• Current Vacancies
• Fire Control Recruitment
• Firefighter Recruitment
  • Benefits
  • Calendar of Events
  • Commonly Asked Questions
  • Firefighter Recruitment Equality and Diversity
  • Firefighter Self Assessment
  • Positive Action
  • Recruitment Stages
  • Role of a Firefighter
  • Training and Development
• Safeside Volunteer Opportunities
• Support Staff Recruitment
  • Benefits, Terms and Conditions & Training
  • Interview Guidelines
  • Support Staff Recruitment Equality and Diversity

Firefighter Recruitment Process

There are 5 stages to the Firefighter Selection Process, as outlined below:-

Stage 1:- Application Form.
Application Form/Criminal Records Check

1A Application Form

You will initially complete a comprehensive application form, which will be scored. It will provide us with your personal details and will ask you to tell us about your skills and experience in relation to various Personal Qualities and Attributes (PQAs) that are required as a Firefighter.  Information regarding the PQAs will be attached to your application form to refer to.

1B Criminal Check & Medical Questionnaire

Once you have successfully passed the application form you will be required to complete a declaration of any criminal convictions and a medical questionnaire.  The criminal form is for you to declare any convictions that you have or have had. Any convictions that are not spent will be considered on an individual basis, taking into account the circumstances surrounding the offence. Further information can be found under the 'commonly asked questions' page of the Firefighter Recruitment web pages.  You will also be required to complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire and opticians report as part of your application. This will be kept confidential and will be sent to our Occupational Health section who will review any information provided and make an assessment as to whether there are any medical/health factors that may preclude you from undertaking the role of a firefighter. The eyesight standards can be found under the 'commonly asked questions' page of the Firefighter Recruitment web pages.

The Fire Service is guided by the Disability Discrimination Act. This means that anyone who considers themselves to have a disability can apply. Part of the application form will ask if you have any disabilities and these will be looked into by our Occupational Health section on an individual basis. Other parties, including the individual themselves may be consulted in order for a decision to be made as to whether you would be able to perform the duties of a Firefighter with reasonable adjustments made. Further information can be found under the 'commonly asked questions' page of the Firefighter Recruitment web pages.
You must pass stage 1 before you can proceed to the next stage.

Stage 2:- Written Ability Tests.

The written tests include multiple choice ability tests. These are related to the role of a Firefighter and assess your ability to work with numbers, solve problems and understand information.
Working with numbers test:- This is a timed test that lasts 45 minutes. Firefighters need to be able to make basic mathematical calculations. You will be presented with a number of scenarios that will show numerical information in a variety of formats from graphs to gauges.
Problem Solving test:- This test is designed to assess your ability to ensure the safety of yourself and others and your ability to use information to solve problems. You will be presented with 30 scenarios and you will have 35 minutes to complete this test.
Understanding Information:- This is a timed test that lasts 35 minutes. It assesses your ability to understand and interpret the type of written information that you may commonly come across as a Firefigher.
You must pass stage 2 before you can proceed to the next stage.

Stage 3:- Practical Selection Tests

These are job-related tests to ensure that you have sufficient practical ability to handle fire service equipment, you can work in confined spaces and you are confident working at heights. Full instruction is given on the day and you will be provided with fire service protective clothing to wear.

• Enclosed Space Test - wearing a breathing apparatus set weighing about 12 kg; you will negotiate a crawling gallery which is 30 metres in length. You will not be able to see where you are going during this test. You will have 4 minutes to complete this test. 
• Ladder climb - you will be required to climb to a height of about 9 m and down again, having carried out a simple task. You will be wearing a full safety harness whilst carrying out the test at height. 
• Ladder Lift Simulator Test - This simulates lifting a quarter weight of a 13.5 metre ladder. You will need to combine upper and lower body strength and co-ordination to lift the ladder simulator to the required height and lower it safely under control, with the cradle loaded with 15kg.
• Casualty Evacuation Test - You will drag a 55 kg casualty dummy around a 30 metre course. This test must be completed within 41 seconds and is at walking pace.
• Equipment Carry Test - Wearing full fire kit you will carry various pieces of Fire Service equipment over the length of the course around 2 cones which cover a distance of 25 metres. This test must be completed within 5 minutes 47 seconds.
• Equipment Assembly Test - You will be given a piece of fire service equipment to assemble and then disassemble, following the instructions provided, within a set time limit.

You must pass stage 3 before you can proceed to the next stage.

Stage 4:- Interview

The interviews are usually held at Fire Service Headquarters, Birmingham. The interview panel will consist of two members of staff, one of whom will be directly responsible for recruitment.

At the interview you will be asked questions relating to your skills and attributes to determine your suitability for the role of a Firefighter.

Stage 5:- References and Medical Check

References

References will only be sent for if you are successful at interview, prior to your medical. You will need to supply details of your current and previous employer for references to be obtained.

Medical

You will be invited to attend the Occupational Health and Welfare Department for a medical and fitness assessment.
The medical currently includes:
• Completion of an indepth health questionnaire
• Height
• Weight
• Blood Pressure
• Urinalysis (urine tested for various abnormalities)
• Eye Test - Near and distance vision (with and without spectacles if worn)
• Breathing Test (lung function)
• Hearing Test (audiometry)
 

You will be asked questions about your health and any disabilities/medical needs you may have. You will then be seen by an occupational health consultant (Dr) who will review the test results and may need to examine you.

In line with the data protection act, we do not divulge any medical information to anyone outside of occupational health without your written consent.

A fitness assessment will be carried out by the Fitness Adviser as part of your medical. The assessment is a Covox Test which is a proven cardio pulmonary assessment for measuring aerobic capacity.

On successful completion of Stage 5 you will be issued a contract of employment and a start date for your initial training.