Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will  be specifically responsible for the strategic planning and operational delivery of safe, effective and high quality fire safety services and advice relating to our fire compartmentalisation and fire damper recovery programme.

The post holders key responsibilities will be specifically related to the fire compartmentalisation and fire damper recovery programme to: -

·     To evaluate the fire safety requirements arising from our fire compartmentalisation and fire damper recovery programme , making recommendations on appropriate mitigations (eg changes to systems, training, policies, procedures and practices), which ensure that the Trust maintains a safe and suitable environment for staff and patients at all times.

·     Lead the strategic planning and implementation of all fire policies, processes and procedures as they relate to our fire compartmentalisation and fire damper recovery programme and work with Service Directors and senior management to ensure continuous improvement. Establish and embed robust systems and practices to ensure, compliance with statutory requirements and internal fire standards.

·     Establish across the Trust a system to monitor the mitigations to ensure compliance and performance is tested and scrutinised.

·     Ensure the timely provision of assurance, performance metrics and compliance reports to Executive Directors, Directorate Senior Leaders, Trust Committees and Directorate Governance meetings.

·     Ensure, all fire risk assessments/audits completed in accordance with the annual plan are reviewed and revised accordingly as a result of fire compartmentalisation and fire damper surveys and actions clearly allocated, monitored and completed, providing assurance reports to relevant governance and business meetings.

·     Support Service Directors, Senior Corporate Managers and Fire Safety Management System (FSMS) leads to fulfil their responsibilities within the FSMS and Emergency Preparedness by ensuring processes are in place to mitigate the risks in all areas and locations where staff work.

·     Contribute to the continuous review and refinement of policies and procedures relevant to specific areas of fire safety and non-clinical risk management and ensuring all related fire Safety legislative changes are incorporated and are meeting the relevant CQC essential standards and all future regulatory assessment/investigation approaches and also all policies remain in date and current.

·     Deputise in the absence of the Head of Risk and Assurance.

·     Deliver professional and reliable advice at strategic and operational level and support Senior Managers with their interpretation and application of Trust H&S Policies and strategies and support Directorates in understanding changes to policy and their implementation at the operational level.

·     Provide expert, professional guidance and support in the development of specific Trustwide health, safety and fire procedures, new policies and strategies for the identification, evaluation and control of non-clinical risks

·     Act as the interface with relevant enforcing agencies (eg Health and Safety Executive, London Fire Brigade and CQC) in managing planned and unannounced inspections of the Trust; reporting on the outcome at an inspection and overseeing the production of required action plans.

·     Provide assurance reports to Board level and specialist Trustwide safety and risk committees as they relate to our fire compartmentalisation and fire damper recovery programme

·     Contribute as necessary to fire risk reports to the Trust Board or Board Committees, to provide an overview and assurance of of the fire safety risks, assessments, mitigations and programme delivery in relation to the fire compartmentalisation and fire damper recovery programme

·     Act as a Trust competent fire person on allocated Trustwide the Strategic Fire Oversight Group  and other risk management Committees and working groups as required.

·     Undertake on behalf of the Trust complex fire risk assessments as they relate to our fire compartmentalisation and fire damper recovery programme where competing risks have to be balanced.  

·     Work collaboratively with the Estates and Facilities Compliance Department to provide timely and accurate reports and work in close liaison with the Head of Capital Projects, to ensure that Trustwide statutory compliance is delivered and monitored.

·     Provide the lead competent fire advice to the Trustwide fire compartmentalisation and fire damper recovery programme

·     Lead on the planning and evaluation of specific Trustwide or localised fire safety training programmes necessary as mitigation under the fire compartmentalisation and fire damper recovery programme

·     Manage, coordinate and monitor expenditure in line within a delegated budget and undertake duties as required within delegated authorised signatory level, complying with standing financial instructions and standards of business conduct.

·     Act as a Trust competent person and subject matter expert in respect of fire safety, continuously maintaining a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of current, revised and evolving health & safety legislation, approved codes of practice and best practice procedures.

·     Undertake other duties relevant to the provision of a comprehensive risk management service commensurate with the grade.