22846 - Band 9 - National Lead - Fire Safety

Overview of the job

This is a senior advisory and strategic role that requires regular visits to the London HQ. The base location will be determined following discussion with the post holder who will report directly to the Head of Occupational Health, Safety and Fire. They will be expected to work closely with a wide range of stakeholders including members of the HMPPS Executive Committee (CEO, Executive Directors and Directors), Prison Group, Deputy Directors (including Deputy Directors of Custody and the National Probation Service), other HMPPS Senior Managers, and Trade Union Representatives.

The post holder will be expected to represent HMPPS when working with stakeholders in the Ministry of Justice and with external bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Crown Premises Fire Inspection Group (CPFIG).  

• To advise the HMPPS Executive OHSF Sub Committee on all the fire safety risks to which the Service is exposed, the measures it needs to take to discharge its responsibility for the health and safety of all staff and others who are affected by its undertakings, and ensure compliance with relevant health and safety legislation and the Fire Safety Order 2005 and best practice.
• The responsibilities of the post cover all Public Sector Prisons (including High Security) their employees (circa 60,000), prisoners (circa 85,000), the National Probation Service (including Approved Premises), and Controllers of Privately managed Prisons.  
• The post holder is expected to travel to London HQ regularly however the base location will be determined following discussions with the post holder. The post holder will manage a small team of staff.  
• The post is non-operational but the post holder is expected to have an understanding of the operational environment in order to provide an effective service.

The job holder will be expected to operate in a culture of openness, demonstrating a commitment to change through involvement and empowerment and by delivering results. In addition, advice and support must be provided in ways appropriate to stakeholder needs with a clear customer focus.

• The post-holder will be expected to travel extensively throughout England and Wales.
• The post holder is expected to respond immediately in the event of significant loss of property or serious injury or death from incidents of fire. This response requires the job holder to regularly attend establishments, including during “red hours”, to provide expert Fire Safety Advice to Incident Managers including Gold and Silver Command to aid those in command to make defensible decisions regarding staff and prisoner safety as per PSI 09/2014 – Incident management.

Summary

The post holder is responsible for advising the HMPPS Executive Sub Committee on all aspects of fire safety, including identification of hazards, fire precautions, fire risk management and intervention. This also includes the impact of new legislation and areas of vulnerability and the measures it needs to take to manage the significant risks to which the organisation is exposed. S/he also provides advice direct to internal stakeholders including: CEO; Executive Directors; Directors, Deputy Directors;

Governing Governors and Heads of Group etc. on an ad hoc basis.

The job holder is responsible for leading on the provision of competent professional advice ensuring compliance with Fire Safety legislation. Developing and implementing strategic fire safety policy, risk management, technical guidance and training policy in operational fire intervention procedures within the HMPPS organisation.

