On-Call Firefighter

Warwickshire County Council invites you to become an On-Call Firefighter with Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service. Protect and support your local community by joining the service as an On-Call Firefighter. We are recruiting for the following fire stations: Wellesbourne, Southam, Polesworth, and Henley-in-Arden.

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service operates a continuous recruitment process, with campaigns intensified at key points throughout the year to meet operational staffing needs. The recruitment window for applications for these stations is 2 February 2026 to 2 March 2026 at 12:00 hrs, with applications, assessment stages, and training commencing as per the schedule below.

What you may gain from this role:

• A rewarding role within your community
• Opportunities to learn extra skills
• The potential to earn additional income

To be eligible, you must be able to respond to your Fire Station within five minutes from home or work. The role involves an agreed number of hours of flexible night-time On-Call cover between 19:00 and 07:00, where you must be available to attend emergencies via an alerter. We provide high-quality training and the chance to be part of a professional team. On-Call Firefighters are not always based at Fire Stations; they usually live or work in the local community.

The Essential Requirements:

• Aged 18 and above on or before the initial course date
• Able to reach the station within five minutes of being alerted; if responding by vehicle, this must be at normal road speed
• Able to attend a drill session once a week at your On-Call station
• Have permission from your employer if responding to emergencies from work
• Eligible to work in the UK

The Role:

On-Call Firefighters perform the same emergency work as Wholetime Firefighters, but they may also have other jobs. While on duty, they carry a pager that activates when they need to attend an incident. They receive a basic salary based on hours of cover and are paid extra for any call outs, training courses, and drill sessions.

For more information about the role, please access the full role profile and requirements.

Support:

Candidates will receive ongoing support from Station-Based Recruitment Champions throughout the process, including preparatory guidance, taster days, practice sessions, and access to support at their local fire station. A six-week physical workout plan is provided, including cardio and strength training using body weight, and FireFit videos offer an insight into each role-related physical test.

The Application Process:

Once you have submitted your application and confirmed your address is within five minutes travel time of the Fire Station, you will be invited to attend the following stages:

• Stage 1: On-Call Firefighter Awareness Briefing Sessions (optional) – Starting February 2026
• Stage 2: Written Ability Tests (held internally). Holding a GCSE Grade C (or Level 4) in both Maths and English or above pre-qualifies you, and you will not be required to complete Written Ability Tests.
• Stages continue with:
• Stage 3: Role Related Physical Tests
• Stage 4: Values Based Interview
• Stage 5: Pre-employment checks
• Stage 6: Two-week initial training course held at Kingsbury Training Centre, Warwickshire

Dates for all stages will be confirmed. You must pass each stage to progress. If successful, you will be invited to attend the initial recruit training course with dates to be confirmed. For further information about the role, contact ffrecruitment@warwickshire.gov.uk. Applications must be submitted online; CVs should not be submitted.

You will be notified of shortlisting decisions via email, and applicants will be informed of their outcome (pass or fail) by early March 2026.

Additional Information:

Warwickshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Successful applicants will be subject to pre-engagement checks, including a DBS disclosure. In accordance with the DBS code of practice and our policy, a declared criminal offence will be assessed on an individual basis. The council adheres to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Fluency Duty requires English-language competence for public sector work. If you require application forms in an alternative format or language, or any adjustments during the process or after appointment, please contact hrandpayroll@warwickshire.gov.uk.

Warwickshire County Council is committed to equality of opportunity for all employees and to addressing under-representation in its workforce.