Firefighter, Fire Control – West Midlands Fire Service

Expression of interest for Firefighter (Control) inter-service transferees to Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control (SWMFC).

Are you ready for the challenge of working in one of the leading fire control rooms in the country?

SWMFC is at the core of innovation and pushes the boundaries of emergency response and mobilisation across two counties in the heart of England.

We are welcoming expressions of interest for fire control vacancies that may become available within the next 12 months, within our shared fire control, with plenty of opportunity for development towards supervisory management.

SWMFC serves as the fire control room for West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

Our fire control operators take emergency calls, diffuse stressful situations, mobilise resources and equipment, and manage our vehicles and officers.

They liaise with firefighters who are at the scene of emergencies, record important details on incident logs, and work closely with the public and businesses on protection and prevention work. They also use our 999eye system to get imagery and video from 999 callers and use this, alongside other key skills, to dynamically adjust resources mobilised, where applicable and appropriate.

At SWMFC, the types of incidents we deal with can be many and varied – from fires to road traffic collisions, major industrial incidents and other significant threats to life and property. This is why we need our operators to be professional, highly skilled and dedicated to the service they provide.

With the responsibility of keeping the 3.8 million people that form the communities of Staffordshire and West Midlands safe, we serve a diverse geographical area of 3615 sq. metres​.

We are a forward thinking and innovative team who adapt and respond effectively to emerging risks, while delivering the best possible service to our communities. As a result, the role of fire control continues to grow as we meet these new challenges.

We provide our fire control function primarily from one site, with two further sites in the West Midlands to enhance resilience. This is further supported locally and nationally through “buddy” arrangements with other fire controls across the country. These arrangements help all parties to meet dynamic demands, unique to the fire and rescue service.

Responsibilities

You will need to be adaptable to varying challenges and proactive in managing change. You will be robust in leading and supporting your team through periods of spate, spike and business continuity.

You must be sector competent against the National Occupational Standards for Firefighter (Control). Knowledge of VISION 4 is desirable, but not essential, as training will be provided for any cross-system familiarisation.