Job responsibilities
Main duties and responsibilities
1. Act as the Trusts designated Fire Safety Lead, maintaining oversight of all fire safety risks and ensuring all relevant policies and procedures are implemented to minimise the risk of fire.
2. Acts as the principal competent person supporting the Responsible Person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
3. Oversee and manage the Fire Safety Risk Assessments process, including the development of action plans and recommendations and monthly reporting to ensure compliance is met.
4. To have a strong understanding and awareness of key regulations, legislation and best practice guidance including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, relevant HTMs, PAS 79, Building Safety Act 2022, The Building Regulations 2010, BS 9999 and other key British Standards.
5. Oversee and manage fire safety training (practical and theory) including mandatory, specific and ad-hoc training. This includes fire extinguisher and fire evacuation chair training.
6. Provide expert advice to the Trust and individual managers/staff on aspects of fire safety.
7. Monitor Trust compliance against the required legislative frameworks providing actions plans for any gaps of budgets or resource deficiencies identified.
8. Oversee and lead on the development of Trust relevant policies and procedures to ensure compliance with legislation.
9. To monitor and report out to the relevant meetings and committees on Trust-wide fire safety compliance.
10. Oversee and manage the Fire Safety Risk Assessments process.
11. Oversee and manage fire evacuation drills. This includes developing the Trust approach to meet requirements and reporting on compliance and improvements.
12. Ensure systems for PEEPs, general evacuation plans, and sitewide fire strategies are fully in place, maintained, and reviewed.
13. To review and investigate near misses, incidents and serious incidents and report on findings as required.
14. Support Learning Response Reviews for fire-related incidents, supporting the Trusts PSIRF approach.
15. To be responsible for developing standards for face-to-face training and where applicable.
16. To carry out research and stay abreast of the latest changes to legislation and best practice guidance.
17. To review relevant policies and procedures in line with changes to legislation and best practice guidance.
18. To lead on the annual AE audit and deliver an action plan to address AE audit requirements.
19. Monitor and report out to the relevant meetings and committees on the Trust wide Fire Safety compliance.
20. Chair a monthly Fire Operational Group to include key stakeholders e.g. Estates, IT, Clinical Teams etc.
21. Chair monthly Estates Action Meetings to discuss environmental related actions following Fire Risk Assessments.
22. Review/audit Fire Risk Assessments completed by Advisors to ensure they are accurate and meet the required standard.
23. To undertake or support staff to undertake a risk assessment in relation to fire safety to ensure controls are in place to reduce risks.
24. Monitoring, reporting and initiating measures to reduce false alarms and unwanted fire signals.
25. Carrying out all duties aligned to fire related HTMs e.g. 05-01/02/03, for compliance to be met.
26. Oversee and lead on the development of Trust relevant policies and procedures to ensure compliance with legislation.
27. Advise on the requirement to complete fire safety strategies and relevant surveys.
28. To assist in the development of the Fire Safety Annual Report which includes completing an annual work programme.
29. To develop and support the implementation of Trust strategy and operational fire policy/procedures to deliver on the standards required.
30. Responsible for promoting a positive work culture.
31. Responsible for maintaining own core competencies and CPD along with supporting Team training and development needs. To ensure these are sufficiently documented and follow best practice guidance.
32. To be mindful about the geography and diversity of the organisation to ensure that policies and procedures are applicable to all areas.
33. Work collaboratively with Project Managers and Estates & Facilities Operational Managers on all proposed construction schemes, refurbishments, and equipment procurements to ensure all fire safety requirements are fully incorporated.
Staff management
34. Manage the Fire Safety Team, their workload and day to day management, provide supervision, undertake the recruitment and selection of staff, taking into account workforce plans and new ways of working.
35. Ensure staff are appraised, in accordance with Trust policies, with individual objectives and personal development plans.
36. Monitor and manage attendance e.g. annual leave, training / study leave and sickness absence, taking appropriate management action as required
37. Delegated budget holder, act as signatory, within authorised limits, in accordance with Standing Financial Instructions and monitor finances to ensure team spend is within budget
Systems and equipment
38. Provide reports on programmes of activity and any associated action plans to relevant meetings.
39. Develop and present reports to relevant meetings such as the Health and Safety Committee, the Fire Safety Strategic Group and the Fire Safety Operational Group.
40. Use the Safeguard incident reporting system to extract information and data suitable for reports.
41. To provide expert advice in relation to all aspects of specialist Fire Safety Management.
42. To provide reports on fire safety related incidents as required for meetings.
43. Lead on updating and supporting the development of the Trusts Risk Management System (Safeguard).
Decisions and judgements
44. Review the fire safety training need analysis.
45. To lead on the development and delivery of the fire safety training programme for staff across the organisation.
46. To be responsible for the appointment of a fire Authorising Engineer (AE) for the Trust.
47. To escalate issues of concern/risk as they arise.
48. To identify possible difficulties in meeting legislation and national standards and assist in the development of strategies to overcome them.
49. Initiative is required to resolve problems.
Communication and relationships
50. Be the liaison between the Authorising Engineer (AE) (Fire) and the rest of the Trust. There is also a requirement to be the lead for AE audit and subsequent action plans.
51. To work with clinical staff and managers to assess, monitor, review risk and analysing issues arising from incidents relating to Fire Safety
52. To communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
53. To work with Estates and Capital teams to assist the development of a capital backlog programme for fire related requirements.
54. To offer fire safety oversight for Capital schemes.
55. Involvement in fire strategy approval for new builds/refurbishments
56. To work with Estates and Capital teams to assist the priority, development and management of the delivery of fire management requirements within budgetary allocations.
57. To work with the Contracts Team to advise on fire related equipment requirements.
58. To work with the Procurement Team to advise on fire related products
59. To be the Fire Safety lead in partnership with the internal and external EPRR leads for Business Continuity Planning.
60. Liaison with external enforcing authorities including being the main point of contact for Fire and Rescue Services. The post holder will build and maintain relationships with Fire and Rescue Services
61. Regular communication of detailed and sometimes sensitive information using verbal communication skills.
Physical demands of the job
62. There is a frequent requirement for sitting in a restricted position for a substantial proportion of the working time either, at a computer desk, in meetings or while driving.
63. There may be a need to review/assess a premises during build or refurbishment and therefore, the post holder may be exposed to noise and hazards such as trip hazards (subject to a risk assessment).
64. The post holder will be required to attend a broad range of premises
65. Requirement to concentrate for long periods of time
66. The post holder would be required to maintain concentration with interruptions on a regular basis.
67. The post holder would be required to meet strict deadlines.
Most challenging/difficult parts of the job
68. The post requires a high level of confidentiality.
69. When reviewing and investigating incidents etc, the post holder will have to exercise judgement as to the best way of handling a complex situation, using tact and diplomacy.
70. Regularly travel across multiple Trust sites.
Please see duties and responsibilities detailed within the Job Description.
