Fire Safety Advisor

Livewell Southwest; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

Livewell Southwest is seeking a dedicated Fire Safety Lead to provide specialist professional and technical leadership across the Trust’s multi-site estate in Plymouth. You will drive compliance with Fire Safety legislation, deliver training, and oversee risk assessments and audits to improve safety performance.

The role supports the Corporate Risk and Compliance Team, coordinating with the Fire Safety Manager to ensure robust fire safety systems and controls organization-wide.

Qualifications

• Extensive fire safety management experience in healthcare or similar setting.
• Proven ability to audit, inspect and supervise fire safety compliance.
• Strong knowledge of Fire Safety Order 2005 and Building Safety Act 2022.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and assurance of organisational fire safety management.
• Manage fire risk assessments, inspections, audits and action plans.
• Deliver fire safety training and support emergency planning.
• Provide specialist advice on fire detection, evacuation and incident response.
• Maintain liaison with enforcing authorities and internal committees.

Skills

Fire safety leadership

Auditing & risk assessment

Policy development

Stakeholder engagement

Training delivery

Regulatory compliance

Incident investigation

Education

Degree level (fire safety/engineering or related)

Professional fire safety qualification

NEBOSH/CFPA or equivalent

Tools

Fire safety management systems

Risk assessment methodologies

Job description

To provide specialist professional and technical leadership in firesafety across Livewell Southwest, ensuring compliance with all relevant firesafety legislation, statutory requirements and healthcare fire safety guidance.The post holder will support the Corporate Risk and Compliance Team and FireSafety Manager in delivering effective fire safety management arrangementsacross a diverse multi-site estate.

The role is responsible for providing expert advice and guidance on allaspects of fire safety to managers and staff, promoting a safe environment forpatients, service users, staff, contractors and visitors. The post holder willlead on fire safety assurance activities, undertake audits and riskassessments, identify and prioritise fire safety improvements, and support thedevelopment and implementation of robust fire safety systems and controls.

The post holder will deliver fire safety training, contribute to themanagement of fire-related risks, and provide specialist advice on fireprecautions, fire detection and alarm systems, firefighting equipment,evacuation procedures and emergency planning. They will ensure the organisationremains compliant with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, BuildingSafety Act 2022, Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 05 series), Firecode guidanceand other relevant legislation and standards, supporting the continuousimprovement 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 responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide professional, technical guidance and advice inrelation to the interpretation and application of fire safety legislation.

Maintain and promote an organisation-wide fire safety policyand organisational plans and procedures which influence and direct actionswithin all services and localities. Monitor the implementation of the policyand systematically audit compliance with legislation and standards across theorganisation.

Support the organisation in managing, monitoring andco-ordinating all associated works ensuring compliance with relevant current legislation, NHSGuidance, Fire Safety, COSHH, DSEAR, codes of practice, regulations to deliverfire safety across the organisation.

Establish effective communication systems and workingrelationships that engage managers, staff and their representatives in firesafety.

Maintain effective working relationships with the enforcingauthorities, manage fire inspections, fire safety audits and work withoperation and the estates department toappropriate mitigation measures and action plans.

Maintain oversight of fire safety systems andinfrastructure, including fire detection and alarm systems, emergency lighting,firefighting equipment and evacuation equipment.

Provide reports, attend relevant committees and liaise withmanagement as required.

Assist in prioritising the organisations capital programmeand project management resources. Work closely with key stakeholders on servicedevelopments and fire safety improvements via development schemes.

Monitor proposed changes to fire safety related legislationand guidance and assist the Fire Safety Manager and the Head of Estates,Facilities, Risk and EPRR to ensure a coordinated response at all levels andupdate policies, plans and procedures as required.

Carry out an on-going programme of fire risk assessment andreview across the organisation that provides clear action plans. Ensure theseaction plans are communicated to the Management, Estates and Facilities Servicein a timely manner.

Develop, deliver and monitor organisation-wide trainingprogrammes to ensure fire safety is adequately represented.

Assist services, departments and teams with the developmentof fire evacuation plans and procedures and ensure these are communicated toall staff.

Undertake fire/incident investigations in conjunction withthe appropriate enforcing authority. Submit incident reports in accordance withorganisational and national reporting requirements.

Provide data on trends and patterns derived from fire, falsealarm and unwanted fire signal incident reports.

Inform project teams on fire safety.

Provide absence cover for the Corporate Risk and Complianceteam.

Liaise with the Authorising Engineer (Fire) whereappropriate.

Support business continuity, emergency preparedness andresilience arrangements relating to fire safety.

Where available and reasonable (including outside normalhours) attend any of the organisations facilities where a fire incident hasbeen reported. Note this does not require the post holder to be on call andavailable to attend at all times.

