The Role
Station Commander (external applicants only)
LFB members of staff should apply via the advert on Hotwire.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) is seeking highly motivated, talented and adaptable applicants who have the vision, leadership skills and potential to become part of the Brigade’s management team. Do you have what we are looking for?
London is one of the largest fire rescue services in the world, serving a complex and dynamic city of 8.9 million residents as well as those who work in or visit the city.
We are looking for the best people to lead the organisation to shape our services to provide London with a world class fire and rescue service, which is trusted to serve and protect London’s diverse communities.
The role
To plan, direct and deliver the services provided by a designated function ensuring continual improvement in efficiency and performance and compliance with regulations and the law. To play a full leadership role within the LFB as a member of the appropriate Departmental Management Team. To be a member of the Station Commander’s operational rota, available to monitor and be mobilised to operational incidents to perform the tactical incident command function.
Working with the Group Commanders and Deputy Assistant Commissioners, Station Commanders are key leaders in ensuring that the London Fire Brigade is trusted to serve and protect London. Station Commanders deliver this by ensuring the Brigade is a dynamic, forward-looking organisation of fully engaged people at the centre of the communities we serve, adapting to the needs of London. To support this the post holder will be responsible for helping in the delivery of the London Fire Commissioners strategic aims set out in our Community Risk Management Plan:
• Our services are
Modern and easy to access
Designed to meet local and individual need
Prioritised by levels of risk
• Our organisation
Has a safe and professional culture
Operates efficiently and effectively
Works together and with other organisations to protect London
You will be expected to have a professional discussion with your line manager who will be required to support your application. You should also ask about the role in detail and understand the differences to expect. You should consider the change in shift pattern that comes with this role and its impact. This role offers a variety of opportunities across different departments, with responsibilities across London and the LFB.
Please read the Assessment Overview section below to make sure you submit all documents required with your online application form. The closing date for submitting applications is 09 February 2024 at 16.00hrs.
Eligibility
Have been signed off as a competent Station Officer/Watch Manager B. Please note candidates who are competent Station Officers but who have not yet completed the 12-month competency period (at an operational fire station), are able to apply for promotion, and should they be successful, will be held on a panel until such time as their 12-month period at an operational fire station is completed
Have completed and passed a level 1 Incident Command acquisition course or hold a valid Level 1 revalidation
Have no live disciplinary sanctions.
Assessment Overview
We advise you to use a personal email address as your main email contact to avoid any delays in the process (please check your emails regularly including junk/spam folders, if required).
Please make sure you give yourself plenty of time for all parties to complete and submit your application.
Your application should include:
1. External applicants only. You will need to upload your current CV in the CV section of the application form.
2. A cover letter. In the online application form please provide a covering letter detailing how your skillset and experience meets all those required as a station commander covering all six of LFB’s Values;
Service – How you personally have looked for ways to understand the communities you serve.
Courage – How have have anticipated and prepared for change positively.
Learning – How you have looked for opportunities to learn and grow professionally.
Teamwork – How you have built strong relationships working with others.
Equity – How you have sought to understand and learn from people with different perspectives.
Integrity – How you have been accountable for your actions and mistakes.
You are allowed 250 words per area (Six text boxes are available for you to individually add your evidence for each area).
Assessment Process
Please note that the assessment process is sequential – you will need to be successful in each stage in order to progress to the next.
Stage 1: Shortlisting. Candidates must achieve a minimum raw score of 16 out of 24 to proceed to stage 2.
Stage 2: Initial interview and an Incident Command Level 2 Knowledge Test. w/c 19 February 2024
The initial interview (a score of 70% or above required) will be based on the evidence already submitted in more detail. Candidates will be required to sit an Incident Command Level 2 knowledge test and achieve a score of 75% or above in order to proceed. Only the 45 highest scoring candidates will proceed through to Stage 3, regardless of the percentage score
Stage 3: Incident Command Exercise. w/c 11 March 2024.
The highest scoring 45 candidates that have achieved the minimum score from Stage 2 will be invited to an Incident Command Exercise (ICE) - a score of 75% or above will be required to proceed to the next stage. Candidates who have an accredited Skills for Justice Level 4 qualification with a currency of no more than two years or has maintained their revalidation with an accredited Skills for Justice approved course will not be required to participate in a command assessment if they do not wish. Candidates who take this option will be awarded the average score of all the candidates which will go towards their final overall score .
Stage 4: Final interview. w/c 15 April 2024
The interview will be split into two sections, one part will focus on the LFB Values and in order to be successful candidates must achieve 70% or above. The other part will focus on ED&I - Candidates who score between 50% to 74% will have passed but will require further development and will not be deemed competent in the SC role until completion of this development. Candidates who score 75% or above will not need any further ED&I development.
Additional Information
Once all stages have been completed the following weighting will be applied to give a total overall score for each candidate; ICE score 40% weighted, Interview score 30% weighted and ED&I 30% weighted
Please be aware before applying that candidates who sit on a promotion panel following the round will only remain on this panel until the next SC promotion round, at which point they will be required to apply again.
Any correspondence received from us will be via e-mail and sent to the address you provide on your application form. We advise you to use a personal email address.
Please state in your application form all your unavailable dates in February, March and April and please keep the recruitment team informed of any additional unavailable dates you may have for the duration of the recruitment process.
We value the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities across London. The London Fire Commissioner is an Equal Opportunities Employer, and we positively welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people's age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. We have guidance in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability
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