Bank Fire Safety Manager

Responsible for leading on providing the Trust with a high-quality fire management system at both strategic and operational levels. To ensure compliance with the various statutory legislation and guidance within the Fire Code suite of documents. Identify and lead initiatives in support of a comprehensive Fire Strategy including supporting policy, protocols, and procedures for all Trust sites. Responsible for training, inspections, and audits against current fire legislation and fire practices across the Trust. Responsible for providing accurate fire risk assessments and action plans. Produce comprehensive reports for communicating to all levels within the Trust including Executive Committees and Trust Board. Provide leadership, advice, and support across the Organisation. Liaise with all necessary internal and external stakeholders e.g., Trust staff, PFI partners, Local Government, The Fire and Rescue Service, the Health and Safety Executive, etc. on matters of fire precaution. The post-holder is required to forge and maintain excellent working relationships with managers at all levels, in order to ensure that the resources of the Trust Estates & Facilities Directorate contribute to the delivery of patient care.

To ensure the Trust is compliant with the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 RRO and Fire code HTM-05-01 Managing Healthcare Fire Safety:

1. Responsible for the delivery of fire safety training.
2. To undertake fire risk assessments.
3. To act in support of the FS manager.
4. Advise the FS manager of issues.
5. Review and development of fire safety related policies, procedures, and practices.
6. Deliver FS improvements.
7. To ensure fire safety incidents are investigated and followed up appropriately.
8. To assist in the co-ordination and preparation of fire safety audits.
9. Managers and staff to plan/simulate fire evacuations.
10. To maintain the Trust's risk register with regard to Fire Safety Risks.
11. To ensure records are maintained for: Fire Risk Assessments and Fire Safety Audits, Fire Accident, Arson, Incident Reports.

Deputy Fire Safety Manager Based across all our sites (University Hospital Lewisham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and Community sites).

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team, and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

1. Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development.
2. Widening access (anchor institution) and employability.
3. Improving the experience of staff with disability.
4. Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development.
5. Making equalities mainstream.

Job responsibilities

Job Summary: Responsible for leading on providing the Trust with a high-quality fire management system at both strategic and operational levels. To ensure compliance with the various statutory legislation and guidance within the Fire Code suite of documents. Identify and lead initiatives in support of a comprehensive Fire Strategy including supporting policy, protocols, and procedures for all Trust sites. Responsible for training, inspections, and audits against current fire legislation and fire practices across the Trust. Responsible for providing accurate fire risk assessments and action plans. Produce comprehensive reports for communicating to all levels within the Trust including Executive Committees and Trust Board. Provide leadership, advice, and support across the Organisation. Liaise with all necessary internal and external stakeholders e.g., Trust staff, PFI partners, Local Government, The Fire and Rescue Service, the Health and Safety Executive, etc. on matters of fire precaution. The post-holder is required to forge and maintain excellent working relationships with managers at all levels, in order to ensure that the resources of the Trust Estates & Facilities Directorate contribute to the delivery of patient care.

