Fire Safety Officer in East Grinstead

Welcome to Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and thank you for your interest. Working at QVH combines the excitement, challenge and career opportunities of many larger organisations with the satisfaction of delivering excellent patient care that really does re-build our patients' lives. We also offer attractive benefits such as tailored personal development to support career aspirations, including accredited clinical and management development programmes, flexible working arrangements for a work-life balance that suits you and your needs, and a dedicated reward programme, offering a range of national and local discounts, cashback and tax relief schemes.

Sustainability

At Queen Victoria Hospital we want to be the first Net Zero Hospital in England, and to achieve that wants every member of staff to be a green champion. The way in which the Trust works has a significant impact on the organisation's carbon footprint and that of our patients. From the heat, light and power supplies within the hospital to avoiding unnecessary patient journeys, the Trust is empowering all staff to create a sustainable health and care environment for future generations. The Trust expects all staff to reuse and recycle more, to use energy and water efficiently, to walk or cycle to work if you can, and to have a focus on sustainability in the workplace.

Job overview

A permanent position responsible for providing specialist fire safety advice to Queen Victoria Hospital on all safety matters relating to people and premises. Working as Fire Safety Officer within the Estates and Facilities Department, you will ensure compliance with relevant Legislation, Regulation, Healthcare Technical Memorandum (HTM), Code of Practice and Technical Guidance. The post holder will act as the lead specialist in the field of fire safety on behalf of the Trust. The role is instrumental in the development and implementation of the Trust's Fire Safety Policy Protocols, developing and delivering an extensive programme of general and specialist Fire Safety Training to a wide audience base and providing specialist fire safety advice for clinical teams, capital project planning, design, construction and commissioning teams. The role is guided by national guidelines and legislation relating to fire safety.

Main duties of the job

• Develop and implement effective communication systems within and between all identified key working relationships for the benefit of the Trust and to assist with the implementation of the Fire Strategy and Policy.
• Work with Operational Managers to ensure that fire safety is managed in line with the Trust's policy / strategy document.
• Assist in the development of a strategy for reducing unwanted fire signals within the organisation and liaise with Local Fire Authority as part of the overall Fire Safety Strategy.
• Advise and mandate operational and clinical managers in the arrangement of practical fire drills, recommend remedial action when necessary and audit the accuracy of staff training records and fire drills.
• Advise on the planning and design of new or existing buildings/structures, with particular emphasis on specifications for fire precautions, compliance with applicable fire standards and legislation at both design and construction stages.
• Responsible for undertaking Fire Risk Assessments as required by legislation and for identifying fire safety risks within the Trust portfolio.
• Assist and liaise with the local Fire Authority and Police in the investigation of fires and their cause(s).

Working for our organisation

Rated GOOD overall with outstanding care by the CQC. A specialist NHS hospital providing life-changing reconstructive surgery, burns care and rehabilitation services across the South of England and beyond. Our world-leading clinical teams also treat more common conditions of the eyes, hands, skin, and teeth for the people of East Grinstead and the surrounding areas. Patients consistently rate QVH amongst the top hospitals in the country for quality of care. Our success is underpinned by the skills and enthusiasm of our staff and a strong culture of partnership. We are fully committed to training and development of the workforce with support for continuing education and learning.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Provide fire safety advice with regards to emergency planning and the impact within the Trust contingency plans.
• Ensure that Trust is kept fully informed of all major developments in Fire Safety Legislation and Department of Health Policy guidance and the organisation and management of fire precautions which affect the Trust.
• Prepare suitable training programmes in Fire Safety and the organisation of fire drills or simulated table top exercises as appropriate.
• The post holder will undertake fire training at all levels and as far as practicable, attend fire drills.
• Ensure that records for all Fire Safety Training and Fire Drills are kept in order to provide assurance of adherence to policy and that lessons are learnt and communicated.
• Carry out suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessments as per Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Firecode and the Trust's Fire Safety Action Plan.
• Undertake specialist Fire Risk Assessments within clinical and non-clinical secure environments as required.
• Ensure the dissemination and practical application of Fire Risk Assessments to functional heads and staff within specific fire responsibilities.
• Undertake specialist investigations of all fire incidents, producing appropriate reports for the Fire Safety Manager and the local manager with responsibility for fire safety issues.
• Provide a specialist role in fire emergency planning, the impact with security issues and the organisation's contingency plans.
• Maintain an effective site fire tactical plan with Security and the Fire Rescue Service.
• Ensure the availability, currency and dissemination of fire strategy drawings incorporating fire hazards.
• Maintain comprehensive records of all fire incidents and investigations ensuring that trends are identified and advice is given to the appropriate parties for remedial action to reduce incidents.
• Responsible for reviewing fire safety equipment currently in place and ensuring it is the most appropriate.
• Keeping current with developments within the fire safety industry and researching new products and ways of working.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Degree level qualification or relevant demonstrable experience in Fire Safety auditing and compliance.
• Significant post-qualification experience in a similar fire safety role, preferably in a healthcare environment or equivalent multi-site organisation.
• Excellent working knowledge of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and building Regulations, their practical implications and application.
• Demonstrate experience in conducting and producing suitable and sufficient fire risk assessments.

Desirable criteria

• Fire training college courses for fire safety management or equivalent.
• Experience in the planning, delivering and evaluating training programmes in relation to fire safety.
• Knowledge of CDM processes, principles, standards and techniques.
• Able to write in-depth reports identifying good working practices and areas for improvement.

The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions when we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. You are therefore advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.