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HQ Job Description (JD)
Band 5
Directorate: Health & Safety, Estates, Litigation and Safety
Job Description - Health, Safety and Fire Practitioner
Document Ref. Document Type Version Classification Date of Issue Status
Produced by Authorised by JD Evidence
HQ-JES-3226 Health, Safety and Fire Practitioner Management
1.0
Official
11 December 2025
Baselined
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Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team |
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Reward Team |
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HQ-JES-3226 Health, Safety and Fire Practitioner v 1.0
Job Description
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Job Title |
Health, Safety and Fire Practitioner |
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Directorate |
Health & Safety, Estates, Litigation and Safety |
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Band |
5 |
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Overview of the job |
This is a non-operational specialist role based within establishments and line managed via the Senior Health Safety and Fire HS&F Advisor within the National Service - Estates, Health, Safety, Litigation and Safety Group HSF&L Team. The role supports national plans and systems for the effective management of HSF and Litigation via the risk through the provision of first line advice and support for establishment(s) and by the co-ordination and operation of relevant establishment(s) administration and management systems in line with national policy. There are no line management responsibilities. |
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Summary |
The post manages the day to delivery by liaising and co- ordinating health, safety and fire management in establishment(s), providing first line guidance and advice, training and support to key stakeholders including the SMT, staff, prisoners, contractors and visitors. Ensuring matters are investigated in a timely manner as per guidance. The job holder will undertake the role, having access to all work areas, plant and equipment within the establishment. The post holder will report to the Senior HS&F Advisor in the HSF&L Delivery Team. Support for other establishments in the geographical area or wider structure may be required in line with risk. |
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Responsibilities, Activities and Duties |
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
assurance of all accident, assault, near miss and fire incidents. This involves investigating complex incidents, while collating sensitive information, obtaining CCTV/BWVC evidence and recording evidence finds on the Sphera system to support cases and advisory actions.
assessment software system; undertaking individual DSE assessments for acute cases and advising Managers when ergonomic assessments are necessary in complex cases.
software systems, strategies and policy principles to allow staff to deal safely with emergency incidents. Provide advice |
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HQ-JES-3226 Health, Safety and Fire Practitioner v 1.0
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to managers, opening individual learning plans for those deemed to have a specific learning need and provide peer quality assurance.
of the risk management model within the HSF&L Governance Strategy. To advise and support the senior management and governing governor of any dangerous conditions requiring immediate action and intervention. Offering significant impactful knowledge towards resolution of complex life critical services within health, safety and fire process assurance.
establishment FRA’s, identifying all significant risks and actions, reporting and managing to mitigate or eliminate the risk. Liaise regularly with the PSP (North/South/LT&HS) HSF&L team, to ensure that national priorities and actions for HS&F are fed into relevant establishment management forums and report through monthly stakeholder reports to highlight and progress concerns.
operating and co-ordinating with internal/external management stakeholders, to plan and execute fire safety drills, familiarisation tours, tactical exercises and where required be the point of contact during any interruptions to key services, all in line with the establishments contingency plans. Frequent liaison with the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) to facilitate the implementation of the local establishment fire contingency plans in association with the FRS operational firefighting procedures.
monitoring of immunisations, referring RIDDOR incidents, attendance absence cases for RIDDOR, first aid assessment, RPE training to national requirements, arson and PEEP advisor measures in accordance with the governance strategy.
meetings. Providing technical Health, safety and fire advice and knowledge based on legal requirement, HMPPS Policy and technical instruction.
meetings, submit Planet FMs or New Work Requests and EIPs for all unsafe conditions that are identified and highlighted through the completion of BFRAs and any defects identified as part of establishment tours. Encourage all staff to actively report unsafe acts and conditions. |
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Planning and to assist those responsible with the development and testing of HSF&L contingency plans, through memorandum of understanding MOU.
using a triangulated approach to inspect and verify compliance. Ensure that any areas of concern are reported effectively. Working with managers including Heads of Functions to ensure all staff are aware of the risk assessment process and associated SSOW, to ensure all risks are reviewed and managed as required and performing fire evacuation exercises.
documentation, to assist in defending the service from legal challenge within complex sensitive cases to protect the public service and reduce litigation cost.
the HSF&L Governance strategy, through the evaluation of establishment risks. Support the SHSFA in the production of the HSF&L risk register, forward delivery plan and collation of RFI data. Support in the monitoring of actions and changes in risk levels.
concern and acting upon any reported incidents.
data for discussion at establishment HSF&L committee. Support in the coordination of the meeting in line with the requirements of the governance strategy. 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. |
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Behaviours |
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HQ-JES-3226 Health, Safety and Fire Practitioner v 1.0
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Strengths |
We recommend you choose 4 to 8 strengths locally - select from the list of Civil Service strength definitions on the intranet. |
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Essential Experience |
accurately populated.
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Technical Requirements |
The post holder is required to hold or complete within 2 years of appointment:
Appointees are also required to complete the RPE Training Qualification and will be expected to gain this qualification immediately on appointment. It is expected that post-holders will achieve Associate
It is expected that post holders will achieve Technician Grade of the Institute of Fire Engineers within 2 years of appointment via successful completion of the HMPPS Standard Fire Risk Assessors course and maintain 25 hours of continued professional development (CPD) per year, including a mix of formal and informal activities. The post holder will also be required to attain Engineering Technician (EngTech) grade through the Engineering Council and achieve a place on the Institution of Fire Engineers Fire Risk Assessors register. |
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Ability |
with demand. |
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Minimum Eligibility |
to taking up post.
probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS.
a group or organisation which HMPPS consider to be racist. |
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Hours of Work (Unsocial Hours) Allowances |
Leave Blank To be used by the JES Team only |
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HQ-JES-3226 Health, Safety and Fire Practitioner v 1.0