The posting
POST TITLE: Fire Risk Assessor
PURPOSE OF THE JOB:
To deliver an excellent fire risk assessment service within domestic housing and properties where housing has responsibility. To undertake surveys and to follow these up to ensure we adhere to health and safety legislation and council procedures. To take a co-operative lead in the strategic direction and delivery of the fire risk assessment programme. To ensure best practice methods are used in the execution of the fire risk assessments. To advocate the councils vision and values at all times. To be fully responsible for the quality of service in respect of fire risk assessments and to keep up to date with all current fire legislation and apply to assessments.
MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:
Fire Risk Assessment
- To carry out a type 1, 3 and 4 fire risk assessment programme in domestic housing and in properties where housing has responsibility such as community halls.
- Liaise with the Fire Risk Assessment Manager and Building Safety Manager to deliver risk assessments in line with the Councils Fire Safety Management System.
- Management and coordination of contractors required to support destructive inspections as part of the type 4 fire risk assessment process.
- Ensuring that all making good of intrusive survey complies to fire safety standards and is of a high quality
- To carry out post inspections and quality assurance necessary remedial action following fire risk assessments.
- Support the Fire Safety Works Manager, Fire Risk Assessment Manager to manage the completion of fire safety actions in terms of management of the delivery of required works via the contractor.
- Provide concise and sufficiently detailed fire risk assessments for all type 1, 3 and 4 assessments
- To carry out surveys as per the fire risk assessment programme and following any major works carried out on properties.
- To carry out pre occupation and post occupation surveys as part of the handover process for new build properties
- To produce accurate and efficient paperwork to the council standards.
- To set standards for the delivery of fire risk assessments and to achieve KPI targets.
- During or following assessments - provide advice to managers and staff to assist them in the fulfilment of their responsibilities and therefore organisational compliance with legislative requirements and where appropriate internal standards and best practice. Such advice should be pragmatic, presenting achievable options to eliminate or sufficiently mitigate risk.
- Accident Prevention and Fire Investigation Internal and External Partnerships Fire Safety Procedure and Other Advice Health and Safety Communication General STANDARD CLAUSES
To deal with resident generated queries efficiently
- To keep abreast of relevant fire safety related legislation and good practice, in order to provide advice to enhance compliance and maintain fire risk assessor competency requirements through training and updates of legislation
- To conduct site visits to liaise with residents where appropriate to the benefit of the council
- To be able to conduct site surveys and quote for works required to the council standard
- To collaborate with the head of resident safety to produce effective working practices
- To conduct and produce fire safety strategies for all social housing within Hackney Council
- To support the Resident Insight Officer in carrying out personal emergency evacuation plans on residents identified as needing support in an evacuation
- To investigate and report on all fire incidents and provide recommendations to improve fire safety
- To proactively identify and report any hazards that could cause imminent harm or injury
- To undertake thorough investigations in the event of a fire and identify root causes.
- Liaise with insurers and regulatory authorities on fire safety matters
- To identify appropriate preventative and protective fire safety measures
- Provide fire safety reports where required to support site specific management arrangements to include application of fire hazard control measures
- Carry out fire safety action plan and fire emergency plans where required
- Where necessary, liaise with external enforcement agencies (fire/local authority) and support agencies to develop good working relationships.
- To ensure that the health and safety team are informed of enforcement visits; where appropriate attend such visits to assist in organisational compliance.
- Ensure residents understand evacuation plans and help with the communication of these
- Carry out inspections of all new build properties to ensure it complies with the RRO (Fire Safety) Regulations, Building Regulations and other associated legislation.
- Be a key element of the decision making when considering ways to deliver work in a fire safety and meaningful way
- To assist in the development/continual improvement, implementation and review of fire safety related policies, procedures, manuals and/or Codes of Practice for procedural operations, systems or activities.
- To develop and maintain effective internal relationships creating a supporting and assisting attitude to foster and promote a positive risk management and safety culture, maintaining the highest possible internal and external customer satisfaction.
- To provide fire safety advice to residents, senior managers, both verbally and in detailed written reports.
