5957 - Fire Safety Assurance Officer - 5957 - Ministry of Justice

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Job role: Fire Safety Assurance Officer

Grade: SEO

Important information

Please note that whilst this vacancy is advertised as National, there are 2 positions available:

· Position 1 will cover North regions, including Midlands, North East, North West and Scotland.

· Position 2 will cover South regions, including South East, South West, Wales and London.

As part of your role, you will be expected to work at HMCTS sites across your region, with occasional travel to other locations in the country in line with business needs.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted to confirm their preferred location prior to interviews. If successful, they will have the opportunity to discuss and finalise their HMCTS base location within their allocated region with their line manager during the onboarding process.

About us

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice.  We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and want to make a difference in people’s lives in delivering justice. If you’re interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.

About the role

As a Fire Safety Assurance Officer within HMCTS HQ, National Security and Safety Team, you will be a key player in providing competent professional fire safety services including audit and inspection work (advice and assurance) to senior duty holder roles across either the North or South of the UK.

This role will proactively seek to reduce fire safety incidents through delivery of competent fire safety advice and by utilising wider behavioural skills (communication, stakeholder management, working with others) and core skills - leadership, management abilities to influence key stakeholders and embed an enhanced HMCTS’s fire safety culture. This will require engagement with stakeholders on technical policies and standards in accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to ensure consistency of the new HMCTS Fire Safety Strategy 2024 – 2027 and MoJ Corporate Fire Safety Policy.

Your role as the Fire Safety Assurance Officer encompasses several key aspects (but not limited to):

· To undertake an ongoing annual programme of HMCTS Fire Safety Management Audits and if required, occasional, PAS 79 Fire Risk Assessments and develop a full report on the findings with an accompanied Action Plan.

· Demonstrate leadership and tact to control and manage audit and assurance processes by offering effective communications with stakeholders throughout the process to ensure Safety and Security remains a priority in a demanding environment.

· To continually review the HMCTS Fire Safety Management Audit process and carrying out of targeted Level 2 assurance checks of Fire Safety Management performance.

· To develop and in collaboration with the HMCTS National Fire Safety Officer assist in the implementation of Action Plans and monitor their progress.

· To monitor corporate fire, security and health and safety policies, practices and systems and advise the HMCTS National Fire Safety Officer of any areas requiring change.

Please refer to the attached role profile for a comprehensive overview of the role.

Who are we looking for? (Person Specification)

The ideal candidate for this position should demonstrate:

Essential

· You will hold NEBOSH National Certificate in Fire Safety or equivalent Level 4 fire safety certificate.

· Membership of the ‘Institution of Fire Engineers’ (IFE) and/or ‘Institute of Fire Safety Managers’ (IFSM)

· Evidence based and ongoing commitment to Fire Safety related Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

· Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills to be able to explain complex safety procedures clearly to an external audience in concise and accurate terms.

· Highly organised with proven experience of managing your own workload and diary, and the flexibility to travel within your region to attend sites as required.

Desirable

· Experience of completing PAS 79 type Fire Safety Audits/Fire Safety Inspections

· ISO 45001 accreditation would be an advantage.

· Previous experience of working in a senior Fire Safety audit/assurance or management role, delivering, and reporting on Fire Safety issues.

· Previous experience in engaging with senior managers and other senior stakeholders to develop and review policies and procedures and audit and assess the effectiveness of management arrangements, providing expert feedback and recommendations for improvement when necessary.

· Experience in line management as the role includes the management of a small team which will include managers and administrative staff.

· Full UK driving licence.

Locational appointment

The reserve list for this campaign will be managed in accordance with your location preference/s, as indicated by shortlisted candidates prior to interviews. We will appoint in merit list order for each location outlined in the vacancy and hold a separate locational reserve list for each of these locations. After appointments have been made using this locational appointment process, any remaining candidates who met the benchmark for the role will remain on a locational reserve list in accordance with their preferences for 12 months. Please only indicate preferences where you are prepared to work. If you are subsequently offered a role from the reserve list for a location preference indicated in your application and decline it, you will be removed from the reserve list for the vacancy, across all locational preferences.

Application Process

Please submit an anonymised CV and statement of suitability (up to 750 words) demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria for this role. Provide evidence of your capabilities highlighting your technical skills, knowledge and experience. Please ensure you cover both ‘what’ you do but also ‘how’ you do it.

We aim to sift all assessment criteria as advertised at application stage, However, in the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift may be conducted on the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift of the CV will either progressed to a full sift where the remaining criteria are assessed or progressed straight to interview/further assessments.

Interview Stage

If successful at sift, you will be invited to attend a remote interview, via Microsoft teams. During your interview, you will be assessed against Civil Service Success Profiles which will include:

Questions relating to the following Civil Service behaviours:

· Managing a Quality Service

· Communicating and Influencing

· Changing and Improving

A 10-minute presentation on technical skills, demonstrating competence and how you maintain that competence with follow up questions from the panel, the full presentation brief will be sent to you prior to the interview.

Strengths will also be assessed however these are not shared in advance.

Further information on Success Profiles and required standards for this post (SEO equivalent) can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles      

About our benefits

We reward our people for their hard work and commitment. We have a number of family

friendly and flexible working polices that will help you achieve a healthy work-life balance. In addition, we offer a range of employee benefits which include generous annual leave, a highly competitive contributory pension scheme, childcare benefits, season ticket and bicycle loans.

Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going.

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Support

A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 5957

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 5957

Job Description Attachment

Role Profile - (SEO) Fire Safety Assurance Officer.docx.docx (Job Description Attachment)

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Application form stage assessments

Experience

We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods

CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Statement of Suitability

Guidance for the Statement of Suitability

Please submit a statement of suitability (up to 750 words) demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria for this role. Provide evidence of your capabilities highlighting your technical skills, knowledge and experience. Please ensure you cover both ‘what’ you do but also ‘how’ you do it.

Evidence of Experience

CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates

Interviews expected after 19th June, subject to change

Behaviours

Managing a Quality Service

Communicating and Influencing

Changing and Improving

Strengths

Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.

Technical

You will give a 10-minute presentation on technical skills, demonstrating competence and how you maintain that competence with follow up questions from the panel, the full presentation brief will be sent to you prior to the interview.

Ministry of Justice