GENERAL INFORMATION

Title: Fire Safety Advisor

Band: Band 7

Hours of Duty: 37.5 per week

Annual Leave: 27 days + Bank holidays

29 days after 5 years + Bank holidays
32 days after 10 years + Bank holidays

LINE RELATIONSHIPS

Responsible to: Health & Safety Advisor

Responsible for: No direct reports

JOB PURPOSE

The post-holder will provide professional advice and training for Fire Safety on behalf of
Whittington Health as agreed with the Chief Executive through the Director of Environment
and Health & Safety Advisor.

The post-holder will be responsible for fire safety training of all staff in Whittington Health
Services and will devise, revise and improve training and evacuation methods
commensurate to the needs and requirements of the organisation.

Provide informed advice to the Trust across its estate in relation to Fire Strategies and
management and develop reports and policies required to comply with legislative
requirements and guides such as Firecode.

The post-holder will form part of a multi-disciplinary team whose role is to provide the best
possible Fire Prevention and Safety Service arrangements to Whittington Health Services.
Excellent working relationships with Departmental Managers will be essential to achieving
the post-holder’s objectives. A professional attitude and manner is essential for this role.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1 DETERMINATION OF STRUCTURAL FIRE PROTECTION

1.1 Ensure compliance with legislation by examining and authorising structural provisions
in accordance with risk management strategies.

1.2 Work with and interpret the findings of consultants carrying out condition surveys, in
respect of fire safety.

1.3 Approve and co-ordinate plans prepared for, or on behalf of, Trust Capital Planning
team or other project managers to meet current legislation.

1.4 Advise architects and developers working on behalf of the Trust to ensure standards
are commensurate with current legislation and codes of practice.

2 DEVELOPMENT OF FIRE SAFETY TRAINING

2.1 Responsible for the fire safety training of all staff at Whittington Health Services and
external associated satellites by constantly devising and improving training and
evacuation methods.

2.2 Ensure all staff within the Trust (and Ancillary staff) receive structured training to
maintain their level of responsibility as defined within Firecode.

2.3 Provide training and guidance when required to the Nominated Officer’s and
their deputies regarding their functional responsibilities in respect of the Firecode.

2.4 Monitor and maintain records to provide continuity of training.

2.5 Arrange, direct and summarise, practical exercises designed to test operational
procedures meeting Fire Authority and Firecode standards.

2.6 Provide guidance for and ensure contractors comply with current legislation to
safeguard standards of fire safety.

2.7 Participate in the Major Incident training and relevant groups.

3 COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE

TRUST

3.1 Chief Executive for overall responsibility for fire safety within the Trust.

3.2 Director of Environment as the Exec level member responsible for all day to day fire
safety matters and to drive implementation of Firecode.

3.3 Support Head of Departments to drive implementation of Firecode and ensure the
fire policy is developed and embedded within the organisation.
3.4 Support line managers and staff to ensure compliance with guidance, observing fire
safety policy, understanding fire hazards promotion of fire safety and reporting of all
fire related incidents.

3.5 Support Risk Management, Complaints and Legal Services for the investigation of all
fire related adverse incident reports. Implement procedures and ensure compliance
with and accountability for Fire Safety Controls Assurance.

3.6 Liaise with Clients, patients/visitors and all on the Trust premises.

4. COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS OUTSIDE THE TRUST

4.1 Ability to communicate with other NHS Trusts, to obtain advice to assist maintaining
standards and achieving statutory targets; including Architects, Surveyors and other
consultants working on projects.

4.2 Provide advice to Contractors on site who require regulation on fire safety related
issues.

4.3 Liaise with Building Control Officers to discuss and approve fire safety aspects of
submitted projects in accordance with current Building Regulations.

4.4 Fire Authority Officers who consult on all fire aspects and approached for advice.
They have legislative control over some areas of Trust premises through the
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and other associated relevant
legislation.

4.5 Specialist suppliers promoting fire safety products for approval.

4.6 Clients, patients, visitors and all visitors to the Trust premises.

4.7 Institute of Fire Prevention Officers and the National Association of Healthcare Fire
Officers to keep an open channel of communication to national trends.

5 KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

5.1 Maintain expert knowledge of Firecode suite of documents Fire Safety Standards,
Evacuation Procedures, Portable Fire Fighting Equipment.

5.2 Maintain good working knowledge and have the ability to interpret the above into
Building Regulations, Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Management of
Health and Safety at Work Regulations, relevant British/European Standards and
procedures.

