Firefighter - on call

Location: Tamworth Mercia, Abbots Bromley, Barton-under-Needwood, Biddulph, Brewood, Burslem, Burton-on-Trent, Cannock, Chase Terrace, Cheadle, Codsall, Eccleshall, Gnosall, Hanley, Ipstones, Kidsgrove, Kinver, Leek, Lichfield, Loggerheads, Longnor, Longton, Newcastle, Penkridge, Rugeley, Tutbury, Uttoxeter, Wombourne.

On-call Firefighters are paid a proportion of full-time Firefighter salary depending on their on-call hours (declaration of availability), number of incidents they attend, training and progression. On-call firefighters are a crucial part of the Fire Service - they provide an efficient and effective emergency service to our communities across Staffordshire.

What is an On-call firefighter? On-Call Firefighters provide an emergency response from either their home or work base and are notified by an alerter when their assistance is needed – which could be any time day or night. To be eligible to apply you need to live or work close to an on-call fire station. All applicants will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

After their initial training course, on-call firefighters attend weekly drill nights at their station with the rest of the crew to ensure they maintain their skills, in addition to which there are many more opportunities for training throughout the year. As well as responding to emergencies, on-call firefighters can also get involved in community fire safety initiatives in their local area, including safe & well and school visits.

Find out if being a Firefighter may be the right career for you. This self-assessment test will give you a good idea of whether or not your perception of what is needed to be an on-call firefighter is correct. If you can answer yes to all of these questions then this may be the right career for you!

• Would you like to be part of a profession where you can put your life skills into action every day?
• Would you like to work as part of a team?
• Would you like to work in the community meeting new people, being in new situations and meeting new challenges?
• Are you willing to work nights, evenings, weekends and public holidays including Christmas and New Year?
• Are you ready to work outdoors in cold, hazardous conditions for long periods through both the day and night?

To become an on-call firefighter you need to:

• Be 18-years-old or over to apply and start the process of becoming an on-call firefighter.
• Live or work within approximately five minutes (or the agreed turn-out time) of your on-call fire station so you can respond immediately.

Key Requirements

• Have a real wish to support your local community
• Have an enthusiasm and willingness to work in a team environment
• Have a good level of physical fitness

Many on-call firefighters have other commitments such as full-time, part-time or self-employment (primary employment) and often fit their on-call hours in around that. Some on-call firefighters in primary employment have an agreement with their employer to leave work should they be alerted to attend an incident. Others provide cover during nights or weekends. Being an on-call firefighter also appeals to unemployed people who are looking into developing a new career.

As an on-call firefighter you will play a full and valuable contribution in Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and have the same job satisfaction as full-time firefighters as you’re giving the same uniform and training, as well as attending the same incidents. You will also need to agree a declaration of availability with the local Station Manager. This will be emailed over once we receive your application. As a general role we require around 50 hours per week, but some stations might accept less. We invite you to apply and we can assess together your availability on a case-by-case basis.

About the National Firefighter Selection Process:

Anyone over 18 can apply to become an on-call firefighter and we welcome all applicants with a range of skills, abilities and backgrounds. A lot of the job is based around working within the community therefore, you’ll need to have good communication skills. The role can also be quite physical as on-call firefighters will use equipment like ladders, hoses and other equipment.

Recruitment process and assessments:

After completing the application form, our On-Call Support Officers and Station Managers will shortlist the candidates. The shortlisting criteria for successful applicants is:

• Distance to the station (how quickly can you respond from where you live or work)
• Suitability for the role
• Declaration of availability

If the on-call hours you’re able to provide will be in line with the station's needs and approved by the Station Manager, we will progress your application.

Assessments:

• Interview
• Physical assessment: Bleep tests and Job-Related Tests

Benefits:

• The satisfaction of knowing that every time you respond to your station you are helping your community and making a difference to people’s lives.
• The opportunity to learn new skills, progress and be promoted in your second career.
• The chance to test yourself and reach the potential you never knew you had.
• Work as part of a team and make new friends.
• You will earn a second income for providing this invaluable service to your community.

For the full list of benefits of working for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service please follow the link: Staff benefits.

Salary:

Salaries vary per on-call firefighter as it is based on the number of on-call hours they give, the amount of incidents they attend, the training they do and their progression. This will be pro-rata amount from a full-time firefighter’s salary.

Want more information?

If you want more information about the role, you can visit our website, on-call firefighter recruitment, visit your local On-call Fire Station at one of their drill sessions or contact one of our On-Call Support Officers.