Tackling a wide range of emergency situations such as tackling fires, searching, rescuing and protecting people and animals.
This occupation is found in 45 Fire Services across England as well as other organisations who have their own fire services such as the RAF, Airports, Ministry of Defence and those dealing with explosives and chemicals. Therefore, although the role is predominantly found in the public sector, there is a need for operational firefighters in the private sector. The size of the employer will vary but will tend to be medium to large in size.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to deal with a wide range of emergency situations where problem solving and initiative is vital to resolve incidents quickly and calmly. When in attendance, an Operational Firefighter must adopt a sensitive approach to dealing with members of the public and casualties who may be distressed and confused. These situations vary from tackling fires, searching, rescuing and protecting people and animals, by sustaining/preserving their life to protecting life and the environment from the effects of fire, natural and human disasters and hazardous materials. (Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives). They also respond to incidents involving planes, trains, road traffic collisions and marine emergencies. They may also conduct fire risk assessments and audits in businesses and homes, fitting detection and suppression equipment if necessary The working day could include theoretical and practical training along with testing and maintaining equipment to ensure operational preparedness. It is essential a firefighter is prepared and ready to respond at all times when on duty. Firefighters must be able to carry out physically demanding work; at height, in enclosed spaces, and outdoors - working in all weather and environmental conditions.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with the community to provide information, advice and guidance to individuals and groups around health, safety and well-being. Firefighters work as part of a close-knit team of professionals that provides 24-hour response cover to resolve fire and rescue operational incidents. They adopt multi agency working principles with partners and other services to achieve a swift and successful conclusion. They will also need to be able to carry out tasks individually.
An employee in this occupation is responsible for all incidents in a professional manner and in alignment with operational command and procedures.They will need to be aware of all relevant legislation and apply where necessary
| Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 1 Educate the community to improve awareness of fire and rescue safety matters |
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Duty 2 Take responsibility for effective personal performance in fire and rescue |
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Duty 3 Establish and maintain effective working relationships with people |
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Duty 4 Save and preserve endangered life. Safely conduct a search to locate life involved in fire and other incidents, using a range of rescue equipment. |
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Duty 5 Rescue life (human or animal) involved in incidents. |
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Duty 6 Provide treatment to casualties |
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Duty 7 Respond and provide resolution to fire and rescue operational incidents. |
K2 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K14 |
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Duty 8 Provide support to people directly or indirectly involved in operational incidents |
K4 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K14 |
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Duty 9 Carry out roles and responsibilities, within the incident command system, alongside other agencies during fire and operational incidents. |
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Duty 10 Protect the environment from the effects of hazardous materials and support people involved. This could include the use of appropriate PPE and decontamination methods |
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Duty 11 Test and maintain equipment to support the effectiveness of operational response |
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Duty 12 Collect information on risks and resources in your community |
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Duty 13 Support the development of colleagues in the fire and rescue |
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Duty 14 Contribute to fire safety inspections and outcomes to minimise risks to people property and environment. |
K1: How to engage with Communities to increase community safety and prevention awareness to prevent incidents from occurring and improve their health and wellbeing.
Back to Duty
K2: The risks within their community and the methods that can be used to mitigate those risks.
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K3: Appropriate methods of resolving fire and rescue emergency incidents using various fire extinguishing media (Water, foam/chemical)
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K4: Appropriate methods of resolving fire and rescue emergency incidents using various rescue and extrication techniques
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K5: The principles of Fire behaviour, ventilation and hydraulics
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K6: The principles of Environmental protection by limiting the impact of an incident using a variety of techniques
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K7: How to use personal and respiratory protective equipment in hazardous environments (K6)
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K8: How to prepare and maintain operational equipment and resources.
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K9: Hazards, risks and control measures across a range of emergencies
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K10: The principles of JESIP (Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles)
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K11: How to operate communication and technology systems, e.g. mobile data terminals, radios.
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K12: How to carry out treatment to casualty, this will include basic life support and casualty handling
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K13: The importance of maintaining their physical and mental wellbeing .
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K14: Their duty within relevant Legislation
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K15: Understand construction materials, basic elements of structure and reactions in an emergency situation.
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S1: Carry out safe working practices in accordance with legal requirements as detailed within the knowledge section.
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S2: Operate safely and effectively in emergency situations.
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S3: Operate within an appropriate command and control system.
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S4: Operate in hazardous environments using Breathing Apparatus.
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S5: Safely resolve incidents involving hazardous materials, such as chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive substances. These will be resolved by stopping further harm and then removal of/clearing up the substance.
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S6: Safely work at height.
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S7: Safely work in, on or around water e.g. to conduct rescues or extract water for firefighting purposes.
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S8: Extricate casualties from situations of entrapment.
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S9: Interact with and influence community members and business to reduce risks.
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S10: Take responsibility for effective performance within their role.
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S11: Support the development of their colleagues in their workplace
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S12: Use and maintain specialist equipment
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S13: Control and extinguish fires safely and effectively
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S14: Communicate effectively, through listening, writing, speaking and presenting information
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B1: Commitment to integrity and diversity, understanding and adopting a fair and ethical approach and treating others with courtesy and respect
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B2: Embrace and promote the values of the organisation.
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B3: Confidence and resilience within the role in highly challenging and changing situations, demonstrating reliability, adaptability, responsibility and accountability to the organisation.
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B4: Situational awareness by maintaining an active awareness of the working environment to ensure a safe, secure and compliant working culture.
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B5: Commitment to excellence, by adopting a conscientious and proactive approach to achieve and maintain excellent standards.
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B6: Work collaboratively with others, both internally and externally.
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| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | Standard, Funding and End-point assessment plan revised. | 16/12/2020 | Not set |
| 1.1 | End-point assessment plan revised | 20/08/2019 | 15/12/2020 |
| 1.0 | Retired | 27/02/2018 | 19/08/2019 |
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