About this role
Job summary
37.5 hours per week.
To provide specialist professional and technical leadership in fire safety across Livewell Southwest, ensuring compliance with all relevant fire safety legislation, statutory requirements and healthcare fire safety guidance. The post holder will support the Corporate Risk and Compliance Team and Fire Safety Manager in delivering effective fire safety management arrangements across a diverse multi-site estate.
The role is responsible for providing expert advice and guidance on all aspects of fire safety to managers and staff, promoting a safe environment for patients, service users, staff, contractors and visitors. The post holder will lead on fire safety assurance activities, undertake audits and risk assessments, identify and prioritise fire safety improvements, and support the development and implementation of robust fire safety systems and controls.
The post holder will deliver fire safety training, contribute to the management of fire-related risks, and provide specialist advice on fire precautions, fire detection and alarm systems, firefighting equipment, evacuation procedures and emergency planning. They will ensure the organisation remains compliant with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Building Safety Act 2022, Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 05 series), Firecode guidance and other relevant legislation and standards, supporting the continuous improvement of fire safety performance across the organisation.
Main duties of the job
Lead on the development, implementation and assurance of fire safety management across the organisation, providing expert advice on fire safety legislation, NHS guidance and regulatory compliance. Develop and maintain fire safety policies, procedures and risk management arrangements, ensuring effective implementation across all services and locations.
Manage fire risk assessments, inspections, audits, investigations and associated action plans, working closely with operational teams, Estates, enforcing authorities and the Authorising Engineer (Fire) to ensure compliance and continuous improvement. Maintain oversight of fire safety systems and infrastructure, including fire alarms, emergency lighting, firefighting equipment and evacuation systems.
Promote a positive fire safety culture through effective stakeholder engagement, training and communication programmes, supporting services in developing evacuation procedures and emergency response arrangements. Monitor changes in legislation and guidance, provide specialist reports and assurance to management and committees, and support capital planning, business continuity, emergency preparedness and organisational resilience through the effective management of fire safety risks.
This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.
Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline.
All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.
About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.
We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.
We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.
Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.
Job description Job responsibilities
MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide professional, technical guidance and advice in relation to the interpretation and application of fire safety legislation.
Maintain and promote an organisation-wide fire safety policy and organisational plans and procedures which influence and direct actions within all services and localities. Monitor the implementation of the policy and systematically audit compliance with legislation and standards across the organisation.
Support the organisation in managing, monitoring and co-ordinating all associated works ensuring compliance with relevant current legislation, NHS Guidance, Fire Safety, COSHH, DSEAR, codes of practice, regulations to deliver fire safety across the organisation.
Establish effective communication systems and working relationships that engage managers, staff and their representatives in fire safety.
Maintain effective working relationships with the enforcing authorities, manage fire inspections, fire safety audits and work with operation and the estates department to appropriate mitigation measures and action plans.
Maintain oversight of fire safety systems and infrastructure, including fire detection and alarm systems, emergency lighting, firefighting equipment and evacuation equipment.
Provide reports, attend relevant committees and liaise with management as required.
Assist in prioritising the organisations capital programme and project management resources. Work closely with key stakeholders on service developments and fire safety improvements via development schemes.
Monitor proposed changes to fire safety related legislation and guidance and assist the Fire Safety Manager and the Head of Estates, Facilities, Risk and EPRR to ensure a coordinated response at all levels and update policies, plans and procedures as required.
Carry out an on-going programme of fire risk assessment and review across the organisation that provides clear action plans. Ensure these action plans are communicated to the Management, Estates and Facilities Service in a timely manner.
Develop, deliver and monitor organisation-wide training programmes to ensure fire safety is adequately represented.
Assist services, departments and teams with the development of fire evacuation plans and procedures and ensure these are communicated to all staff.
Undertake fire/incident investigations in conjunction with the appropriate enforcing authority. Submit incident reports in accordance with organisational and national reporting requirements.
