH Wards)
- Physically Fit
Additional
Essential
- Cross Site Experience
- Good Knowledge of English Language
Desirable
- Continued professional Development (Membership of IFE or IFPO)
- Analytical Skills
- Flexibility to Work Out Of Hours
Other Requirements
Essential
- Valid and Current Driving Licence
- Access to Road Worthy, Taxed and Insured Vehicle
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
