Fire Safety Advisor

NHS; Chester; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare trust in Chester is seeking a Fire Safety professional to provide expert advice and ensure compliance with fire safety regulations. The ideal candidate will have a Master's degree and relevant Fire Safety certifications, along with experience in delivering training and managing Fire Risk Assessments. This full-time role offers a salary between £47,810 to £54,710 with flexible working patterns. Join a committed organization promoting inclusive practices and improving community health.

Benefits

Flexible working patterns

Guaranteed interview scheme for armed forces community applicants

Qualifications

• Master's Degree or equivalent experience of working at this level.
• Graduate of the Institute of Fire Engineers or Diploma Level 3 in Fire Safety.
• National General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert technical advice on fire safety guidance.
• Implement fire safety management initiatives.
• Support audits and risk mitigation programmes.

Skills

Expert technical advice

Fire Safety guidance interpretation

Training delivery

Experience with regulatory authorities

Education

Master's Degree or equivalent

Graduate of the Institute of Fire Engineers or Diploma Level 3 in Fire Safety

National General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health

Job description

Overview

The post holder will be formally appointed in line with Health Technical Memorandum 05-01: Managing Healthcare Fire Safety. As the Trust's 'competent person', they will be responsible for providing professional advice and support to the Head of Estates to ensure that the Trust complies with regulatory requirements, especially the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Shortlisting for this vacancy is due to commence on 05/01/2026 and the proposed interview date is 19/01/2026.

Responsibilities

• Providing expert technical advice on the application and interpretation of fire safety guidance, including Health Fire Code and other legislative/regulatory requirements, especially the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
• Implementing initiatives in line with the strategic approach to fire safety management.
• Supporting the Trust's approach to fire safety in line with the requirements of Standards for Better Health including the overseeing of audits as necessary and the implementation of risk mitigation and improvement programmes as required.
• Liaising with local authorities and fire services across the trust boundaries as required.
• Maintaining strong links with other mental health providers to benchmark performance and to ensure that the Trust is following best practice in fire risk management.
• Ensuring policy and procedural alignment between the Trust and other partner organisations and proposing changes when appropriate.
• Undertaking management of Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) and reviewing current FRAs where necessary.
• Investigating and analysing reported fire incidents on the Trusts electronic incident reporting system.
• Planning, co‑ordinating and monitoring a programme of annual fire drills and fire safety training programmes for all staff within the Trust.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree or equivalent experience of working at this level.
• Graduate of the Institute of Fire Engineers or Diploma Level 3 in Fire Safety (Grad IFE).
• National General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health (Tech IOSH).
• Experience as a Fire Safety Inspector or in a Station/ Watch Manager role or as a fire safety advisor.
• Demonstrable understanding of general and specific statutory requirements within the fire safety arena.
• Experience of delivering Fire Safety training at all levels.
• Experience of undertaking Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) and reviewing building plans and specifications of fire safety compliance.
• Experience of dealing with regulatory authorities e.g., fire service, HSE or CQC.

Desirable: Institute of Fire Engineers Chartered, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health Chartered/NEBOSH Diploma, previous experience enforcing the Fire Safety Order, change management experience, negotiating and influencing experience on a wide range of issues, experience of healthcare fire safety, experience of mental health fire safety.

About CWP

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care. We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport. Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person‑centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

CWP is committed to inclusive recruitment: we are Disability Confident, Rainbow Badge Scheme members, Veteran Aware, and proud holders of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award. We welcome applications from people with accessible experiences and encourage you to review our values and how they align with your own.

Recruitment Information

Pay: £47,810 to £54,710 a year, Band 7, Permanent, Full‑time. Working pattern is flexible. Reference number 373‑CSS1219. Location: The Oaks Office Park, Stanney Mill Road, Chester, CH2 4HY.

Applications are considered and may be closed prior to advertised date; please apply early. For further support, contact recruitment team at [e-mail] or call 01244 393100. The Trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to eligible armed forces community applicants.

All UK candidates must comply with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and Disclosure & Barring Service checks may be required.