Firefighter (Control)

LGBT Jobs; England; Remote; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is hiring a Firefighter (Control) for its Potterne Control Centre in Wiltshire. This permanent, full-time role involves handling emergency calls, coordinating fire crews, and mobilising resources in a 42-hour week that includes nights and weekends.

The position offers comprehensive training and progression tied to development and competency, with a salary range of £29,962 to £38,340 per annum.

Qualifications

• GCSEs A*-C in English and Maths or equivalent Level 2 qualification.
• Competent in Microsoft Office and other software.
• Experience in emergency service/military environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Take emergency calls from the public.
• Liaise with partner agencies, including police, ambulance and local authorities.
• Mobilise resources and coordinate response to incidents.

Job description

Location: Dorset/Wilthire, United Kingdom

Job Type: Permanent, Full-time

Highlighted points for this job

Permanent appointment as a Firefighter (Control)

Salary range from £29,962 to £38,340 per annum based on training and competency

Full-time position with a 42-hour weekly shift pattern, including nights, weekends, and public holidays

Based at Potterne Support Offices, Wiltshire, with occasional travel required

Roles include taking emergency calls, liaising with partner agencies, and mobilising resources

FIREFIGHTER (CONTROL)

Appointment Type: Permanent

Salary: £29,962 (Development) - £38,340 (Competent) per annum (linked to training, development and competency).

Hours: Full Time - 42 hours per week (shift work)

Location: Potterne Support Offices, Wiltshire. There may be a requirement to work from other locations on occasion.

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 8 November 2026.

We are looking for passionate and dedicated Firefighters (Control), to join our team based in our Service Control Centre in Potterne.

This is no ordinary role. You’ll be the calm, reassuring voice at the other end of the line when someone is potentially facing the worst day of their life. From coordinating fire crews to mobilising emergency resources, every call you take and every decision you make will help protect lives, homes, and communities.

The Service Control Centre is crewed 24 hours per day, 365 days of the year, achieved by four watches on a rotating shift pattern averaging 42 hours per week.

The pattern includes:

• Two consecutive day shifts (08:00 – 18:00)
• Followed by two consecutive night shifts (18:00 – 08:00)
• Followed by four days off

Therefore, applicants must be able to work on days, nights, weekends and public holidays.

Successful applicants will receive full and comprehensive training which will require dedication and a willingness to learn.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, an organisation that is passionate about changing and saving lives. Our Fire Control staff are absolutely vital in helping to make our communities safer. Without them, we couldn’t do it.

We are proud to offer a wide range of employee benefits . From the security of the Local Government Pension Scheme, a generous annual leave allowance, a variety of family friendly policies including 39 weeks’ full pay during maternity leave (subject to qualifying criteria) to our dedicated health & well-being services.

As a Firefighter (Control) you will:

• Take emergency calls from the public
• Liaise with partner agencies, including police, ambulance and local authorities
• Provide guidance and support to the caller, which in some cases may be distressing
• Work as part of a team to provide support to operational colleagues at incidents

You must:

• Be competent in the use of Microsoft Office and other software
• Have 4 GCSE passes - Grade A*-C / 9-4, including English and Mathematics; or equivalent Level 2 qualification; or higher-level relevant qualification; or have at least six months of relevant experience of working in an emergency service/military environment
• Be a minimum of 17 and a half years of age at point of application; however, if successful, you will need to be 18 years old at the point of appointment
• Be able to provide a commitment to the shift working pattern
• Be competent in the use of Microsoft Office and other software packages, with good keyboard skills

What makes you our ideal Firefighter (Control):

• Able to communicate confidently and clearly with both internal and external customers, demonstrating a positive and professional attitude with the ability to establish a rapport with callers
• Able to commit to the requirements of the development programme with a high degree of self-motivation
• Resilient when dealing with distressed callers in emergency life or death situations
• Able to manipulate datasets and databases
• Able to display professionalism in line with working as part of a uniformed service, consistently operating to high standards and supporting operational excellence

Like to see more?

