Job summary
- Main area
- Fire Officer/Advisor
- Grade
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time
- Job share
- Job ref
- 153-CO04967
- Employer
- University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- RBH
- Town
- Bournemouth
- Salary
- £38,682 - £46,580 pa/pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 14/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Fire Officer/Advisor
Band 6
As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.
We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £250m estates programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.
In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.
We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.
We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.
At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.
As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.
We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.
Job overview
University Hospitals Dorset are looking for a Fire Officer/Advisor at The Royal Bournemouth & Christchurch Hospital
The post holder will be responsible for all matters regarding fire safety throughout the Trusts and appropriate training of personnel in fire safety.
Main duties of the job include:
- Responsible for the Trust remains compliant with the current fire safety regulations, HTM’s, Firecode, and Regulatory Reform Order Fire
- Keep abreast of changes in fire safety legislation and guidance and bring these to the attention of the Trust’s Management
- Survey fire safety installations and research new developments in fire technology to achieve improvements where necessary
- Attend training courses and seminars to maintain personal knowledge of fire safety at the highest level
- Understand the work practices of wards and departments throughout the Trust and ensure that fire safety measures are compatible with the operational efficiency of the Trust
- Prepare training programs for all staff within the Trust and deliver training sessions both at ward or departmental level and via general fire lectures in conjunction with the training department. Devise differing lectures for the various categories of staff
Base Location: RBCH Hospital - cross site working will be required.
Interview Date: TBC
Main duties of the job
- Respond to requests from other organisations who work within the Trust buildings for fire safety training
- Train members of the Hospital Fire Teams and others in their specific responsibilities
- Ensure staff; in areas where special rescue equipment is provided, receive training to make them competent with it.
- Educate the Trust Management in their responsibilities regarding fire safety
- Arrange and monitor a programme of annual fire drills in the appropriate buildings. Witness the effectiveness of evacuation arrangements and recommend remedial action when necessary
- Ensure that contractors working within the Trust are aware of fire safety requirements prior to them commencing work on site. Carry out regular inspections of work sites to ensure that fire safety is being maintained
- Ensure that patients are aware of fire safety procedures through published material issued to them and visit wards to help remedy any problems with patients not complying with laid down fire safety procedures. This may include development of literature to be included within patient information packs
- Arrange and conduct training sessions to ensure adequate Fire Wardens are appointed across the Trust.
Working for our organisation
Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues. UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme. This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have about this at interview.
Please note if the role or service is relocated as part of a planned move, employees will not be eligible for excess mileage reimbursement. Travel from the postholder's home to the new work base will be considered a normal commute. Any other changes not related to this relocation will be managed according to the relevant Trust or National terms and conditions.
This post is part of the Operational Estates service that UHD may transfer to an NHS ‘wholly owned subsidiary’; the proposed date of transfer is October 2025. This is an exciting opportunity to join a developing, expanding, organisation with a strong commitment to NHS values and putting patients first. The NHS wholly owned subsidiary will continue to offer NHS AFC T&Cs to current employees who transfer in October as well as to new employees recruited after that date.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Science or engineering based education to degree level or equivalent or practical experience of fire safety in a hospital environment at senior level
- Membership of a professional organization (i.e. Institute of Fire Engineers IFE; Institute of Fire Prevention Officers IFPO)
- Health & Safety qualified (i.e. NEBOSH general certificate).
Desirable criteria
- Science, engineering or fire engineering / fire safety degree, CIPFA qualification or attendance at SFPO course or equivalent
- Corporate membership of professional organization (i.e. Institute of Fire Engineers IFE).
- Qualified Fire Brigade inspecting Officer.
Experience
Essential criteria
- A minimum of five years’ experience working as a fire safety officer in a local authority fire brigade or similar.
- Experience in carrying out Fire Risk Assessments on a wide range of premises including a hospital environment.
- Experience in analysing and reducing unwanted fire alarms activations
- Experience in the preparation and delivery of training sessions
Desirable criteria
- Experienced in dealing with fire related incidents in complex buildings
Technical Skills Competencies
Essential criteria
- Able to analyse, compare and interpret complex reports.
- Possess keyboard skills to produce periodic reports
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Thorough knowledge of fire safety legislation, in particular RRO and HTM guidance documents, acquired through a degree in fire engineering or attendance at equivalent courses (SFPO or equivalent)
Desirable criteria
- Undertaken research to become familiar with how fire safety is dealt with in hospitals and be familiar with the guidance and legislation that is applicable to them
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Bernard Bhukal
- Job title
- Associate Director of Estates Development
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07887636549
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