Responsibilities,Activities & Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• Develop strategic policy, guidance and systems for managing fire to ensure that the Service meets its statutory obligations as a minimum and advise HMPPS OHSF Executive Sub Committee on all new and emerging Fire Safety legislation and the associated enforcement/litigation potential.
• Responsible for strategic development of the Corporate Occupational Health, Safety and Fire Risk Register and implementation of the associated action plans.
• Responsible for drafting and implementing timely updates to the Fire Safety Policy and Prison & Probation Service Instructions and operational guidance on fire prevention, risk management and fire intervention.
• Responsible for ensuring that establishments receive up to date information on changes and amendments to policy, guidance and training through timely fire safety bulletins and the SPHERA Incident reporting and management system.
• Responsible for monitoring and reporting on fire safety performance and risk management from establishments and Regions including the development of the Fire elements of SPHERA and NORCET and compliance with the TFM Contract.
• Providing trend analysis and reports to the Executive Director of Prisons and HMPPS OHSF Executive Sub Committee.
• Responsible for the development of fire safety solutions for the custodial environment.
• Responsible for overseeing the implementation and delivery of ad hoc fire safety advice and programmed targeted interventions to reduce any significant fire safety risks at Establishments. Co-operating with, and engaging Governors, their SMT and Establishment Fire Safety Practitioners to deliver pragmatic solutions.
• Responsible for acting as the HMPPS representative and policy lead to engage and consult with the Crown Premises Fire Inspection Group, Health and safety Executive (HSE), Whitley Council, NPS National HSF Committee, TUS representatives and all relevant stakeholders and other Government Departments.
• Responsible for providing annual performance statement (fire safety assurance statement) to Chief Executive and MOJ and preparing regular reports for senior management.
• Responsible for providing timely and accurate responses to Parliamentary and Ministerial Questions and Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.
• Responsible for carrying out strategic training needs analysis and providing ongoing technical advice and input to fire training programmes (e.g. SMT health, safety & fire sponsor, Prison Fire Safety Practitioners, RPE Instructor and ‘end user’ courses).
• Responsible for providing fire statistics and trend analysis information and reports on a timely basis to the HMPPS OHSF Executive Sub Committee.
• Responsible for liaising with and providing policy advice to Procurement and Executive Directorate of Prisons on the management, supply, delivery and servicing/replacement of RPE equipment to establishments and their funding.
• Deliver presentations and seminars to Executive Directors, Directors and Management Teams as required.
• Liaise with and provide technical advice and support to PSP including: Regional Service Leads, Health, Safety and Fire and Litigation and to lead on all fire issues at National OHSF meetings.
• Monitor daily security incident log and implement targeted interventions at establishments as necessary, following any serious fire incidents and injury/death. Support any subsequent fire investigations and provide technical support as necessary to the PPO investigation team.
• Regularly liaise with and attend the Prison Management Group Senior Management Board meetings. Lead on all aspects of custodial fire safety at the monthly MoJ Estates Health, Safety and Fire Liaison Committee.
• Responsible for the review, oversight and management of the drafting of technical fire safety guidance concerning the Operational and Built Environments, Policies and fire equipment testing and maintenance schedules, ensuring co-ordination and co-operation between HMPPS and MoJ.
• The post holder is expected to respond immediately in the event of significant loss of property or serious injury or death from incidents of fire. This response requires the job holder to attend establishments, including during “red hours”, to provide expert Fire Safety Advice to Incident Managers including Gold and Silver Command to aid those in command to make defensible decisions regarding staff and prisoner safety as per PSI 09/2014 – Incident Management.  

Undertake other senior advisor tasks including:

• As the subject matter expert for HMPPS providing advice and recommendations to the Senior Management Team, managers and individuals.
• Responsible for the management of all advisors within their team. This includes staff performance, development and annual appraisal through to sickness absence management.
• Responsible for ensuring their staff undertake continuing professional development (CPD) through training courses and qualifications.
• Responsible for keeping up to date and ensuring establishment compliance with changes in law and legislation in their field.
• Undertake and ensure that all relevant administration, data collection and analysis is collated.
• Deliver and organise awareness sessions in relevant area.
• Chair monthly team and other meetings in relevant work area.
• Represent HMPPS with external bodies where required.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

Competencies

For the purpose of selection the following competencies will be measured:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Achieving Commercial Outcomes
• Leading and Communicating
• Achieving a Safe, Decent and Secure Environment
• Persuading and Influencing

Essential Skills Qualifications,Accreditation & Registration  

• Possess formal Fire Safety qualifications such a recognised fire engineering qualification at Diploma Level 5 or above.
• Full ‘Member’ or ‘Fellow’ of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE).
• Proven experience working as a Fire Safety Advisor.
• Proven experience/and understanding of working with PAS 79 and its fire risk assessment principles.
• Proven experience/and understanding of working with Fire Engineering Principles and Fire Dynamics.
• Proven experience/and understanding of auditing Fire Engineered Buildings.
• Proven experience/and understanding of working with BS 9999 and Building Regulations and their design principles.
• Proven experience/and understanding of working with Automatic Fire Suppression Systems and their design principles.
• Proven experience/and understanding of working with MOJ Technical Standards and their design principles.

Desirable

• Proven experience/and understanding of providing pragmatic fire safety solutions in the custodial environment.
• A formal Project Management Practitioners qualification.
• For internal candidates: HMPPS FRA Course & HMPPS Train the Trainer RPE Course (external candidates will be expected to successfully complete these courses).

Closing Date: 14th December 2018 at 23:55 hours

If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk. Please quote the job reference.