Lead Fire Safety Advisor
Posted 5 hours 51 minutes ago by NHS
The Lead Fire Safety Advisor will provide expert professional advice and support to the Trust's managers, staff, and partners to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Act 2005 and supporting Health Technical Memorandum 05 - Fire Safety in Healthcare requirements. They will provide specialist advice to design consultants, Estates Capital staff, Local Building Control and West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Services (WYFRS) in the specification of structural fire safety precautions in existing and new premises incorporating HTM 05 Fire Safety in Healthcare requirements, acting as the competent person under HTM 05 and representing the Trust at networking groups. They will develop training packages for staff regarding fire and provide fire safety training to all staff, partners, resident contractors, and volunteers ensuring compliance with the National Occupational Standards for fire training. They will undertake regular fire risk assessment of areas within the hospital and community buildings and support delivery of the Annual Fire report.
Job responsibilities- Maintain and update CHFT fire strategy in line with changing legislation and developments.
- Prepare and submit an Annual Fire Safety report to the Trust Board detailing progress and proposed improvements.
- Ensure up-to-date fire risk assessments for each location, share action plans, and verify implementation.
- Act independently in managing fire safety risk issues, including authority to stop unsafe work by staff and contractors.
- Escalate and record fire safety risks on the Trust Risk Register.
- Arrange and carry out fire drills/evacuations with departmental or health centre managers.
- Coordinate with Estates Manager and PFI Estates Manager to keep firefighting equipment maintained, available, and ensure PPMs are carried out.
- Provide instruction and practice on safe use of patient and personnel emergency evacuation procedures.
- Investigate fire related incidents, share learning, and reduce recurrence risk.
- Give expert fire advice to the organisation regarding fire in development of services and buildings.
- Maintain liaison with West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, arrange site visits and drills, and inform them of fire protection arrangements and water supply availability.
- Support the training of a Trainee Fire Safety Advisor.
- Ensure fire safety related budgets and contracted services are delivered within agreed allocation.
- Maintain professional development, attend safety training, and comply with Trust policies and equal opportunity policy.
- Science or engineering based education; or extensive experience of fire safety.
- Certificate in Training Practice or extensive experience of preparing and delivering training.
- Membership of a professional organisation (Institution of Fire Engineers IFE, Institute of Fire Prevention Officers IFPO).
- Level 4 Diploma in Fire Safety or equivalent.
- Registered as a fire risk assessor with a recognised accreditation body.
- Fire engineering/fire safety degree or other relevant academic qualification.
- Corporate membership of other professional organisations (Institute of Fire Engineers, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health IOSH).
- Professional qualification in a fire related subject.
- Training in healthcare fire safety.
- Substantial experience of working in fire safety.
- Ability and experience of devising, preparing and delivering training courses.
- Extensive experience working across organisational boundaries to improve standards.
- Experience and knowledge of undertaking fire risk assessments.
- Knowledge of fire safety, fire risk management, fire legislation and codes of practice & fire safety training.
- Ability to undertake fire safety audits.
- Practical knowledge and interpretation of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
- Understanding of fire modelling techniques.
- Knowledge of risk management techniques.
- Practical knowledge of the Building Regulations 2010.
- Knowledge of medical gases.
- Previous experience in the NHS or Local Authority setting or a similar complex environment.
- Ability to analyse, present complex problems, recommend actions, and ensure implementation.
- Experience of working with external agencies and influencing internal change.
- Ability to concentrate for long periods and prioritise varied, unpredictable work.
- Good organisational skills, practical and methodical project planning, ability to manage multiple concurrent schemes.
- Ability to satisfy physical demands of the job: occasional work at heights, confined spaces, moderate effort for evacuations, moving heavy equipment.
- Knowledge and experience of applying Firecode.
- Highly developed negotiating and influencing skills; ability to develop and maintain constructive relationships with professional and managerial disciplines.
- Highly developed verbal and written communication skills.
- Highly motivated and resourceful; proactive problem solving approach.
- Innovator with a positive attitude and willingness to take responsibility.
- Self motivated and able to use own initiative.
- Ability to work across the CHFT footprint, including community settings.
- Good team player.
- Adaptability to changing environment.
- Willingness to participate in continued professional development and active interest in self development.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.