Provide data on trends and patterns derived from fire, false alarm and unwanted fire signal incident reports.
Inform project teams on fire safety.
Provide absence cover for the Corporate Risk and Compliance team.
Liaise with the Authorising Engineer (Fire) where appropriate.
Support business continuity, emergency preparedness and resilience arrangements relating to fire safety.
Where available and reasonable (including outside normal hours) attend any of the organisations facilities where a fire incident has been reported. Note this does not require the post holder to be on call and available to attend at all times.
Support staff facilitation and recording of fire drills/evacuations.
Maintain personal and continual professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, participate in appropriate training activities and encourage and support staff development and training.
Responsibility for People Management
May have responsibility for line management where required.
Be responsible to ensure staff are appropriately trained in the management of fire safety and ensure compliance with mandatory training.
Be given the management responsibility for new, junior staff or students.
Is responsible for providing fire safety training to all staff and other persons where applicable to ensure compliance with fire safety legislation and guidance.
Responsibility for financial and/or physical resources
Responsible for monitoring the Fire Safety Management budget, supporting periodic review and undertaking procurement reviews of fire related equipment, systems and maintenance contracts.
Responsibility for administration
Required to produce and present reports which will contain specialist competent advice and complex information.
Responsible for reviewing fire related incident and training data, requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison to provide technical and specialist information to provide assurance that the organisation is compliant with legislation and guidance and inform decision making regarding fire safety measures.
Required to write, plan, organise and deliver training regarding fire safety management to ensure organisational compliance with legislation and guidance.
Required to provide specialist advice regarding fire safety management including arranging meetings, site visits and projects.
Responsible for ensuring fire risk assessments are carried out periodically in line with legislation and policy.
Responsible for reviewing and updating the fire safety policy periodically or following an incident.
Responsibility for people who use our services
Will be required to attend sites and will have indirect contact with patients and will be required to follow protocols, procedures and policies.
Is responsible for ensuring the estate is safe in regard to fire management.
May be required to provide specialist advice regarding fire risk associated with patients behaviour if relevant.
Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments
The role requires a detailed understanding and application of current fire safety legislation, codes of practice and healthcare guidance, including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Building Safety Act 2022, Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 05 series), Firecode and relevant British Standards. The post holder:
Is required to produce policies, procedures and guidance related to legislative requirements.
Is expected to exercise a high degree of professional judgement and autonomy in providing specialist advice, interpreting complex legislation and guidance, assessing risks, and recommending practical solutions to ensure the safety of patients, staff, visitors and the wider public.
Will be required to implement changes to established working practices or procedures where there are changes in legislation, following incidents and through best practice, through other fire safety professionals and professional bodies.
Will represent the organisation on any long-term planning or developmental groups as well as represent the corporate risk and compliance team in meetings and projects where there is a fire safety aspect or where cover for a meeting is required.
Other Responsibilities
The post holder is responsible for managing the fire safety drive and ensuring that information held is current and up to date and for supporting any trials of fire safety equipment.
COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
The post will have contact with patients, visitors, clients, and work colleagues in other departments as they will work across the organisation. They will also have contact with other organisations, contractors and stakeholders. The post holder requires excellent communication skills to establish and maintain relationships and gain cooperation of others including those required to motivate, negotiate, persuade, make presentations, train others and impart information that may be contentious. The post holder will be required to
Chair and facilitate meetings related to fire safety, such as fire risk assessments reviews.
Attend relevant meetings and present information as required and contribute to local and regional forums to engage in learning that relate to fire safety to ensure shared learning and continued professional development..
Actively participate in meetings ensuring information is shared and risks escalated
Provide planned and ad hoc written reports that are detailed and with a level of accuracy which are subject to scrutiny.
Present reports at different forums to provide organisational assurance regarding fire safety.