1. To provide professional fire safety leadership and management throughout the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust ensuring compliance with current statutory requirements, codes of practice and Trust policies and procedures, Fire Code and other guidance e.g. HTM and HBN suite of documents, Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Building Regulations, British Standards and European Directives etc.
2. Ensure that the Fire and Rescue Service and Local Authority Building Control are informed of any work that may affect the fire safety of any building and that any modifications to fire systems are comprehensively commissioned and documented, and that site plans, system schematics and local Fire Brigade information are updated and current through dialogue and audit.
3. Responsible for the provision of a professional fire safety strategy, ensuring an effective programme of training, inspections, risk assessments and maintenance programmes are developed and delivered to meet statutory requirements, minimise risk and resolve all fire safety issues to provide a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors.
4. Identify the Trusts status in regard to compliance with current fire legislation and guidance, escalate non-conformities and put in place/recommend corrective actions and forecast resources required.
5. To be responsible for strategic ownership of monitoring and reporting which can be used to demonstrate actions that are required and to ensure compliance with regulations.
6. Lead the Fire Safety Committee ensuring meetings are regular and documented.
7. Liaise with Trust staff and others when conducting fire safety audits and fire risk assessments, compile standardised professional management reports as necessary and incorporate within the Estates and Facilities Directorate management systems. To provide support and guidance to the Estates & Facilities Directorate on compliance with Fire Safety legislation.
8. To minimise the risk of fire occurring by establishing and maintaining safe fire procedures within a complex healthcare environment through delivery of fire awareness training and liaison, specifying fire warning and firefighting systems. Organise fire drills and monitor their effectiveness compiling accurate records of staff training and drills.
9. Manage specialist investigations of all fire incidents, producing appropriate reports for the Director. Record, investigate and report on fire incidents and unwanted fire signals.
10. Maintain comprehensive records of all fire incidents and investigations ensuring that trends are identified and that advice is given to the appropriate parties for remedial action to reduce incidents.
11. Keep records of all fire incidents and false alarms, and ensure that fire reports are prepared in a timely manner to a standard format and where necessary issue remedial advice on the emergency. Manage the maintenance of fire safety records and the development of local fire safety manuals for Trust premises.
12. Manage, lead and support the 24 hour emergency cover Fire Response Team and Fire Marshals delivering specialist training at regular intervals, attending all incidents when on site.
13. Manage and supervise the adequate provision, siting and maintenance of firefighting equipment, life safety systems e.g. emergency lighting, fire safety signage and systems, ensuring all required records are maintained in a current state through audit and due diligence to confirm compliance.
14. Provide specialist advice and guidance to the Estates and Facilities Directorate for initial design input in the preparation of capital schemes to deliver effective facilities, which maximise safety and minimise revenue costs and risk.
15. Monitor the adherence to the Trusts Fire Policy and work to ensure that the Trusts health and safety policies and procedures are adhered to. Specifically to ensure that the activities of contractors working on site do not subvert fire safety of any premises through personal inspections.
16. Prepare and deliver a programme of fire lectures to all staff, to educate staff of the need to have fire safety awareness and through scheduled informative and constructive training promote the needs both to prevent fire and to be aware and follow the proper fire procedures in the event of a fire. Supporting the Training Department with maintaining a register of staff who have been trained and those requiring training.
17. Produce, review and update comprehensive fire risk assessments PAS 79 (2012) for all Trust properties and properties where Trust staff and patients work or deliver a service. Identify capital investment requirements to ensure full compliance with national and international standards.
18. Ensure that there is in place satisfactory means to carry out the statutory testing of all fire safety installations and equipment throughout the organisation and that such equipment comply with the appropriate regulations.
19. A sound knowledge and understanding of the relevant Building Regulations and Standards and their application and in addition those of the appropriate British Standards or equivalent regarding all fire safety installations and equipment is required.
20. The use of computers, with appropriate keyboard skills to enable the use of Trust software inc. Microsoft Office and Outlook. The ability to prepare, produce and deliver power point slide presentations for statutory fire awareness training is required.
21. Analyse risks, understand complex situations, carry out option appraisals and deliver a balanced judgment of actions.
22. The ability to make instant decisions and assessments may be required to be made and enforced if and when precautions or regulations are flouted to a degree where danger to the persons or property is perceived. The ability to listen, understand, judge and give an answer or immediate decision to a question is often required on a daily basis. Policy decisions will always be referred to the Director of Estates & Facilities.
23. Generally organise the daily workload of tasks and activities required.
24. Essentially self-directing using the general guidance contained in the Fire Code document.
25. Formulate long term plans or proposals that may be difficult to achieve without extensive discussions and guidance to management.
26. Required to receive and understand complex information and legislation and disseminate this to all levels within the Trust in order to advise on a variety of subjects relating to fire where persuasion, motivation and understanding will be required through support and management to achieve the necessary standards.
27. Develop and maintain effective partnerships with other directorates and services regarding fire safety issues, working with all levels of Trust staff and PFI partners, across all sites and community premises, to ensure an ongoing awareness of fire procedures and policies, primarily through organised fire lectures and regular consultation.
28. Daily contact with Operational Managers and PFI partners with regard to site access, road closures, building works etc.
29. Regular written and verbal contact with building consultants, London Fire Brigade, Lewisham and Greenwich Borough (Environmental Health and Building Control) and the Metropolitan Police.
30. For immediate replacement purposes the transport on occasions of extinguishers may be required.
31. A sound in-depth knowledge and understanding of fire, coupled with the experience of how the dangers from fire may be reduced for the greater safety of patients, staff and visitors is essential.
32. Preferred experience gained through substantial time spent within the Fire and Rescue Service, specifically fire prevention.
33. Attendance at periodic private and local authority seminars and lectures relating to fire safety research and development in order that advice is available to management on current issues is required.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Knowledge of the principles of:
• Fire Safety Policy
• Fire Risk Assessment
• Fire legislation and Codes of Practice
• Fire Safety Audits (including an ability to undertake them)
• Fire Safety installations
• Fire Safety Management Systems.
• Knowledge of NHS guidance Firecode and HBNs.
• Fire Training
• Budget management skills.
• Report writing skills.
• Able to demonstrate ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Ability to use initiative, organise own workload and delegate duties.
• Ability to influence others both directly and indirectly.
• Excellent IT skills, able to use all aspects of Microsoft Office.

Desirable

• Understanding of Fire Engineering principles and Fire Modelling.
• Knowledge of risk management methods.
• Working knowledge of fire legislation and Fire Code.

Experience

Essential

• Hold a minimum of 5 years operational experience of the workplace application of Fire Safety.
• Experience of managing staff.
• Working to timescales within budget.
• Experience of preparing and delivering training courses.

Desirable

• Experience in healthcare specific Fire Safety.
• Experience of healthcare engineering or estate management, or equivalent.

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to Masters degree level or equivalent professional qualification relating to Fire Safety and or extensive experience in fire safety in a senior position.
• Understanding of Health and safety legislation and its application to a healthcare environment.

Desirable

• Corporate membership of a Professional Organisation e.g. IOSH, GIFireE, MIFireE, MIFSM, IHEEM etc.
• Specialist Member of the Institute of Risk & Safety Management (SIIRSM).
• Recognised management qualification.
• IT qualification.

Personal Qualities