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THE RETAINED FIREFIGHTER
please click below for further information:
What is the Retained Fire Service?
How Your Fire Station is Crewed
Functional Capability & Physical Fitness
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AVAILABILITY
Your availability is one of a number of key issues that we consider when deciding whether to employ you.
Fire stations are crewed with a specified number of firefighters and officers. The crew have to keep the station appliance(s) available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Most if not all of our firefighters commit to being available during the whole of their free time (when not at work). Typically they offer 16 hours of cover on their workdays and 24 hours cover on the days when they are not at work.
Some firefighters can even be available when they are at work, offering cover 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our stations operate a system where the crew declare their availability for the following week. This enables firefighters to identify periods where they can take time off but still ensure that the fire appliance is kept, as we call it, "on the run".
We will need to ensure that the availability you offer will be suitable and sufficient to meet the needs of the station. It will also form part of any contract of employment that you are offered. The further up the following list you are, the more likely your application will have at progression. (depending on the needs of the station).
SELECTION PRIORITY LIST
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PRIORITY |
TYPE OF COVER |
COMMENT |
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1
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Available from work and during spare time |
Great to have but not many people can respond from work - Ask your employer for support. |
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2
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Shift worker & available during spare time |
Provides cover during weekdays when off shift and maybe some evening and weekend cover. |
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3
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Weekday cover only |
Provides daytime cover Mondays - Fridays (either set or varied hours) |
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4
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During spare time; Evenings/Weekends |
May be suitable depending on crewing levels |
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5
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Other cover |
Dependant on the needs of the station |
NB. We regularly have low crewing levels during weekdays.
Unit Classification
A Full Unit is a person offering 120+ hours of cover per week - the full annual retainer is paid.
A 3/4 Unit is a person offering less than 120 hours of cover per week - 3/4 of the annual retainer is paid.
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