6 ABILITY TO PROVIDE:

6.1 Structural Fire Safety advice in accordance with fire codes.

6.2 Annual training programmes on statutory subjects.

6.3 Annual reports and other reports as required by a range of regulatory bodies or
committees.
6.4 New and update fire procedures.

6.5 Fire scenarios and relate to real life experience.

6.6 Use of own initiative and willingness to take responsibility.

6.7 Motivation and direction to staff.

6.8 Comprehensive and complex information; polices and reports and work within tight
deadlines.

6.9 Work in a challenging and changing environment.

6.10 Manage budgets, revenue and capital funding

7. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

7.1 Compile and annually review fire risk management policy for approval by the Trust
Board.

7.2 Prepare/write and present to the Trust Board an annual report detailing the progress
and work carried out each year.

7.3 Prepare/write, implement and monitor the Trusts’ Fire Safety Strategies / Policies and
procedures, Arson policy, Fire Response team policy those that require fire safety
interaction.

7.4 Monitor, by regular inspection, the fire safety standards in all premises to identify all
deviations from current legislation and codes of practice.

7.5 Apply the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order by completing and recording a fire
risk assessment of all premises to the satisfaction of the fire authority and maintain
and improve, where necessary, fire safety provisions identified by the assessment.

7.6 Report on legislative changes, providing advice for Trust managers, Architects, M&E
consultants and other contractors.

7.7 Highlight the requirement for additional funding where fire safety standards fall below
standards set by current legislation and codes of practice.

7.8 Prioritise fire safety improvements, decide upon acceptable timescales to meet
current standards and evaluate achievement against available funding.

7.9 Establish and monitor an efficient reporting system to identify all incidents which
occur on Trust property.

7.10 Maintain the CQC outcome standards in relation to Fire Safety.

7.11 Attend meetings and communicate information advice as required.

7.12 Advise on areas for fire safety funding and local management issues as required.
7.13 Provide technical and professional, specialist advice on all aspects of Fire Safety for
Whittington Health Services, with the requirement of appraising and inspection of the
structural fire precautions within all capital and other projects.

7.14 Assess and prioritise all fire work arising from fire risk assessment reports.

7.15 Programme, complete and evaluate follow up fire risk assessments.

7.16 Liaise with similar professionals and statutory bodies in relation to the provision of
this service.

7.17. Ability to manage budgets including revenue and capital allocation within rigid
parameters.

Revalidation and Registration

It is the responsibility of all staff registered with a professional body to:

 Act within the Professional Bodies Code of Practice
 Maintain their own work profile to ensure revalidation standards are met, and
assist junior registered staff in achieving revalidation.
 Contribute and participate in the development of nurses and nursing practice
across the trust through leading ward projects, and supporting training.
 Ensure optimum use is made of working time.

Equal Opportunities

Our latest policy known as “Promoting Equality, Diversity and Human Rights” outlines the
Trust’s commitment to ensuring that no job applicant or employee receives less than
favourable treatment on grounds of sex, marital and civil partnership status, gender
reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, colour, creed, religion or belief, physical
disability, mental health, learning difficulty, age or sexual orientation and is not placed at a
disadvantage by conditions or requirements that cannot be shown to be justifiable.

For more information about our policy and commitment to equality, click:
http://www.whittington.nhs.uk/default.asp?c=10505&q=equality ”

Infection control

All staff has a responsibility to prevent and control infections within the Whittington.
This includes ensuring personal and team compliance with all relevant policies,
especially hand hygiene, the trust dress code, and MRSA screening policies.

Working patterns
The Trust is currently exploring ways in which patients can be given more choice about
when they can attend appointments at the hospital. In order to make this possible there
may be a future requirement for administrative staff scheduling appointments for patients to
contact them by telephone in the evenings or at weekends. This means that
administrative staff may be required to work a shift pattern in future. Shifts will not normally
operate beyond 9 pm in the evenings and appropriate pay enhancements will apply. Staff
will be consulted about the introduction of / changes to shift systems.

Staff working in any department where an on 'call rota' operates will be required to
participate in the rota. Managers will discuss with staff the level of 'on call' cover required
taking into account their individual circumstances.

Staff in nursing posts may be requested to work in any area throughout the Trust by the
matron or the site manager.

Health & Safety Policy

Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health and
Safety at Work Act 1974, to ensure that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to
maintain a safe environment for employees and visitors.

