Joint Fire Control Room Operator

About the role

The starting salary for this role is £15.60 per hour (FTE £29,291).

We are currently seeking applications from individuals who wish to be placed in a pool of suitable candidates. This pool will have a validity period of 12 months and it is not guaranteed that a bank role will become available during that time.

Do you hold prior or current experience working in a Control Room? Can you work under pressure? Are you a team player? If so, then this could be the role for you!

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service are recruiting for Bank Joint Fire Control Room Operators to be available in a bank capacity, offering support as and when available. The role is based in Salfords, Surrey and covers the three counties of Surrey, West Sussex and East Sussex. 

The Joint Fire Control Room operates 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year providing call receipt, call handling and mobilisation. The Control Room Operators work a rotating shift pattern of 36 hours a week including days, nights and weekends.

About the Service

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service has the responsibility of protecting over one million people who live in the 650 square miles of Surrey. The Service employs just under 700 people across the County in a variety of roles. Comprising both uniformed personnel and support staff, they all share one vision: With you, making Surrey safer. We do this by:

• Serving the needs of our community.
• Flexibly responding to a constantly changing environment.
• Recognising and embedding diversity in everything we do.
• Solving challenges through intelligence driven collaboration, innovation and improvement.

The values below will be crucial in delivering our corporate strategy and are what we draw on to make a difference for Surrey residents. We expect all our staff to embody these values.

• Fairness and Respect: We embrace diversity and promote a culture of inclusivity.
• Responsibility: We are answerable for our decisions and actions.
• Professionalism: We will always be the best we can be.
• Honesty and integrity: We are truthful and trustworthy. We do the right

About the Role

The successful applicants will form an integral part of a team whose priority is to receive emergency calls from members of the public and mobilise fire engines and firefighters who respond to a wide range of incidents throughout the three Counties, including assisting other emergency services and partner agencies.

As a Joint Fire Control Room Operator, you will be expected to answer, advise, record and action emergency calls. You will assist in the continued management of incidents and will carry out a variety of emergency and non-emergency tasks to support and maintain an effective Fire Service response.

You will be provided with all the essential training as well as the opportunity to undertake an NVQ Level 3 qualification.

About You

You will require the ability to work under pressure in a fast-changing environment as well as a positive and flexible attitude to all aspects of work. In addition, you will have the ability to work as part of a team and act on you own initiative.

With a good level of commitment to your own development, you will also be able to undertake intensive initial training and study in your own time.

To be considered for interview, your application will clearly evidence the following (please address these criteria in your supporting statement):

• 5 GCSEs at grade C or level 4 or equivalent including English Language and Maths 
• Prior and or current experience working in a similar setting 
• Excellent fast and accurate keyboard skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• A confident telephone manner.

Any successful applicant will be expected to attend 1 shift per month to maintain competency following a bespoke training course. 

For more information, please find the full job description below and refer to this before submitting your application. We also invite you to read our Life at Surrey handbook to see insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Additional information

This is a rolling advert that will remain open until the service deem appropriate. Should you be shortlisted to interview, the hiring team will contact you to arrange an interview. 

A Basic DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) will be required for this role.

Contact details

For an informal discussion please contact either:

• Lucinda Baker at lucinda.baker@surreycc.gov.uk
• Lorraine Coppard at lorraine.coppard@surreycc.gov.uk

We look forward to receiving your application. Please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Benefits

From flexible working to job sharing (where possible) we are committed to providing a healthy work life balance. A laptop and mobile will be supplied if applicable to your role. You will benefit from a generous local government salary related pension as well as the option to join our car lease scheme. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit MyBenefits for Surrey County Council staff.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer of first choice reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.