Working Pattern: Average of 42 hours per week
Contract Length: Permanent
Location: Worthing Fire Station (potentially moving to Storrington Fire Station from January 2027) with requirement to travel across West Sussex
Practical Assessments and interview: W/C 21 September 2026

You will play a vital role in helping make West Sussex a safer place to live, work and visit. You will support the delivery of a specialist response service by attending a range of operational incidents including working at height, water and animal rescues, open area searches and body recovery (under the direction of the Police).

The postholder will also be contractually required to maintain FF operational competencies and where required the crewing of fire appliances.

You must be able and confident with working at height, working with animals and be a competent swimmer. You will also need great interpersonal skills, a confident and resourceful attitude to deal with highly challenging and occasionally emotionally or environmentally intense situations.

This role is conditioned to the Technical Rescue Unit flexible rostering duty system.

WSFRS looks to recruit the very best applicants into vacancies and those who pass the process but are not immediately offered a role will be placed into a pool for 12 months for any future permanent or temporary vacancies that may arise.

The Selection Process:
Applications are welcome from competent Firefighters who have demonstrated competence against the requirements of the NJC Firefighter role map (applicants in higher graded roles can apply). Applicants must be currently employed by a Local Authority Fire & Rescue Service.

Stage 1
Application (see ‘How To Apply’ below for further details)

Stage 2
Practical assessments, including Firefighters Swim Test & Working at Height.
Interview.

Stage 3
Candidates notified of outcome
Any offers will be subject to: Satisfactory Enhanced DBS check and references. External applicants will need to undertake and pass a West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service fitness test and medical.

How to Apply

Please follow the links below to upload your:
CV – Ensure this also covers the qualifications for the role and any gaps in employment.
Covering letter – this should explain how you meet the key skills and experience listed in the job description

To be eligible to apply you must be currently employed as a competent Firefighter by a local authority Fire & Rescue Service which assess competency against the NJC for Local Authority Fire & Rescue Services role maps.

The reference number for this role is CPP01413

If you need any support throughout the process or would like to speak to someone, please email us at FRSJOBS@westsussex.gov.uk