- To develop and review fire safety documentation in relation to housing
- Be available to provide fire experience and fire training when required.
- To be familiar with and act at all times within LB Hackneys Policies and Procedures
- To observe and comply with colleague obligations under LB Hackneys Health and Safety Policy and Health and Safety law.
- To promote Equality & Diversity ensuring that LB Hackneys commitment to recognising diversity in service provision and employment is soundly understood and fully implemented.
- To maintain the highest standards of personal and professional integrity and conduct.
- To carry out such other duties as may be reasonably required from time to time.
- To undertake any other fire safety duties required by the Senior Fire Risk Assessor in order to deliver the Councils strategy on fire safety.
- To actively promote customer care, value for money and performance management in their own role.
- To demonstrate a wholehearted commitment to the organisational values and culture, including trusting and empowering staff and colleagues.
- To positively promote and represent the London Borough of Hackney.
- To promote an environment of continuous learning and improvement.
- To consistently promote and apply equality and diversity, in line with the London Borough of Hackney policy/procedures and ensure that this is demonstrated and maintained throughout all areas of responsibility.
- To be aware of, and observe fully and promote, the London Borough of Hackney policies relating to health and safety and risk management and best practice, throughout all areas of responsibility.
- To make full and appropriate use of IT.
- To have the ability to work independently and using your own initiative.
- The post holder will be expected to undertake such additional duties or responsibilities, consistent with the role and grade, as may be allocated.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Nebosh Fire Safety Certificate or equivalent
- Membership of Third Party Accreditation Scheme - IFE/IFSM or equivalent
- ASFP Level 3 in Passive Fire Protection or equivalent
- Level 4 Diploma in Fire Safety or equivalent
- Minimum of 2 - 3 years experience of undertaking fire risk assessments, with experience in residential fire risk assessments.
- Evidence of applying PAS 79
Skills and Abilities:
- Proven and previous experience in the completion of fire risk assessments
- Have a recognisable and professional qualification in fire safety management and fire risk assessments.
- Positive attitude to fire safety
- High levels of literacy and written communication skills
- Excellent verbal communication skills to enable you to communicate clearly and effectively with residents, senior managers, contractors and colleagues
- To be fully conversant with regards to the Fire Safety Reform order and Approved document B
- Ability to present reports and data and to clearly explain to and influence a wide range of people in regard to fire safety and its management.
- Ability to use various IT systems, to interrogate database information to produce risk-based programmes of works. To be able to update the database as work items are completed.
- To have strong quantitative and analytical skills
- Ability to carry out site visits and physical inspections of work, including accessing loft spaces by means of ladders
- High understanding of risk mitigation and how it should be applied.
Core People Capabilities
Customer
- Possess a genuine desire to understand customers' needs to assist in the provision of an excellent service.
- Actively shape service provision to meet business and customer needs.
- Exceed expectations to improve the service.
Professional
- Provide clear direction, adopt and advocate sound corporate standards assisting improvement at all levels.
- Ensure work plans and training programs are achievable and customer focused
Positive
- Demonstrate an effective approach to enhance health, safety and welfare standards within the organisation.
- Articulate a vision that creates energy and shares enthusiasm.
Knowledge and Essential Experience
- Previous experience of working as a Fire Risk Assessor within social housing or the public sector
- Excellent knowledge of fire safety practice, demonstrable through relevant qualification and work experience.
- Working knowledge of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Ability to produce and analyse statistical data
- Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and written
- Ability to organise and prioritise work in order to meet deadlines
- Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team
- Willingness to learn and continue personal development
- Experience in the maintenance and testing of fire safety systems and record keeping
- An awareness of personal emergency evacuation plans and who they are for and when they should be used
- An understanding of the different types of evacuation strategies including simultaneous evacuation, planned evacuation, progressive horizontal evacuation and zoned evacuation
Other Special Requirements:
- Hold a current full driving licence and be prepared to use your own vehicle to travel to and from various sites (for which an allowance will be paid).
- Full DBS is required or will be undertaken
