Job summary
Do you have extensive knowledge of fire safety legislation and regulations? Have you successfully managed fire safety in complex capital or refurbishment projects? Are you passionate about working collaboratively with clinical and non-clinical teams to keep people safe?
This could be the role for you!
As Capital Principal Fire Officer, you will play a pivotal role in embedding fire safety into all capital and refurbishment projects across our Trust. Your expertise will ensure that fire safety remains a central priority from design through to delivery.
You'll lead on reviewing fire strategies, risk assessments, and design proposals, providing technical advice on both passive and active fire protection systems. You'll also ensure compliance with statutory duties, NHS Fire Code, and the Building Safety Act, while maintaining robust governance and assurance processes.
Main duties of the job
Duties of your role will include:
- Act as the fire safety lead advisor for Trust-wide capital projects.
- Review and challenge fire strategies, risk assessments, and design proposals.
- Ensure compliance with statutory duties, NHS Fire code/HTMs, Building Safety Act 2022, and Regulation 38.
- Provide expert technical advice on passive and active fire safety systems.
- Maintain documentation to support strategic decisions.
- Lead governance and assurance processes, ensuring fire safety information is captured and maintained.
In return, you will receive:-
- A competitive starting salary and unsocial enhancements
- Access to a raft of national and local discount schemes including shopping, holidays and insurance
- An industry leading pension where your employer pays in 20.6% of your annual salary!
- 27+8 days annual leave per year, paid leave including absence
About us
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as 'Good' overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond.
As a forward-thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.
UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description attached to this vacancy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description attached to this vacancy.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Extensive knowledge of fire safety legislation and regulations, as well as the NHS Fire Safety Code
- Proven ability to develop and implement effective fire safety policies and procedures
- Experience of working in a complex and demanding environment, such as the NHS
- Experience of managing fire safety budgets
- Experience of accurately interpreting complex information and the ability to communicate to those without technical knowhow
Skills
Essential
- Ability to complete complex fire investigations and the development of investigation reports
- Skill to communicate and explain fire legislation, risks, investigations, reports, etc., to Fire Safety Committee and internal or external stakeholders
- Ability to develop and monitor action plans to mitigate identified fire risks
- Demonstrable knowledge of construction processes, design governance, and fire strategy development.
- Experience of managing fire safety input into capital/refurbishment projects
Desirable
- Understanding of the specific fire safety challenges faced by the NHS.
Qualifications
Essential
- Master's Degree, equivalent professional qualifications and/or substantial demonstrable experience in a similar role or setting
- Professional Registration with either: IFE, NAFSO, AFSM,FPA, IOSH
- Full, driving licence, valid in the UK and with no more than 3 penalty points
Desirable
- Formal qualification in construction
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Extensive knowledge of fire safety legislation and regulations, as well as the NHS Fire Safety Code
- Proven ability to develop and implement effective fire safety policies and procedures
- Experience of working in a complex and demanding environment, such as the NHS
- Experience of managing fire safety budgets
- Experience of accurately interpreting complex information and the ability to communicate to those without technical knowhow
Skills
Essential
- Ability to complete complex fire investigations and the development of investigation reports
- Skill to communicate and explain fire legislation, risks, investigations, reports, etc., to Fire Safety Committee and internal or external stakeholders
- Ability to develop and monitor action plans to mitigate identified fire risks
- Demonstrable knowledge of construction processes, design governance, and fire strategy development.
- Experience of managing fire safety input into capital/refurbishment projects
Desirable
- Understanding of the specific fire safety challenges faced by the NHS.
Qualifications
Essential
- Master's Degree, equivalent professional qualifications and/or substantial demonstrable experience in a similar role or setting
- Professional Registration with either: IFE, NAFSO, AFSM,FPA, IOSH
- Full, driving licence, valid in the UK and with no more than 3 penalty points
Desirable
- Formal qualification in construction
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).
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).
Employer details
Employer name
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)
Address
Bristol Royal Infirmary
Upper Maudlin Street
Bristol
BS2 8HW
Employer's website
https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