Safeguarding children and child protection

To comply with the Trust’s Safe Guarding Children and Vulnerable Adults policies,
procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to
safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults This will
require you to:
 Ensure you are familiar with and comply with the London Child Protection
Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and
young people.
 Ensure you are familiar and comply with the Croydon Multi Agency Safeguarding
Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.
 Ensure you are familiar and comply with local protocols and systems for
information sharing.
 Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines.
 Participate in required training and supervision.
 Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct

Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and
expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Data Protection

This post has a confidential aspect. If you are required to obtain, process and/or use
information held on a computer or word processor you should do it in a fair and lawful way.
You should hold data only for the specific registered purpose and not use or disclose it in
any way incompatible with such a purpose and ought to disclose data only to authorised
persons or organisations as instructed. Breaches of confidence in relation to data will result
in disciplinary action, which may result in dismissal.

Confidentiality
You are required to maintain confidentiality of any information concerning patients or staff
which you have access to or may be given in the course of your work, in accordance with
current policy on confidentiality at Whittington Health.

Whittington Promise to Patients

Whittington Health expects its employees to communicate with colleagues, patients and
visitors in a polite and courteous manner at all times. You are expected to contribute to
improving our patients’ experiences by delivering the Whittington Promise:
 We will be clean
 We will be welcoming and caring
 We will be well organised
 We will offer the best possible treatment
 We will give you information and listen to what you tell us

Carbon Reduction

All staff have a responsibility to contribute to a reduction in the organisation's carbon

footprint. You should actively encourage others through your own actions to reduce their
contribution to carbon emissions. This includes switching off electrical appliances that are
not in use, turning down heating, closing windows, switching off lights and reporting carbon
waste.

Security

It is the responsibility of all employees to work within the security policies and procedures of
the Whittington Health NHS Trust to protect the patients, staff and visitors and the property
of the Trust. This duty applies to the specific work area of the individual and the Hospital in
general. All staff are required to wear official identification badges.

No Smoking

Whittington Health promotes a No Smoking Policy as part of employee’s healthy

living style. You will be required to work within the framework of this policy.
Smoking is not permitted within Whittington Health premises.

Method of Payment

Payment of salaries is made into your bank account/building society account by direct bank
system. Details of a bank account or building society account will be required on the first
day at work. There is no facility for any other form of payment.

Probationary Period

Employment at Whittington Health is offered subject to successful completion of a 6 month

probationary period for all staff with the exception of GMC Registered Doctors

PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Title: Fire Safety Advisor/Trainer Band: 7

Criteria for Essential Desirable How

Selection Requirements
Education and  Science or engineering
Qualifications based education; or
extensive experience of
fire safety
 Member of Institute of Fire
Engineers or other
professional Fire body e.g.
Institute of Fire Prevention
Officers
 NAHFO – membership
required or gained
 Degree or significant
experience of fire safety
management
Requirements tested
 Record of continuous A, I
professional
development over a
range of issues;
including legislation
updates, management
policies, sustainability
agenda etc
 Fire Service
background
 Evidence of negotiation
and conflict resolution
within an operational
estates and facilities
environment.

 Experience of fire
healthcare safety

Experience and  Detailed knowledge of A, I

knowledge Firecode
(as defined by type /  Understanding of fire
level(not length) modelling techniques

 Knowledge of risk
management techniques

 Significant experience in
Fire Safety and in a
operational / management
environment with a
portfolio to demonstrate
proven track record and
wide range of expertise

 Fire Safety Legislation and

Codes of Practice

 Fire engineering

 Fire Safety Training and

Fire Safety Audits
Skills and A, I
Abilities  Excellent communicator at  Face to face
all levels facilitation, negotiation
and influencing skills
 Ability to compile accurate,
complex and concise
reports

 Ability to complete
complex documentation

 Ability to organise self and

others

 Ability to manage a budget

and competently monitor
high levels of financial
expenditure

 Ability to work as part of a

team

 Self Motivated

 Literate and Numerate

 Flexible and adaptable in

order to meet competing
complex priorities

 Proficient IT skills

Personal  Tolerant, diplomatic.  Teaching/Presentation A/I

Attributes
 Enthusiastic for chosen
profession and looking to
implement innovative
methods of working.
 Flexibility with working
arrangements.
skills
 Demonstrate an ability
to be practical,
efficient, calm, tolerant
and reassuring

 Personally resilient and

tenacious

 Able to actively support

and respond to a major
incident, with appropriate
adjustments to the work
environment where
necessary

 Management skills

 Training skills
Approved by:

Manager…………………………………………… Date …………………..