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SalaryDescription
The starting salary for this role will be £26,852 per annum as a trainee firefighter control, working 42 hours per week, moving to £27,970 per annum as a developing firefighter control upon completion of basic training, rising to £35,791 per annum once you have become a competent firefighter control in Surrey. You will also receive an additional Surrey Allowance of £1,575 per annum on top of your annual salary.
Do you want to make a difference? Can you work under pressure? Are you a team player?
If the answer is yes, then this could be the role for you!
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service are recruiting for permanent posts for Joint Fire Control Room Operators for vacancies based in Salfords, Surrey, covering the three counties of Surrey, West Sussex and East Sussex.
The Joint Fire Control 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 42 hours a week including days, nights and weekends.
You will form an integral part of a team whose priority is to receive emergency calls from members of the public, mobilising fire engines and firefighters who respond to a wide range of incidents throughout the three counties, including assisting other emergency services and partner agencies. You will join us as an apprentice and be enrolled onto the Level 3 Emergency Contact Handler Apprenticeship program. Please click here for further information.
This role provides you with all the essential training and an opportunity to play a key part in our Service.
About the role
In this position, you will be doing the following:
- Answer, advise, record and action emergency calls.
- Assist in the continued management of incidents.
- Carry out a variety of emergency and non-emergency tasks to support and maintain an effective Fire Service response.
Shortlisting Criteria
To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence that you:
- Have the ability to work under pressure in a fast-changing, disciplined environment.
- Have a positive and flexible attitude to all aspects of work.
- Are able to work as part of a team and act on own initiative
- Have a good level of commitment to own development.
- Have quick & accurate data entry skills, including be able to type 30 words per minute
- Are committed to learn new skills, including examples of how you can demonstrate this and are able to undertake intensive initial training and study in your own time.
- have a confident telephone manner, and that you're able to process often complex information within a short period of time, achieving high standards
Applicants must have the following qualifications:
- GCSE in English Language at grade C or Level 4 or above
- 4 additional GCSEs at grade C or Level 4 or above
A GCSE in Mathematics at grade C or Level 4 is a requirement of the apprenticeship, but there are opportunities to complete this whilst on programme if you do not already have it.
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.
Surrey Fire and Rescue 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.
Our Core Code of Ethics
- Putting our communities first
- Integrity
- Dignity & Respect
- Leadership
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Format of selection process
Stage 1 -
1. Application through Recruitment Portal Tribepad
2. Evidence of qualifications shared
Stage 2 -
Successful applicants will be invited to an assessment centre. Before attending the assessment centre they will be expected to complete an artic shores online assessment *
The Assessment Centre will involve:
- Assessments testing typing accuracy and speed
- Group Discussion
If successful on the above assessment day candidates will be asked to attend for a behavioural based interview.
At each stage, the candidate will be informed if they have been successful and can move to the next stage.
Dates available for the assessment Centres are as follows:
22nd & 23rd July at Broadcast House
The address for Broadcast House is Woodhatch Place, Cockshot Hill, Reigate RH2 8EF.
Interviews will be held on 29th July & 1st August at Joint Fire Control, Salfords.
We are looking at running a recruits course from Monday 9th September 2024.
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.
Our Values
Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about our values.
Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about our values.
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook also attached provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.
Our Commitment
Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:
- The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
- The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form
Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.
