National Resilience Technician Firefighter (USAR) Call Back Team – Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has a fantastic opportunity available for Competent Firefighters to become National Resilience Technician Firefighters (USAR) with our Call-Back team based at our Service Headquarters in Exeter.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is the largest non-metropolitan Fire and Rescue Service in England. We provide prevention, protection, and response services cross the counties of Devon and Somerset.

Our vision is that together, we will work to end preventable fire and rescue emergencies, creating a safer world for you and your family. Keeping people safe is what we do, and we owe our fantastic reputation to our highly skilled and motivated workforce with over 2,000 staff.

As a National Resilience Technician (USAR) you will attend emergency incidents and undertake other duties commensurate to the role.

The successful candidate would need to be available / on call for 60 hours per week, for which you will receive a retaining fee of £2826.00 as well as an hourly rate of £17.20 for any hours worked.

You will also need to attend local acquisition courses within a short period of notice and attend national exercises in line with the NR Assurance process.

To be eligible to apply for this role you must meet the following essential criteria: 

• Be a competent Firefighter with a base 30 minutes or less from Station 60, at our Service Headquarters, Clyst St George, Exeter. 
• Completed phase 2 of Firefighter Development. 
• SHACS level 1 competent

About the role

Key responsibilities as a National Resilience Technician Firefighter (USAR) will include:

• Facilitating learning through demonstration and instruction.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with people.
• Resolving incidents other than those involving fire or hazardous materials.
• Supporting people involved in an operational incident.
• Attending national long-term incidents at short notice.
• Mitigating damage to the environment from hazardous materials.
• Decontaminating people and property affected by hazardous materials.
• Supporting people involved in hazardous materials incidents.
• Supporting the effectiveness of operational response by collecting information on both risks and resources in your community.
• Supporting the development of yourself and colleagues in the workplace.
• Inspecting premises to minimise risks to people, property and the environment.
• Reporting on issues arising from an inspection.
• Driving vehicles to incidents and manoeuvre, site and re-deploy vehicles.
• Attend 208 annualised training hours for maintenance of skills.

What we are looking for in our Firefighter National Resilience Technician (USAR) Call Back:

• Willingness to complete National Resilience related technical courses both within the UK and abroad.
• Ability to work in a team and on own initiative.
• An appreciation of the dynamic environment in which Station 60 operates.
• Flexibility and adaptability – provision of extended periods of operational response in respect of major incidents inside and outside the Services’ geographic area. Willing to work additional hours to meet the needs of the Service.
• Maintenance of high levels of fitness.
• Able to work at extreme heights and in confined spaces and can demonstrate spatial awareness and mechanical reasoning.
• Good communication skills.

Closing Date: 2359hrs Sunday 3 November 2024

If you feel you have the skills and experience to become a National Resilience Technician Firefighter (USAR) with our Call Back team please click ‘apply’ today, we’d love to hear from you.

You will be required to complete an application form and submit a document evidencing how you meet the following essential criteria from the Job Description and Person Specification.

We are not able to shortlist for interview from a CV so please address the following criteria in full, demonstrating how you meet each criteria.

• Ability to work in a team and on own initiative
• An appreciation of the dynamic environment in which the Station 60 operates.
• Flexibility and adaptability – provision of extended periods of operational response in respect of major incidents inside and outside Service’s geographic area. Willing to work additional hours to meet the needs of the Service.
• Good communication skills.

To help you complete this part of the application form please find attached below the word document “Essential Criteria for Completion – National Resilience Technician Firefighter (USAR)” for you to download and complete with your evidence for the above criteria. You can then upload this document where requested when completing your application. Please note there is a maximum word count of 2000 words (excluding titles) applied to your evidence document.

Evidence submitted in relation to the essential criteria above will be used for shortlisting the applications received.

Our values

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and all employees must share this commitment and adhere to the Services Safeguarding Policy.

Fire and Rescue Authority roles are listed in Schedule 1 of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Oder and as such it is our policy to require all applicants to disclose any criminal convictions (both spent and unspent) including driving offences, cautions and reprimands.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority are committed to the rehabilitation of offenders, as such any positive disclosures will incorporate a reasonable and proportionate response.

As a Service and as individuals: 

• We are proud to help
• We are honest
• We are respectful
• We are working together

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service recognise and celebrate the vast diversity of the local communities that we serve and aspire for this to be reflected within our workforce. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs, who share our values, to consider working for us.