Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Estates and Facilities Management Department at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust. We are looking for a self-motivated, enthusiastic and flexible individual who will carry out the role of Fire Safety Advisor.

The Estates and Facilities Management Team consider this to be a key position and are looking for someone with analytical and process oriented skills to support our small Estates and Facilities Team in ensuring our facilities remain safe, compliant and effective.

We are delighted to offer the opportunity to work as part of a busy professional team providing fire safety management guidance and support throughout the trust.

The Fire Safety Advisor must also be able to use competent IT skills in the production of risk assessments and reports, as well as the management of emails and busy calendars where time management will be vital, as the post holder will be required to visit our wider campus sites in Hampshire. Use of own vehicle and a valid drivers licence would be beneficial.

This is a great opportunity to join an NHS organisation that continues to invest in its estate whilst also offering great benefits including a fantastic pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, continuous personal development, flexible working and most importantly a team ethos.

Main duties of the job

The primary focus of this role is to ensure there are safe and effective systems and process for the management of Fire Safety across the Trust.

You will work collaboratively with the Fire Safety Manager and the Estates and Facilities Team to ensure that Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust meets its obligations under Fire Safety legislation by developing, implementing and reviewing robust fire safety management systems, policies and procedures. You will actively contribute to the Trusts and Estates and Facilities strategy.

You will use your knowledge and expertise to provide, advice and support to Trust staff regarding Fire Safety and training, communicating and promoting good fire safety practice throughout the trust at all levels of staffing. The post holder will assist in the investigation and resolution of issues arising related to fire risks.

You will facilitate excellent fire safety management and practice throughout the Trust including raising awareness and working with staff and senior managers to reduce the Trust's exposure to all risks, advising managers to ensure a secure and safe environment for all Trust staff, patients and visitors.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate previous experience of fire prevention within a multidisciplinary organisation as well as a working knowledge of fire legislation, standards and safety techniques.

About us

The Trust is committed to driving excellence in care for our patients and communities and was rated good by the Care Quality Commission report published 2020 and became a University Hospital. We are ranked as the third in the country for research; embedding education and training across the organisation and we continuously strive to achieve our core values which are at the heart of everything we do. The Trusts main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, starting life as a military hospital over a century ago and now one of the largest hospitals on the south coast and you may have seen us on the TV series Nurses on the Ward. The Trust provides comprehensive secondary care and specialist services to a local population of 675,000 people across South East Hampshire. The Trust employs over 8,000 staff and are #ProudtobePHU; our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because its the right thing to do, but because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for providing outstanding care and support for patients, colleagues and our community you will find a home at PHU. In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veterans status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.

Job description

Job responsibilities

• To ensure that good standards of fire safety are implemented and maintained across the large and complex estate of the Trust.
• To ensure legislative compliance and the continuing development and provision of a safe environment for staff, patients and the public.
• To act as a resource and liaise with managers and staff at all levels within the Trust implementing fire safety standards and initiatives.
• Identify fire safety priorities and assist in the overall prioritisation within the Trusts capital programme or PFI project management and resourcing.
• To provide expert advice and guidance to managers and staff at all levels of the organisation and act as a focal point for the management of fire safety issues.
• To provide technical expertise to the Fire Safety Manager to enable their duties to be fulfilled effectively.
• The post-holder will be based at Queen Alexandra Hospital but will be expected to travel to the Trusts peripheral sites as required.
• To provide absence cover for the Fire Safety Manager.
• Where available and reasonable (including outside normal hours) attend any of the trusts facilities where a fire incident has been reported. Note this does not require the post holder to be on call and available to attend at all times.

Key Responsibilities

Capital and Revenue Budgets Assist in prioritising the Trusts capital programme and PFI project management resources:

• Assist in prioritising the Trusts capital programme and PFI project management resources. Work closely with other key Directorates on service developments and fire safety improvements via development schemes and minor works alterations. Liaise with colleagues and the PFI service provider in identifying and prioritising life cycle replacement programme in respect of physical fire safety precautions.

