Specialist Practitioner Prevention

Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service

Address: Working Countywide across Suffolk, in a community-based basis

Salary: £28,598 per annum (pro rata for part time)

Hours: 37 hours per week with occasional weekend working, Flexible working options available

Contract: Permanent

At Suffolk County Council, every role is a chance to create positive change. As a Specialist Practitioner in the Fire Prevention Team of the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, you’ll see the direct impact of your work on the people and places that make Suffolk special. Join us and turn your passion for progress into action. Reimagine the possibilities.

Posts available:

• Post 1 and 2: Home Fire Safety focus, Countywide but primarily West Suffolk
• Post 3 and 4: Education focus, Countywide

Your role and responsibilities:

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service are seeking passionate, community‑focused Specialist Practitioners to join our dedicated Fire Prevention Team. This is your chance to make a real difference working across the county to protect those most at risk, inspire safer living, and help keep Suffolk’s communities safe, informed, and resilient.

Roles 1 and 2 (Home Fire Safety focus) will primarily focus on delivering Home Fire Safety Visits to at-risk adults and families across Suffolk in their homes, providing Fire Safety advice to those individuals. These roles also work collaboratively with partner agencies to address health, wellbeing, and safeguarding concerns, especially in cases involving vulnerabilities such as hoarding, domestic violence, and enhanced care needs. Furthermore, these roles attend events as a speaker or exhibitor to provide Home Fire Safety advice, promote prevention methods, and share knowledge with the community.

Roles 3 and 4 (Education focus) will primarily be responsible for the delivery of education to all age groups, encompassing Road Safety, Fire Safety, Water Safety, Arson Reduction and Anti‑Social behaviour reduction using dedicated education resources and vehicles. All roles will manage and maintain resources such as vehicles, safety and education equipment and various IT systems, ensuring accurate recording, stock availability, and equipment security. All roles will maintain accurate records, participate in ongoing personal development, attend team meetings, and contribute to improving policies and multi‑agency reporting processes.

What you will need:

• Qualifications in English, Maths at GCSE level C or equivalent (Essential)
• A strong ability to identify risk, assess individual needs, and apply appropriate, tailored solutions
• To be a confident communicator able to present learning to diverse groups, converse effectively with customers and partners, and accurately report key safety information.
• To be a competent user of IT systems including Word, Excel, and Outlook, with knowledge of recording processes for vulnerable individuals.
• A comprehensive understanding of Community Safety and the ability to influence, implement, and adapt to change when needed.
• An effective problem‑solver with both practical and analytical skills.

The team:

The Prevention Team is responsible for keeping communities safe by delivering Home Fire Safety support, including visiting at‑risk residents, offering tailored fire safety advice, working with partners such as Social Care and Housing, and attending community events. They also provide education to all age groups on topics such as road and fire safety, arson and anti‑social behaviour reduction, and water safety, helping to prevent harm and promote safer behaviours across the community.

Home Fire Safety:

The Home Fire Safety focus is centred on protecting vulnerable and at‑risk residents through proactive prevention activity. This includes carrying out Home Safety Visits in people’s homes, providing tailored fire safety advice, and identifying risks that could lead to fire or other incidents. Practitioners work closely with a range of partner organisations, including Social Care and Housing, to ensure coordinated support for individuals and communities. The role also contributes to wider prevention activity through attendance at fire safety community events, helping to raise awareness, reduce risk and promote safer behaviours across Suffolk.

Education:

The Education focus involves delivering interactive preventative education to people of all ages, helping communities to stay safe and reduce the likelihood of incidents before they occur. This includes providing road, fire and water safety education in schools and at larger style events such as the Suffolk Show, alongside targeted work to reduce arson and anti‑social behaviour. Practitioners play a key role in safety education, supporting Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service’s wider prevention priorities by engaging with schools, groups and communities to build knowledge, influence behaviour and create safer environments.

Empowering Everyone:

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information:

Please contact Claire Watkins, Youth Education and Development Manager, by either emailing Claire.Watkins@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 07720157657. Alternatively, please contact Roxanne Smith, Safeguarding Manager, by either emailing Roxanne.Smith@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 07732603856.

To learn more and apply click here.