Role Title

Fire Safety Assurance Officer

Job family group

Chief Financial Officer

Job family/ies

Security and Safety

Grade

SEO

Status

For internal use

Role Purpose

(250 words max)

You will work within the HMCTS HQ, National Security and Safety Team, as one of the two Fire Safety Assurance Officers covering either the North or South of the United Kingdom, 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.

The successful candidate(s) will hold NEBOSH National Certificate in Fire Safety and Risk Management or equivalent Level 4 fire safety certificate and will be involved in conducting Level 2 assurance checks across HMCTS premises in respect to Fire Safety. 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.

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.

The successful candidate(s) will be required to evidence tangible proven experience in Fire Safety.

Key Accountabilities (600 words max)

• 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.

• To assist in the development of inspections/audits risk assessments, aligning Fire Safety work with the ongoing requirements of BS 9997 for all HMCTS premises.

• To attend and contribute to Fire Safety meetings as appropriate.

• Quality checking/continuous professional development support of Regional Safety and Security Officers work.

• Provide competent practical fire safety advice to assist in ensuring compliance with all fire safety legislation and HMCTS standards and advise on internal procedures to meet the above requirements at all locations.

• Assist, when required, the HQ Safety and Security team with support, advice and delivery of fire, health and safety organisational-level risk assessments, development of HMCTS Fire Safety policies and risk assurance arrangements.

• Provide professional Fire Safety engagement as necessary with other external stakeholders on safety issues as required, including the Crown Enforcing Authority (CPFSI), and other government departments.

• Provide effective, active and dynamic leadership, communicating HMCTS Safety and Security requirements, objectives, plans and priorities with clarity, conviction and enthusiasm.

• The role may include line management responsibilities for a very small administrative support team.

• To undertake other related duties suitable to the nature and level of this post as defined by the National Fire Safety Officer.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience (500 words max)

• Fire Qualification (i.e., NEBOSH National Certificate in Fire Safety and Risk Management or L4 fire safety certificate)

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

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

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

• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills

• National Security clearance at Security Check (SC) level which can be processed upon selection to role.

• ISO 45001 accreditation would be an advantage.

• NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety working towards the Diploma or equivalent.

• 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

Problem Solving and Decision Making (300 words max)

• The role holder will need to deploy expert technical knowledge and understanding of Fire Safety requirements and interpret those requirements against the particular operating environment of HMCTS and partner agencies so as to ensure solutions are bespoked proportionately and effectively to fit the Agency’s risk profile and wider requirements, as well as ensuring appropriate compliance where necessary. This will often require complex analysis as well as effective stakeholder management and challenging stakeholders (e.g. Fire Safety Enforcing Authority) in order to secure agreement across a range of potentially competing interests and perspectives.

• Broker solutions and challenge the business as appropriate to put Safety and Security at the forefront of the business. Engage business leaders to advocate and demonstrate compliance with policies to readily identify and champion sustainable interventions.

• Demonstrate leadership and tact to control, manage and assure Fire Safety processes by offering effective engagement with stakeholders throughout the process to ensure Fire Safety remains a priority in a demanding environment.

• Demonstrating knowledge of and practical experience in testing and directing on safety policy and processes in varied, high-risk environments within a multi-faceted organisation.

• Utilise key Fire Safety experience, knowledge and understanding to provide strategic and insightful challenge to business leaders and in managing the expectations of Executive Directors, Trade Unions, Senior Management and Staff.

• Strong communication, negotiation and influencing skills in order to be able to explain complex safety procedures clearly to an internal and external audience in concise and accurate terms.

Management of Resources (250 words max)

• Manage one or two staff as required by the team structure, providing line management for all aspects of their role including setting work plan objectives, reporting and supervising on a daily/weekly basis.

• Seek to build your own capability and that of the team to improve performance.

• Assist with support for other Safety and Security areas which may include providing cover for the Safety and Security Officers on the team, when required.

• Work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post and deemed necessary by line management to fulfil the role and requirements of the team.

• Will supply support to the wider Chief Financial Officers team commensurate as required with the grade and level of responsibility of the post.

Autonomy (250 words max)

• The postholder(s) will need to utilise their significant Fire Safety competency to ensure that HMCTS complies with all relevant Fire Safety legislative requirements. The postholder will report directly to the National Fire Safety Officer for review of these products and services, although there will be occasions of significant autonomy when delivering Fire Safety related Audits/Inspections across either the North or South of the country and provide advice provided to managers, staff and partner agencies.

• The postholder(s) will be expected to arrange and complete HMCTS site audits/inspections having a significant degree of self-autonomy to manage the delivery of these audits/inspections in an agreed UK wide annual programme following agreement with the National Fire Safety Officer.

Key Relationships and Contacts (300 words max)

• The postholder(s) is responsible for the provision of authoritative and expert briefing, advice and guidance on all aspects related to Fire Safety. The role holder’s advice will inform Fire Safety related decisions across operational, property delivery of the complex courts/tribunal services HMCTS delivers. Provide professional Fire Safety engagement as necessary with other external stakeholders on safety issues as required, including the Crown Enforcing Authority (CPFSI), and other government departments.

A need to:

• Maintain effective collaborative relations internal stakeholder relations with HR, Operations, Property, Finance and information security, Digital Technology colleagues at junior, middle and senior management levels, demonstrating effective Business Partnering to ensure security expertise is used effectively and proportionally to shape positive change and build productive relationships with these stakeholders and additionally;

• Maintain and represent HMCTS interest across a network of senior Fire Safety contacts across government departments/agencies, including HMPPS, PECS, MOJ Corporate Fire Safety team, Enforcement Authorities, to engage effective benchmarking and ensure maintenance of ‘good practice’ standards.