Detailed job description and main responsibilities

•    Provide professional input to all matters relating to fire prevention and precaution issues affecting, or likely to affect the management of Trust fire safety.  Maintain and develop specialist knowledge on current trends and keep abreast of relevant legislation.

•    Provide interpretation and application of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) and other official guidance in respect of fire safety in NHS premises.  Ensure that fire safety statutory compliance is achieved and maintained.

•    Create/review organisational policies and procedures relating to fire safety and ensure they are up to date.  To be fully conversant with, and involved in, the Trust Risk Management system (QSAFE); in particular, incident reporting, hazard identification and risk assessment.

•    Assist the Director of Strategic Projects and the Head of Health and Safety in the development, dissemination and implementation of the Trust Fore Safety Policy/Strategy.  Work with operational managers to ensure that fire safety is managed in line with the organisation’s strategy/policy documents.  Ensure the effective and appropriate translation of fire safety strategy into practical application.

•    Assist the Director of Strategic Projects and Assistant Director of Estates and Planning in the compilation of information for the annual fire safety review/Premises Assurance Model (PAM). Collate evidence to enable the Chief Executive Officer to sign the annual certificate of fire safety management.

•    Carry out suitable and sufficient fire risk assessments as per the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO).  Undertake specialist fire risk assessments within clinical and non-clinical secure environments as required.  Ensure the dissemination and practical application of fire risk assessments to functional; heads and staff with specific fire responsibilities,

•    Recommend prioritised actions in respect of fire safety improvements for Capital Investment with appropriate and periodic reports regarding the state of fire precautions within the Trust.  Communicate complex fire safety-related information to senior managers and staff.

•    Provide a specialist role in fire emergency planning, the impact with security issues ad the organisation’s business continuity plans. Ensure the availability, currency and dissemination of fire strategy drawings incorporating fire hazards.

•    Assist operational managers in the arrangement of practical fire drills and recommend remedial action when necessary.

•    Advise on the planning and design of new or existing buildings/structures with particular emphasis on specifications for fire precautions, compliance with applicable fire legislation at both design and construction stages.  Ensure appropriate measures are developed and maintained to control the activities of contractors working on site and ensure their activities do not compromise the fire precautions.

•    Undertake specialist investigations of all fire incidents, producing appropriate reports for the Head of Health and Safety and the local manager with responsibility for fire safety issues.

•    Maintain comprehensive records of all fire incidents and investigations ensuring that trends are identified and that advice is given to the appropriate parties for remedial action to reduce incidents.  Assist in the development of a strategy for reducing unwanted fire signals within the organisation and liaise with the Local Fire Authority as part of the overall fire safety strategy.

•    Establish and maintain contact with professional bodies, manufacturers and suppliers within the fire safety fields to maintain knowledge of technical developments, product appraisal and national trends.

•    Take an active role in appropriate Trustwide, divisional and departmental meetings.