We will be offering a limited number of opportunities for those interested in the role to visit our Control Centre in Potterne on the following dates:

• Tuesday 27 th October - 2 sessions (evening) – 18:00-19:00pm, 19:30-20:30pm
• Wednesday 28 th October - 2 sessions (afternoon) – 14:00-15:00pm, 15:30-16:30pm
• Thursday 29 th October - 2 sessions (evening) – 18:00-19:00pm, 19:30-20:30pm

If you are interested in attending and would like to see first-hand what it is like to work as a Fire Control Operator, please contact Sue Bunting, Station Manager - Control Systems and Business Development Manageron 07900 265058 / [e-mail].

Please note that spaces are limited, and we may not be able to offer this opportunity to all interested candidates.

What can you do to prepare?

There will be two Practical Tests as part of the selection process: a Typing Test and a Practical Scenario.

The Typing Test will involve listening to an audio recording and typing the transcript. The recording will be read at approximately 50 words per minute and will last around five minutes. The test will be completed using a Word document, with formatting, spellcheck and grammar tools turned off. In previous processes, the pass mark has been set at a minimum of 40 words per minute and minimum of 80% accuracy.

Thiswill be completed on a PC using a keyboard, to replicate the Fire Control environment as closely as possible.

To help you feel prepared, you may wish to spend some time practising your typing speed using websites such as 10FastFingers.com or TypingTest.com. Even a little practice beforehand can help you feel more confident on the day.

Interviews will take place on the same day as the Practical Tests and will be based around the Code of Ethics. We recommend taking some time to familiarise yourself with the Code and consider how you can demonstrate your skills, experience and approach in relation to its principles.

Reflecting on examples from your previous experience can be a helpful way to prepare. Think about situations where you have demonstrated the behaviours and values outlined in the Code, and be prepared to explain what you did, why you did it and what the outcome was.

For full details of the role and requirements please have a look at the job description and person specification.

Other Information:

• The role involves day/night, weekend and bank holiday working on a shift pattern
• You must be able to fulfil the travel requirements of the role, which could include occasional travel to locations within the partnership.
• A Standard Disclosure & Barring Service Check (DBS) clearance will be undertaken on successful individuals prior to confirmation of employment
• Any offer of employment will be subject to full pre-employment checks which include identity checks, right to work in the UK, medical, receipt of satisfactory references, verification of employment history, and an explanation of any gaps in employment in the last 3 years
• This role does not provide a career path to the role of wholetime or on-call firefighter.

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 8 November 2026.

The selection process will include the following stages:

• Stage 1: Application form and eligibility checks

Candidates will need to be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage in the process. We will be unable to progress your application or offer alternative dates if you cannot attend or complete all stages of the process.

Our Candidate Charter outlines the commitments we make to you when applying for a vacancy with us.

Please note we do not accept CV’s in place of application forms.

We welcome the use of AI responsibly and ethically to demonstrate your skills in your application, but please don’t allow it to shadow your own unique voice.

While we appreciate innovative approaches, we also value authenticity. Our assessment considers both the content of the application and how it was created, ensuring fairness and inclusivity for all applicants. At the end of the day – we want YOU to work for us!

We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. All applications will be treated on merit and staff involved in recruitment and selection processes undertake unconscious bias training.

We are committed to the Disability Confident Scheme and guarantee an interview to applicants with a disclosed disability if they meet the minimum criteria for the post to which they are applying. Please tell us in confidence if this applies to you, or if there are any reasonable adjustments that would help you apply for this post. To find out more, please see our website .

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults, Children and Young People. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

If you hold international qualifications, you will be required to provide official evidence that shows how these compare to UK Qualifications. We will accept a Statement of Comparability from a UK organisation called ENIC which can be obtained via their website . Please note that UK ENIC charge for this service, so if you request a Statement of Compatibility, you will be required to pay for it as we are unable to reimburse you.

For further guidance on how to complete your application, please refer to the Job Application Guidance Notes. If you are experiencing difficulties completing your application or have a need to complete your application in an alternative format due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team on 01722 691444 within plenty of time of the closing date of the position you are applying for.

Our recruitment, assessment and progression processes are based on our Code of Ethics that has been developed specifically for Fire and Rescue Services. When recruiting, we identify the most important behaviours for the role and these are used as part of the short-listing and selection process.

Attachments

Job Application Guidance Notes 2024 V8

Employment Benefits Infographic - March 25