Governance and Risk management fire safety risk assessment is a core activity along with ad-hoc risk based advice and support to colleagues, users and contractors:

• In conjunction with the Fire Safety Manager develop, maintain and promote a Trust-wide fire safety plan and organisational procedures which influence and direct actions within the Clinical Service Centres and Corporate Functions. Monitor the implementation of the plan and systematically audit compliance with legislation and standards across the Trust.
• As directed utilise and statistically analyse data to identify Trust-wide trends. Undertake specific studies and assessments in relation to significant issues. Produce reports, for the Fire Safety Manager, that summarise and explain annual activity, trends or specific fire safety issues.
• Carry out an ongoing programme of fire risk assessment and review across the Trust that provides clear action plans.
• Ensure that all risks identified are communicated to all relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure fire safety provisions across the trust are available and effective in compliance with statutory duty.
• Assist the Fire Safety Manager to ensure fire safety is adequately represented within the Trusts Governance Agenda.
• As directed undertake fire/incident investigations in conjunction with the appropriate enforcing authority. Submit incident reports in accordance with organisational and national reporting requirements.
• As directed provide data on trends and patterns derived from fire safety incident reports.

Policy and Procedure Development, maintenance and implementation of robust and effective procedures. Comment upon and support colleagues in non-fire specific procedure development and maintenance:

• Provide professional, technical guidance and advice in relation to the interpretation and application of fire safety legislation and management to all staff and where appropriate to patients and the public.
• To monitor proposed changes to fire safety related legislation and guidance and ensure coordinated response at an all levels.
• In conjunction with the Fire Safety Manager ensure that the content of the Trusts Fire Safety Policy, protocols & procedures are up to date and that adopted changes or new legislation and guidance are reflected in Trust protocols, procedures and service developments.

Liaison regular audits of Trust departments, PFI service provider, external agencies and participation in Fire Service audits under the Fire Safety (Regulatory Reform) Order. Work closely with Directorates on service developments and fire safety improvements via development schemes:

• Establish effective communication systems and working relationships that engage managers, staff and their representatives in fire safety. Demonstrate skills in persuasion, motivation, influence and negotiation.
• Establish effective communication systems and working relationships with The Hospital Company and Carillion FM and assist the Fire Safety manager in the monitoring and directing fire safety activities undertaken as part of the Private Finance Initiative Project Agreement.
• As directed maintain effective working relationships with the enforcing authorities, and manage fire inspections and audit visits and the development of relevant action plans.
• Participate as required in Trust and site specific safety committees to focus on corporate and local issues/initiatives.
• Monitor the performance of the PFI service provider to ensure adequate provision and maintenance of fire safety equipment, facilities and installations.

Delivery of Fire Safety Strategy support and assist with delivering the Trusts Fire Safety Strategy:

• Assist with the development of the Trusts Fire Safety Strategy.
• In conjunction with the Fire Safety Manager, develop and implement a fire safety audit programme that supplements and gains assurance from local audit plans.
• Develop and deliver core and specialist fire safety training programmes as required.
• Develop and monitor Trust training programmes to ensure fire safety is adequately represented.
• Provide a regulatory overview of existing working practices and act as a fire safety contact point for expert advice.
• To show continuing development and improvement against defined objectives and indicators.
• As directed facilitate regulatory visits to all Trust occupied premises and ensure remedial actions required are implemented in a timely manner.
• Liaise with the Authorising Engineer (Fire) where appropriate.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• 5 years experience of fire safety.
• Experience of preparing and delivering training courses.
• Experience of working across organisational boundaries to improve standards.
• Experience of working with external agencies and influencing internal change.
• Experience and knowledge of undertaking Fire Risk Assessment.
• Knowledge of: Fire safety, fire risk management, fire legislation and codes of practice, fire safety training & ability to undertake fire safety audits.

Qualifications

Essential

• Science or engineering-based education; or extensive experience of fire safety.
• Certificate in Training Practice or extensive experience of preparing and delivering training.
• Membership of a professional organisation (for example the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE) Institute of Fire Prevention Officers (IFPO).

Desirable

• Science, engineering or fire engineering/fire safety degree.
• Corporate membership of professional organisation (Institute of fire engineers; Institute of occupational safety and health).
• Professional qualification in a fire related subject for example:
• Confederation of Fire Protection Associations Europe (CFPA).
• Diploma; Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
• Training in Healthcare Fire Safety.
• Registered as a fire risk assessor with a recognised accreditation body.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

C8192-CS-23-0520