Become a fire control operator
Read about our information events (https://www.dsfire.gov.uk/news/answer-call) during October so you can find out more about the role of a Fire Control Room Operator.
You don’t need to have had experience in a fire control setting before. Just great communication skills and a passion to help your community.
Who we're looking for
Calm and collected
You’ll have to remain level-headed while dealing with high-pressured situations and making decisions.
A team player
You’ll work as a wide-reaching team across many organisations, so you’ll need to be a confident communicator.
Extreme attention to detail
Capturing the information accurately is crucial, so you’ll need to be able to listen carefully and know the right questions to ask to receive and record the necessary information.
Resilient and reassuring
Maintaining a balance between giving clear, direct advice to help someone in an emergency, while having a compassionate tone to someone who might be having the worst day of their life.
Essential criteria
You must:
- be at least 18 years old to apply. There is no maximum age limit for applications
- have no unspent criminal convictions
- have a good level of English and Maths. You do not need any formal qualifications but will be tested on this during the application process, as you’ll need to be able to give instructions and communicate effectively with your team and members of the public.
Terms of work
Salary
As a trainee Fire Control operator, your starting salary is £26,852. You'll earn £35,791 when fully competent.
Working pattern
You will work in shift patterns of two days on followed by two nights on and then four days’ rest.
The hours are 9am to 6pm and 6pm to 9am. This reflects the wholetime firefighter working pattern.
Training and progression
There is a designated training team for new recruits. You’ll spend the first part of your training working Monday – Friday daytime shifts, as well as spending time with the duty watches.
You’ll learn about the service resources, equipment, call handling, how to use the mobilising system, and apply policy and procedures.
After this training, you’ll have two years of development, after which you’ll be fully competent.
But you’ll be supported throughout your time in Fire Control, with refresher training and great opportunities for progression. Many of our staff are also on-call firefighters too, as the working hours compliment this perfectly.
Application process
Step one:
You’ll need to submit a written application to demonstrate your skills and experience.
Step two
If you’re shortlisted, you’ll go through a further selection process and sit tests.
These include:
- Typing test – 30 words per minute with 90% accuracy required.
- Aptitude test – This is a multi-tasking test that will test your ability to recall information and input information at the same time.
- Pre-learning test – Before the test, you’ll be given some information to learn which you’ll then need to recall using our systems.
- Online verbal reasoning test – In this timed test, you’ll be given some passages of information and will have to decide whether you think the statements are true, false or whether it’s not possible to say.
- Practical assessment – You’ll use the fire service mobilising system and will be given scenarios. It’s here that you’ll have to follow instructions, complete tasks and recall information while problem-solving and thinking quickly.
Step three
Following the tests, you’ll be invited to an interview. A panel made up of three Service employees (normally a line manager and representative from Human Resources) will ask you specific questions.
Step four
Appointment to role is then subject to proof of nationality, eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.