Become a fire control operator
You don’t need to have had experience in a fire control setting before. Just great communication skills and a passion to help your community.
Who we're looking for
Calm and collected
You’ll have to remain level-headed while dealing with high-pressured situations and making decisions.
A team player
You’ll work as a wide-reaching team across many organisations, so you’ll need to be a confident communicator.
Extreme attention to detail
Capturing the information accurately is crucial, so you’ll need to be able to listen carefully and know the right questions to ask to receive and record the necessary information.
Resilient and reassuring
Maintaining a balance between giving clear, direct advice to help someone in an emergency, while having a compassionate tone to someone who might be having the worst day of their life.
Essential criteria
You must:
- be at least 18 years old to apply. There is no maximum age limit for applications
- have no unspent criminal convictions
- have a good level of English and Maths. You do not need any formal qualifications but will be tested on this during the application process, as you’ll need to be able to give instructions and communicate effectively with your team and members of the public.
Terms of work
Salary
As a trainee Fire Control operator, your starting salary is £22,198. You'll earn £29,587 when fully competent.
Working pattern
You will work in shift patterns of two days on followed by two nights on and then four days’ rest.
The hours are 9am to 6pm and 6pm to 9am. This reflects the wholetime firefighter working pattern.
Training and progression
There is a designated training team for new recruits. You’ll spend the first part of your training working Monday – Friday daytime shifts, as well as spending time with the duty watches.
You’ll learn about the service resources, equipment, call handling, how to use the mobilising system, and apply policy and procedures.
After this training, you’ll have two years of development, after which you’ll be fully competent.
But you’ll be supported throughout your time in Fire Control, with refresher training and great opportunities for progression. Many of our staff are also on-call firefighters too, as the working hours compliment this perfectly.
Application process
Step one:
You’ll need to submit a written application to demonstrate your skills and experience.
Step two
If you’re shortlisted, you’ll go through a further selection process and sit tests.
These include:
- Typing test – 30 words per minute with 90% accuracy required.
- Aptitude test – This is a multi-tasking test that will test your ability to recall information and input information at the same time.
- Pre-learning test – Before the test, you’ll be given some information to learn which you’ll then need to recall using our systems.
- Online verbal reasoning test – In this timed test, you’ll be given some passages of information and will have to decide whether you think the statements are true, false or whether it’s not possible to say.
- Practical assessment – You’ll use the fire service mobilising system and will be given scenarios. It’s here that you’ll have to follow instructions, complete tasks and recall information while problem-solving and thinking quickly.
Step three
Following the tests, you’ll be invited to an interview. A panel made up of three Service employees (normally a line manager and representative from Human Resources) will ask you specific questions.
Step four
Appointment to role is then subject to proof of nationality, eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.
Benefits
Pension scheme
All new starters can join the local government pension scheme.
Annual leave
To help you plan your life outside of work, you’ll know your schedule a year in advance. The holiday allowance is 30 days, made up of scale A and scale B leave, plus public holidays, rising to 33 days after you’ve worked for us for five years.
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Scale A leave (25 days) - three blocks of seven days plus four single days
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Scale B leave (5 days) - leave that may be taken at the request of the employee on any duty day, including successive days, subject to the exigencies of the Service.
Family leave
We’re committed to making sure that our staff have the ability to balance their career with their role as a parent or carer too. Read more about family leave.
Someone to talk to
Life has its challenges, but with us you’ll never have to face them alone. Everyone in the organisation has free access to counselling, and support is also available for family members too. We also have trained staff supporters and mental health first aiders who are there whenever you need someone to talk to. As members of the Service, you and your family can access physical, emotional and social support through The Fire Fighters Charity whether you’re currently serving or retired. Find out more on the Fire Fighters Charity website.
Physiotherapy
Every member of staff can have sessions with a physiotherapist for free, helping you maintain your physical health.
Free gym access
With a free on-site gym at Service Headquarters, it’s even easier for you to stay fit and healthy; no matter what role you’re in.
Fitness coaching
From dietary plans to exercise advice, we’ll support you to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle with support from our fitness team.
Eye care
We recognise that your role means you spend a lot of time looking at a screen. That’s why you’ll get a voucher towards bi-annual eye tests and a new pair of glasses.
Free parking
There is free parking for staff at Service Headquarters.
Discounts
You’ll be able to access the Blue Light Card scheme, which gives members of emergency services discounts online and on the high street. We’ve also partnered with lots of local organisations who will give you access to discounts and freebies too.
Affordable healthcare
We’ve teamed up with award-winning healthcare provider, Benenden Health, a mutual not-for-profit society, to give our staff access to a wide range of healthcare services (such as round-the-clock reassurance from a GP). All members pay the same low monthly fee regardless of age and any pre-existing medical conditions.
Sports and social
From martial arts to mountaineering, there are lots of staff-run activity groups you can sign up to, offering a space to socialise and boost your fitness in a fun way!
Progression
We'll help you reach your goals. Whatever your career ambitions, there are lots of opportunities to progress in the Service, and we have a dedicated training academy too.
Our values
We are proud to help
We show this by doing what we say we will do and seeing things through to the end, demonstrating high standards, working hard and doing our best to get the right outcomes, being motivated, keen and willing to give things a go.
We are honest
We show this by being open, clear and realistic, admitting and learning from mistakes, showing trust and being trustworthy, being responsible and accountable.
We are respectful
We show this by being consistent and giving credit where it's due, always being polite, considerate and treating people fairly, genuinely listening, involving and engaging others, being inclusive to all.
We are working together
We show this by understanding others needs and appreciating their demands, positively challenging, sharing ideas and giving feedback, supporting others and giving practical help and advice, being willing to adapt and change to get the best results.