Support staff facilitation and recording of firedrills/evacuations.

Maintain personal and continual professional development tomeet the changing demands of the job, participate in appropriate trainingactivities 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 inthe management of fire safety and ensure compliance with mandatory training.

Be given the management responsibility for new, junior staffor students.

Is responsible for providing fire safety training to allstaff and other persons where applicable to ensure compliance with fire safetylegislation and guidance.

Responsibility for financial and/or physical resources

Responsible for monitoring the Fire Safety Managementbudget, supporting periodic review and undertaking procurement reviews of firerelated equipment, systems and maintenance contracts.

Responsibility for administration

Required to produce and present reports which will containspecialist competent advice and complex information.

Responsible for reviewing fire related incident and trainingdata, requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison to provide technicaland specialist information to provide assurance that the organisation iscompliant with legislation and guidance and inform decision making regardingfire safety measures.

Required to write, plan, organise and deliver trainingregarding fire safety management to ensure organisational compliance withlegislation and guidance.

Required to provide specialist advice regarding fire safetymanagement including arranging meetings, site visits and projects.

Responsible for ensuring fire risk assessments are carriedout periodically in line with legislation and policy.

Responsible for reviewing and updating the fire safetypolicy periodically or following an incident.

Responsibility for people who use our services

Will be required to attend sites and will have indirectcontact with patients and will be required to follow protocols, procedures andpolicies.

Is responsible for ensuring the estate is safe in regard tofire management.

May be required to provide specialist advice regarding firerisk associated with patients behaviour if relevant.

Responsibility for implementation of policy and/orservice developments

The role requires a detailed understanding and applicationof current fire safety legislation, codes of practice and healthcare guidance,including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Building Safety Act2022, Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 05 series), Firecode and relevant BritishStandards. The post holder:

Is required to produce policies, procedures and guidancerelated to legislative requirements.

Is expected to exercise a high degree of professionaljudgement and autonomy in providing specialist advice, interpreting complexlegislation and guidance, assessing risks, and recommending practical solutionsto ensure the safety of patients, staff, visitors and the wider public.

Will be required to implement changes to established workingpractices or procedures where there are changes in legislation, followingincidents and through best practice, through other fire safety professionalsand professional bodies.

Will represent the organisation on any long-term planning ordevelopmental groups as well as represent the corporate risk and complianceteam in meetings and projects where there is a fire safety aspect or wherecover for a meeting is required.

Other Responsibilities

The post holder is responsible for managing the fire safetydrive and ensuring that information held is current and up to date and forsupporting 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 theorganisation. They will also havecontact with other organisations, contractors and stakeholders. The post holderrequires excellent communication skills to establish and maintain relationshipsand gain cooperation of others including those required to motivate, negotiate,persuade, make presentations, train others and impart information that may becontentious. The post holder will be required to

Chair and facilitate meetings related to fire safety, suchas fire risk assessments reviews.

Attend relevant meetings and present information as requiredand contribute to local and regional forums to engage in learning that relateto fire safety to ensure shared learning and continued professionaldevelopment..

Actively participate in meetings ensuring information isshared and risks escalated

Provide planned and ad hoc written reports that are detailedand with a level of accuracy which are subject to scrutiny.

Present reports at different forums to provideorganisational assurance regarding fire safety.

Engage with external clients/partners/stakeholders (e.g.Patients, Health and Social Care Practitioners, individuals and representativesbodies) to gain their necessary level of contribution & commitment to thesuccessful delivery of fire safety.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB

Physical Effort

The post holder will be required to undertake physicaleffort including attending site to review local fire management systems and mayrequire working in confined and restricted spaces e.g. lofts. The post holder will be required to work at acomputer.

Mental Effort

The post holder will require sustained concentration toreview risk assessments, incidents, specialist and technical information andprovide training across the organisation.They will need to be able to interpret, disseminate and have goodcommunication with individuals across a wide range of stakeholders.

Emotional Effort

The post holder will have some exposure to distressinginformation in reviewing incidents and will be required to attend sites andsupport services with fire safety arrangements which could include contact withpatients and dealing with complaints.

Physical Skills

The post holder is required to attend multiple sitesoccupied by the organisation and will require a good level of computer skillsand knowledge to undertake their role.

Working Conditions

The post holder may experience occasional unpleasantconditions in their role and are required to undertake site visits.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• 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.
• 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

• 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

• 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.
• Experience in the use of Risk Management techniques and processes.

Qualifications

• 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.
• 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

• Effective influencing and communication skills and an ability to deal with staff at all levels
• Good report writing skills
• 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.

Head of Estates, Facilities, Risk and EPRR

Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Flexible working