Reserve Fire Appliance Drivers

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to keep the communities of Cheshire, Halton and Warrington safe from fires and other emergencies. To ensure we have the capacity to provide our vital, lifesaving response at times of exceptional demand on our Service, we are recruiting and training Reserve Fire Appliance Drivers to join our Operational Resilience Team (ORT) on a Zero hours contract.

As a Reserve Fire Appliance Driver you would be called upon to help us to keep our communities safe during ‘spate conditions’, such as this summer’s heatwave, and periods when staff numbers are significantly reduced, for example during a future pandemic or industrial action. ORT members will provide flexible operational cover and will be required to work during days, nights and weekends, at any location, sometimes at short notice. This will help us maintain compliance with our legal obligations under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 and Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and provide sufficient emergency cover for the communities we serve.

You will receive essential training in advance of being deployed and at emergency incidents Reserve Fire Appliance Drivers would always be supervised by experienced officers.

Duties

The duties of a Reserve Fire Appliance Driver will include:

• Drive fire appliances under blue lights and sirens to emergency incidents including fires and road traffic collisions 

• Undertake tasks within their level of capability to support colleagues, as instructed by the Incident Commander or experienced officers

• Attend training and relevant skills sessions 

Essential Requirements

To apply you must:

• Hold a clean, Category C LGV license

• Demonstrate the ability to stay calm under pressure

• Possess the resilience needed to excel in emotionally demanding situation

• Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning

• Have a proven record of careful and confident driving of large appliances 

• Eligible to work in the UK and pass a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

• Willing to embrace the Service’s Core Values

• Available to attend a paid two-week initial training course and committed to attending ongoing refresher training.

Desirable Requirements

• Previous experience of driving fire appliances or emergency vehicles

• Previous experience of driving using blue lights and sirens

Application Process

1. Application Form - submission of an application form highlighting how you meet the requirements stated above

2. Interview - you will be required to attend an in-person interview to discuss your suitability for the role

3. Pre-employment checks, you will be required to:

- Provide proof of your identity and eligibility to work in the UK 

- Undergo a Standard DBS check

- Pass a medical with our Occupational Health Unit, including a satisfactory drugs and alcohol test 

- Provide two satisfactory references

Further information and an application form can be found below, or alternatively contact the Recruitment Team at recruitment@cheshirefire.gov.uk

General information

Application form guidance notes

Application form

Please ensure you read the Guidance Notes before completing your application.

Please return completed application forms via email to recruitment@cheshirefire.gov.uk

Please quote job reference 61/25/RD on your form.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) is committed to keeping vulnerable adults, children and young people safe from harm in all of the work that CFRS undertakes. CFRS recognises that it has a legal and moral obligation to safeguard these groups of people. Furthermore, it acknowledges that the protection of vulnerable adults, children and young people from harm is the responsibility of everybody within the organisation.