Control Firefighter

**Job Title**: Firefighter - Control
**Contract**:12 Month fixed term contract for Maternity cover with the potential to fill permanent vacancies if they arise.
2 x Day shift (0800-1800) 2 x Night shift (1800-0800) 4 x Rota days in a rolling 8-day contract.
**Salary**: £24,590 rising to £32,776 per annum

**Location**:
**Main Control**:
Service Headquarters, Kelvedon Park, Rivenhall, Witham, Essex. CM8 3HB.
**Secondary Control (When required)**:
Ongar Fire Station, 67 High Street, Ongar, Essex. CM5 9DT.

**What Are We Looking For?**

Are you an enthusiastic person who is passionate about protecting people?
Are you a professional with good communication and listening skills?
Can you remain calm in a pressurised working environment?
Are you a Team player?
Can you provide empathy and support to individuals during times of crisis?

If so, then we are looking for you.

**The Role**

As a Control Firefighter, you are the first point of contact with the public calling Essex County Fire and Rescue Service with Emergency Calls and will have responsibilities for mobilising appropriate resources, informing Senior Officers and liaising with other Emergency and Public Services, as required, to protect and save life, property, and the environment by working as part of a team.
You are a vital communications link with operational crews at incidents, providing them with support in dealing with incidents, additionally, you provide valuable administrative duties to support the wider Service and the communities that we serve.

**What You Will Be Working On**
- To receive and record emergency and non-emergency calls, including from operational crews and other agencies, ensuring that all relevant information is accurately obtained and recorded.
- To utilise advanced call-handling techniques, when appropriate, provide survival advice and guidance to callers in danger situations and pass information obtained to crews and other emergency agencies, when required, utilising the Emergency Call Management Processes.
- To mobilise appropriate resources, including officers and special equipment via the Mobilising and Communication Systems, including Paging Systems and Systems used during Business Continuity.
- To transmit, receive, acknowledge, and accurately record messages (normally using telephone and radio) to and from incidents.
- Operate, monitor, and test communications equipment to ensure a constant state of readiness in the Control Room environment, including responding to alarms, alerts, or faults, liaising with ICT, and reporting accordingly.
- Liaise, as appropriate, with other Authorities, Emergency Services, Commercial Organisations and other Fire and Rescue Services.
- To maintain communication links, including the maintenance of County wide fire cover for the duration of all incidents and manage risk and other specialist information.
- Informing the Watch/Crew Manager immediately of changing circumstances in relation to incidents, resource availability and equipment.

**Eligibility**
- GCSEs Grade C or above or Key Skills Level 2 in English and Math's.
- Other essential criteria as outlined in the personal specification.

**The Application Process**

If you meet the eligibility criteria listed above, you are required to submit a supporting statement of no more than 500 words detailing how you meet the criteria detailed in the Person Specification.

The assessment activity will take place in line with the Service’s Leadership Resourcing and Succession approach and will involve the following activities:
**Stage 1**: Shortlisting will take place Week commencing Monday 5th June 2023.

**Stage 2**: Interview (Based on Essex County Fire & Rescue Service Core Values) Tuesday 13th June & Thursday 15th June 2023.

**Stage 3**:Role specific assessments Week Commencing 19th June 2023.

Training is currently schedules to start on 31st July 2023.

**Closing date to be considered for this vacancy is 12pm, Friday 2nd June 2023.**

**Our employee forums and partners include**:
Asian Fire Services Association (AFSA), BEING (our LGBTQ+ employee support network), Christian Fellowship, Ethnic Minority Forum, Men’s Forum, and our Women’s Forum. In addition, we also have a female firefighter’s operational group.

**Our Culture and Benefits**

Here at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service we are committed to prioritising and promoting the wellbeing of our employees. Some of our benefits include:

- Flexible working hours
- Remote working opportunities
- Wellbeing and counselling services
- Physiotherapy services
- Affiliation with the Blue Light Card scheme
- Generous annual leave
- Competitive pension scheme
- Career development opportunities

**Closing Date - Friday 2nd June 2023.**

**Safeguarding**
- Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

It is our