The West Sussex Fire & Rescue service Offers you the chance to help the community

By becoming a Retained Firefighter .

West Sussex Fire & Rescue service is a County Council provided service whose main functions are to save life and property from fire and to provide fire safety and fire prevention advice.

It has statutory duties with regard to firefighting and fire safety, and discretionary powers with regard to other emergencies.

The role of the Fire Service has increased enormously over recent years as equipment and procedures have been developed to enable the service to tackle a wider range of emergencies.

These changes are reflected in the fact that only 30% of all emergencies involve fires, while 20% involve emergency special services such as road traffic accidents, flooding calls and chemical incidents and 50% involve suspected fires.

Fire, rescue and emergency services are provided from the Services 28 fire stations, 19 of which are entirely crewed by retained firefighters and a further 7 employ some retained in the establishment.

Geographically, retained firefighters provide a service to the.majority of the county, although whole-time stations cover the major centres of population.

Providing the fire cover

Fire cover is provided from the 28 fire stations in the county.

Three different types of crewing are employed to ensure the most efficient use of staff resources.

These are: * Whole-time crewing which involves 24 hours a day staffing at the station.

Day crewing

Involving the whole-time staffing of a station between 0830 and 1700 hours.

The whole-time firefighters who have been on duty during the day then respond on a retained basis during the night time.

Retained crewing

Involves crews living and/or working locally to a fire station.

Retained firefighters have another regular occupation and are mobilised using radio-alerters.

They must be able to get to their stations within 4 minutes of being alerted.

Whole-time stations are expected to mobilise the appliances within one minute of our Command & Mobilising Centre receiving a call; retained stations are allowed up to five minutes, but often mobilise in a shorter period.

Recruitment

All retained entrants to the Service join as 'firefighters' and will have common training and promotional opportunities.

You will need:

• To Reside or work within four minutes travelling time of station of appointment.
• Be of good character.
• Be at least 18.
• Have the minimum lung function and aerobic capacity levels required.
• Have the minimum required level of upper body strength.
• Be able to pass a stringent eye sight test to a specified standard, have normal colour vision and not suffer from night blindness .
• Be able to pass a medical examination to strict standards.
• Be able to pass a basic entrance test of:-reading, dictation and elementary arithmetic.
• Be able to pass practical and manual dexterity tests.
  

Conditions of service

Retained firefighters are required to attend their station for training and maintenance duties for at least two hours each week.

Additionally, they are required to attend at least 80% of the incidents occurring during the periods when they provide cover.

The types of cover:

There are various types of cover that retained firefighters can provide:

Full Cover

Available during the entire week giving day, evening and weekend cover:

Three-quarter good day cover

Shift workers whose rotas can, on average, provide 3 days cover out of 5 Monday to Friday (normally between the hours of 0800 to 1700 ) as well as some evenings and weekends.

Three-quarter cover

To be available on either of the following: - Normally between the hours of 1700 and 0800, Monday to Friday, and 24 hours on weekends. - Shift workers giving availability during some day periods.

Evening and weekends.

Day Cover Normally available between the hours of 0800 and 1700 , Monday to Friday.

The retained firefighters job is varied and demanding, every day can bring new and different challenges.

The rural communities of West Sussex are heavily dependent upon part-time firefighters for the provision of fire cover and individuals like yourself who serve the community.

The Selection Process

Retained recruiting courses are held throughout the year and all stages of the selection process are programmed to take place at set intervals.

• Education tests reading, dictation and elementary arithmetic.
• Strength tests - hand grip and leg back pull test.
• Lung function test - vitalograph test
• Aerobic capacity test - multi-stage step test.
• Hearing test - audiogram test.
• Eyesight test - check of normal vision, colour vision and night blindness.
• Physical test - height/weight check References will be taken up at this stage

Successful applicants will proceed to the next stage at the Service Training Centre, Worthing for practical tests.

These are:-

• Physical fitness and stamina.
• Self discipline.
• Determination.
• Ability to work and use initiative as part of a team.
• Ability to work with Fire Service equipment after instruction.
• Ability to absorb and recall technical data.
• Ability to climb and work on ladders without suffering from vertigo.
• Ability to work in dark and confined spaces without suffering from claustrophobia.
• Ability to work in arduous and demanding conditions whilst wearing breathing apparatus.
• Ability to respond to a high level of discipline. Candidates who pass these tests will be interviewed by senior officers.

Those successful at this stage will be issued with a medical package to arrange an appointment for the enrolment medical with one of the Services doctors.

Following receipt of satisfactory references and the medical result, applicants will be enrolled 5 weeks prior to. the appropriate retained recruits' course, which takes place over 6 days (Monday to Saturday).

Initial Training

During the five weeks prior to the retained recruits' course you will receive extensive induction training covering:-

• Service structure.
• Equipment and appliance familiarisation.
• Basic drill procedures.
• Knots and lines.
• Basic health and safety information.

Probationary Period

You will be subject to a probationary period of two years during which time you will be required to attend and satisfactorily complete an initial breathing apparatus course.

Probationary tests are conducted at 6, 12 and 20 month stages and following satisfactory completion your appointment will be confirmed.

Further Training

As soon as possible after your probationary period you will have the opportunity to undertake a road traffic accident course and a pump operators' course.

You will undergo continuous training throughout your service either on your fire station or at the Service Training Centre.

Specialised and progressive training courses for junior officers and station commanders are undertaken at the Fire Service College.

Promotion Opportunities

Promotion is dependent on ability and ambition, examinations are conducted annually to gain qualifications.

Vacancies, open to Women and Men, exist across the county

If you live and/or work within 4 minutes travelling time of a fire station in the county and meet the recruitment profile we'd like to here from you.

You will need to be of good character and pass a battery of physical tests, basic reading, dictation and arithmetic tests and a fire Service medical.

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For more information ring the Personnel Services Unit on
Between 08:30 and 17:00 Monday to Friday

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is an equal opportunities employer applications are
invited from people regardless of ethnic origin, religious belief, gender,
sexual orientation or disability.

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Information Provider Paul Archer
Last Updated Friday March 19, 2004 11:37 AM