Engage with external clients/partners/stakeholders (e.g. Patients, Health and Social Care Practitioners, individuals and representatives bodies) to gain their necessary level of contribution & commitment to the successful delivery of fire safety.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
Physical Effort
The post holder will be required to undertake physical effort including attending site to review local fire management systems and may require working in confined and restricted spaces e.g. lofts. The post holder will be required to work at a computer.
Mental Effort
The post holder will require sustained concentration to review risk assessments, incidents, specialist and technical information and provide training across the organisation. They will need to be able to interpret, disseminate and have good communication with individuals across a wide range of stakeholders.
Emotional Effort
The post holder will have some exposure to distressing information in reviewing incidents and will be required to attend sites and support services with fire safety arrangements which could include contact with patients and dealing with complaints.
Physical Skills
The post holder is required to attend multiple sites occupied by the organisation and will require a good level of computer skills and knowledge to undertake their role.
Working Conditions
The post holder may experience occasional unpleasant conditions in their role and are required to undertake site visits.
Person Specification
Knowledge Essential
Demonstrable knowledge and experience in the application of Fire code and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, its practical implications and application. Practical knowledge and familiar with the interpretation of the Building Regulations Working knowledge of: fire safety, fire risk management and risk techniques, fire legislation, relevant statues, codes of practice, British Standards and fire safety training Working proven knowledge of the types of hazardous and toxic chemicals and materials including radioactive sources and substances that are present within premises.
Desirable
Knowledge of Risk Management techniques Development of fire related policies, procedures, protocols and strategies Understanding of Landlord Tenant relationships under Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Understanding of fire modelling techniques
Additional requirements Essential
Ability to understand and behaviour in a manner which aligns to LSW values. Willingness to undertake appropriate training to enhance skills and professional development, where necessary travelling and staying away, Ability to manage and prioritise own workload, self-motivated & enthusiastic with a proactive approach to problem solving Good time management Accuracy and attention to detail Ability to motivate others and to deliver to sometimes challenging outcomes Engage with external clients/partners/stakeholders (e.g. Patients, Health and Social Care Practitioners, individuals and representatives bodies) to gain their necessary level of contribution & commitment to the successful delivery of your work. Good team player
Experience Essential
Extensive fire safety/prevention experience gained in Fire Brigade/Armed Forces/ Healthcare and/or Local Fire Authority or comparable industrial organisation Proven knowledge of Healthcare Fire Safety: Firecode. Thorough detailed knowledge of Fire Safety legislation and management systems Experience in the development and delivery of training courses Experience of undertaking investigations and preparing reports on fire incidents Experience in undertaking detailed Fire Risk Assessments and fire safety audits.
Desirable
Experience in the use of Risk Management techniques and processes.
Qualifications Essential
Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate equivalent level of fire safety management competency Professional qualification in discipline related to fire engineering or safety Experience of further academic/personal development Proven knowledge of the fire risk assessment process Certificate in Training Practice or equivalent or extensive demonstrable experience of preparing and delivering training.
Desirable
Member of the Institute of Fire Engineers or Institute of Fire Prevention Officers Member of the National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers Qualified training instructor Holder of NEBOSH (Gen Cert) or CFPA Diploma in Fire Prevention Professional qualification in a fire related subject or equivalent. Training in healthcare fire safety or equivalent. Registered as a fire risk assessor with a recognised accreditation body.
Skills Essential
Effective influencing and communication skills and an ability to deal with staff at all levels Good report writing skills Good standard IT skills e.g. Outlook, Microsoft Office & Microsoft Teams Ability to develop and deliver effective training programmes, both written and orally Ability to work as part of a team & independently Able to meet deadlines Able to translate mandatory regulations and advisory guidance into advice that is both sound and practical Ability to assimilate, analyse & present data, Ability to assess risks, identify necessary actions, make recommendations and ensure action plans have been implemented. Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name Livewell Southwest
Address Livewell Southwest
Crownhill Court
Tailyour Road, Crownhill
Plymouth
Devon
PL6 5DH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)