Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) will be encouraging people to consider a new career when it opens applications for new Control Staff this month. Aspiring Firefighter Control will be able to start the application process from early October 21st as the service looks for the brightest and best to take part in a training school in February 2020.
The successful candidates will provide a vital service to the community by dealing with 999 calls ranging from house fires to serious road traffic collisions to cliff rescues.
Control Staff Manage & Coordinate All Resources
Control staff mobilize resources, identify exact locations of incidents and provide safety advice to callers, such as people who might be trapped inside a burning building, and then continue to reassure callers until the moment firefighters arrive on the scene. They are also trained in dealing with other incidents, including chemical, radiological and biological
Control staff manage & coordinate all resources and incidents within AF&RS and liaise with other services and agencies. They are also trained in dealing with other incidents, including chemical, radiological, biological and nuclear incidents.
Under the campaign slogan ‘Yes You Can’, AF&RS will be accepting applications from residents across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. During the campaign, the service will be encouraging applications from groups currently under-represented within its workforce, particularly women and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.
Accurate Communication
Andy Willcocks, Head of Fire Control and Communications, said: “Working with Avon Fire and Rescue Service in Control is both challenging and highly rewarding. Our staff live and breathe our values in everything they do and we always strive to be the best we can be.
“Staff have to be a voice of calm for those in the moment of need, while also being able to maintain oversight of the service's resources and accurate communication between firefighters on the ground and across the service.
“This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join a fantastic organization and begin a wonderful career. As well as being there for people in need, Firefighter Control are a crucial part of the fire service family, ensuring we have cover across the service and that trucks are on the run and available when needed.”
Range Of Experience And Life Skills
The service is looking for applicants who have a range of experience and life skills
Becoming a Firefighter Control with AF&RS generates a significant level of interest and the service is not seeking one type of person as the role requires many varied skills. The service is looking for applicants who have a range of experience and life skills which they can bring to the role.
Applications will be open from 21st October until the 11th November and applicants must hold a full UK driving licence and be over 18 when training school commence on the 17th February 2020.
Beginning with the application form, hopeful applicants should have a strong ability to work in a team, have strong communication skills, ability to remain calm under pressure, be a good problem solver and also have good attention to detail. There will also be a series of tests including memory recall, typing, numeracy and practical.
Develop And Grow
Andy added: “For those wishing to apply, please do think about your application before you submit. We live our values every day and are looking for those who encapsulate and live them as well.
“We will be providing updates and blogs on our Yes You Can website throughout the recruitment process so please do have a look as this could help you in the process.
“There really is no other place to work like Avon Fire & Rescue – it’s challenging and demanding but we are a family and you’ll always be supported to develop and grow within the organization.”
