The Role
Leading Firefighter Transferee
Salary: £47,010 per annum (inclusive of London Weighting)
The London Fire Brigade are currently welcoming Expressions of Interest (EoI) from competent Leading firefighters (Crew Managers) considering transferring to London, currently employed by a UK Local Authority Fire Service on a whole-time contract.
We are looking for the best people to join the organisation and support us to provide London with a world class fire and rescue service, which is trusted to serve and protect London’s diverse communities.
London Fire Brigade is the busiest fire and rescue service in the country, and one of the largest firefighting and rescue organisations in the world. As such you will support us to serve our complex, diverse and dynamic city of 8.9 million residents as well as those who work in or visit the city.
It is an exciting and challenging time to join us. We continue to focus our efforts on prevention and protection, as well as providing a first-class operational response to a range of emergencies. You will be mobilised to a vast range of operational incidents providing you with the opportunity to experience, develop and learn new skills.
The Brigade can offer opportunities to further develop your skills into areas of specialist capabilities and support career progression through promotional pathways.
The environment we operate in is ever-changing. That’s why the London Fire Brigade must be fully equipped to respond effectively to London’s needs which range from the challenges of the pandemic to making improvements to our service from the recommendations of the Grenfell Inquiry and HMICFRS inspection. The Brigade plans its service to respond to every situation so that the highly skilled and trained firefighters are sent to resolve incidents in the most effective way.
The LFB are committed to fostering and embedding a culture of togetherness so that every member of staff feels respected and valued regardless of their gender, sexuality, race or religion and that everyone feels able to bring their whole self to work, feeling a sense of belonging in the Brigade because they can be themselves.
We have made important progress in terms of the diversity profile of our staff, but there is much more to do. London is a wonderfully diverse city and we have an ambitious Togetherness Strategy to promoting fairness, tackle discrimination, and remove the barriers that prevent people reaching their full potential.
Our Values
The post holder will be required to role model the Brigade’s values and apply them at work. The values are a set of guiding principles that will help us to create a safe and professional workplace culture, and to achieve LFB’s vision to be trusted to serve and protect London.
Our values are:
• Service: we put the public first.
• Integrity: we act with honesty
• Courage: we step up to the challenge
• Teamwork: we work together and include everyone
• Learning: we listen so that we can improve.
• Equity: we treat everyone according to their needs.
The values build on the NFCC Code of Ethics which apply to every member of the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) in the UK. The values will sit at the heart of everything we do and be built into LFB’s policies and processes so that they are understood and upheld. Post holders will play an important role in bringing the values to life. The values are different from our previous behaviours because they tell us not just how to behave, but why. This is important following the Culture Review. The values are underpinned by a framework that describes the behaviours that best demonstrate each value. Our existing behaviours fit into this framework.
You could be one of those firefighters, responding in one of the most challenging and exciting urban environments in the world.
Role details
To provide a round-the-clock service to London, we operate a two shift, four-watch system.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply, candidates must be:
• A serving whole-time operational competent, substantive Leading firefighter/Crew Manager within a UK local authority fire service. Please note this is for substantive transfers only and is not a promotional process.
• Have no current/outstanding development action plans or capability issues related to competency.
• Be free of current formal disciplinary sanctions.
• Applicants must hold a full UK driving licence.
Please note that:
• Priority will be given to applicants who hold a specialist skill(s) who meet service needs.
• Confirmation of competency in all units of the role map will be required, if you do not currently have all units complete, we will be unable to proceed with your application.
• We cannot accept applications from any on-call Leading firefighters currently undertaking a temporary, casual or zero hour Wholetime contract (or contract to that effect).
Assessment Overview
Stage 1
Application closing date: 4 PM on Wednesday, 31 January 2024.
To apply, please complete the on-line application form and submit an expression of interest of no more than 500 words explaining why you want to join the London Fire Brigade and what skills, behaviours and experience you could bring to the role.
Please ensure you give yourself enough time to complete and submit your application. Late or un-submitted applications cannot be accepted.
Please note any correspondence received from us will be via e-mail and sent to the address you provide on your application form.
If shortlisted, candidates will be invited to stage 2.
Stage 2 (from January 2024 onwards)
A Knowledge Test (Pass mark 75% or above) Bibliography for the Knowledge Test attached. Please send an email to assessmentcentre@london-fire.gov.uk to request the policies. We advise candidates to begin studying for the test now. Please note that the Knowledge test is pass/fail.
Structured Interview
Interview based on the Experience, Skills and LFB Behaviours and Values (a score of at least 70%)
Interview questions will be based on the LFB Behaviours and Values. They will be relevant to the Leading Firefighter role and will provide an opportunity for the candidates to describe the experience, knowledge, and skills they have developed in that role in temporary positions or through acting up. Interviews will last no more than 50 minutes. The interview will also include questions around Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
Please note that the interview will be split into two sections, part 1 will focus on the behaviours and values and in order to be successful candidate must achieve 70% or above. Part 2 will focus on ED&I and candidates are required to score 75% or above, those who score below 75% will have failed.
Please be advised that if you are unable to make the scheduled assessment dates, we may not be able to make alternative arrangements. Therefore, please state in your application form all unavailable dates from January 2024 onwards to attend the assessment stages.
Please note that candidates who sit on a panel following the round will only remain on this panel for 12 months or until the next promotion round, therefore candidates are advised to carefully consider any offer of promotion.
In accordance with the promotions guidance this advert sets out the structure and guidance that will be followed in this promotion round.
Additional Information
Additional points
• If you live alone and are on a limited budget, and looking to move to London we may be able to help you with accommodation. We have some refurbished accommodation available in three attractive locations: Acton, Clapham and West Hampstead. Contact PropertySPQ@london-fire.gov.uk to find out more.
In line with the Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) employment checks will be completed by successful candidates, which will include a basic criminal records check. Successful candidate will be required to declare any convictions for offences which are not spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and any offer of employment is subject to the LFC receiving a criminal records disclosure which it considers satisfactory. Successful candidates should apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to get a copy of their criminal record and share the original disclosure certificate with the LFC. The check will only show convictions that are not ‘spent’. It will cost the successful candidates £18 (current charge) and usually takes up to 14 days.
Following the Culture Review, we’re making a permanent shift in our approach to leadership. It is the responsibility of our leaders to set and uphold high standards and value transparency, accountability and fairness.
We value the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities across London. The London Fire Commissioner is an Equal Opportunities Employer and we positively welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people’s age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. We have guidance in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability.
