Wholetime Firefighter Recruitment

Engagement Sessions

Virtual Engagement Sessions

This section provides an overview of the engagement activities that may take place as part of a Wholetime Firefighter recruitment campaign. These activities are designed to give prospective applicants information about the role, insight into the recruitment process, and opportunities to engage with the Service before applying.

During Wholetime Firefighter recruitment campaigns, we may offer a range of virtual engagement sessions for prospective applicants.

These sessions provide information about the role, the recruitment process, and working within the Service. They may include:

An overview of the recruitment process
Question and answer sessions with serving firefighters
Women in Fire sessions
Sessions on neurodiversity and dyslexia
“What can CFRS offer you?” sessions

Recordings or additional information may be made available where possible.

Have A Go Days

We may also deliver “Have A Go” days at fire stations across the county during recruitment periods.

These sessions give individuals the opportunity to try some practical activities, speak to firefighters, and gain an understanding of the role and its requirements.

Sessions are usually held at a number of locations and may include both morning and afternoon time slots.

Details of upcoming sessions, including dates, locations and how to book, will be published when recruitment is open.

Registration & Eligibility

Eligibility and Pre-Employment Checks

This section outlines the eligibility requirements and pre-employment checks that apply during the Wholetime Firefighter recruitment process, following submission of an application. These requirements are based on Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service procedures and policies, as well as relevant UK legislation.

Applicants who progress through the selection stages will be required to meet a number of criteria as part of pre-employment checks. These may include:

Providing evidence of the right to work in the UK
Meeting the required age criteria
Holding a full UK driving licence (or obtaining one within a specified timeframe, where applicable)
Meeting medical, fitness and eyesight standards in line with national guidance
Successfully completing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

All checks are carried out in accordance with Service policies to ensure a fair, consistent and transparent process for all candidates.

Full details of requirements will be provided to applicants during the recruitment process.

Online Assessments & National Ability Tests

This section outlines the online assessments and National Firefighter Ability Tests that may be used during the Wholetime Firefighter recruitment process. These assessments are designed in line with national guidance and ensure a fair and consistent approach to candidate selection.

Applicants who progress through the recruitment process may be required to complete a series of online assessments. These are used to assess key skills and attributes relevant to the role, such as problem solving, communication and situational judgement.

Candidates who are successful at this stage may then be invited to undertake the National Firefighter Ability Tests. These practical assessments are designed to evaluate the physical and functional demands of the role and may include activities such as:

Ladder climbs
Ladder Lift
Dummy Drag (Casualty Evacuation)
Rural Carry (Equipment carries)
Enclosed space exercises
Bleep test or Chester Treadmill Test

Full details of the assessments will be provided to candidates during the recruitment process.

Medical Assessments

As part of the Wholetime Firefighter recruitment process, candidates who progress to the appropriate stage will be required to undertake a medical assessment. This is to ensure they meet the occupational health standards necessary to safely carry out the duties of the role.

Medical assessments are conducted in line with Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service policies and procedures, relevant national guidance, and applicable UK legislation, including equality and employment requirements.

Assessments are typically arranged over a number of days, with individual appointments scheduled for candidates. Further information will be provided during the recruitment process.

Basic Training Course

Candidates who are successful through all stages of the recruitment process will be offered a place on a Wholetime Firefighter Basic Training Course. This course provides the foundation skills, knowledge and behaviours required to carry out the role safely and effectively.

The training programme is delivered in line with Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service policies and procedures, relevant national operational guidance, and applicable UK legislation. It includes a combination of practical and theoretical learning, covering areas such as firefighting techniques, incident command, health and safety, and the use of operational equipment.

The course typically takes place over a number of weeks and requires full commitment for its duration. Candidates must successfully complete all elements of the course to progress into an operational role. Further details will be provided to successful applicants.

Please see all sections below that provide detail around each section of the process. Please also see our Wholetime Firefighter Job Description below and our Recruitment Pack.

Wholetime Firefighter Job Description - Sept 2023

FAQs - From Engagement Sessions

Following each of our Engagement Sessions, we will add any helpful FAQs below. We have also added a video clip of Annie, our Recruitment and Fitness Coordinator, from our first session where she is discussing the Practical Selection Days and Medicals - please scroll to the bottom of this page to watch that.

FAQs

Q) If I was successful in joining Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, would I have to live in Cumbria?

Answer: No, but you would need to be able to travel and work in Cumbria.

Q) Can I apply if I am 17 years old, but will be 18 years old by the time of the course?

Answer: You will need to be 18 years old to be eligible to apply for this process. Registration and Eligibility are open from Tuesday 2nd Jan 2024 and closes Friday 19th January 2024.

Q) My driving test is booked, if I pass my test in time, am I able to apply?

Answer: You will need to have a Full Driving License to be eligible to apply for this process. when Registration and Eligibility are open you will have from then until it closes to pass your test in order to apply and be eligible.

Q) What kind of shifts do Wholetime FFs do at Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service?

Answer: Three shift patterns that CFRS employe. Standard, which is 7.30am start and 18:00pm finish. You do that for 2 days, and then you do 2 night shifts, which start at 18:00pm and finish at 07:30am in the morning. So it's two days, two nights, and then 4 days off. The second one is at Ulverston, where they do a 07:30am to 07:30pm/ 12-hour shift, and they have various days off within that shift pattern. Penrith do 07:30pm to 06:00pm, over a period of different days as well. The main shift pattern is 07:30pm - 06:00pm, 2-2-4.

Q) How long is the training course?

Answer: 12 weeks long

Q) Where will the training course be?

Answer: The most recent Wholetime training course was held at Carlisle East Fire Station, but with activities and assessments done at Penrith, Barrow, Ulverston and Workington.

Q) What is the work/life balance like?

Answer: "Some people find it fantastic. You get used to the two days, two nights, four days off pattern. Prioritise your sleep, and then fill your days however; I fill them productively, I do some volunteering, and my partner and I can just go on our days off. It's one of those fantastic careers, and I know other emergency services work similar patterns, and it's full on and you can have spells where it will be wildly busy, and then it drops off a bit. It varies throughout the year. But overall, you work four days on, four days off, so you're almost off for about half the year when you really sort of dig into it." - Ella, Firefighter with CFRS

Q) Have you ever been treated differently as a female firefighter when going into emergencies or into communities?

Answer: "Not specifically. You get a lot of questions. Obviously there's a lot of news about fire services across the UK this year, and a lot of reports have been out and published, but for me, it's a positive thing. We are all proud to work for this fire service and that includes everyone. I think when these situations [nationally] build up, people are very interested to hear our side of it, which I didn't expect but it's nice people ask. The big thing is, when you turn up to jobs, I find, you've got your PPE on, your helmet on, it's quite anonymous. When you take your helmet off, you know, sometimes people are surprised, but it's quite an anonymous role and people are keen to know your experience." - Ella, Firefighter with CFRS

Medical Days

We require all candidates to take a full medical assessment prior to joining our service. These assessments will be conducted by our Occupational Health team.

The tests that will be completed on the day include:

A check of your blood pressure and pulse
A check of your height and weight
A hearing test (audiometry)
A vision test (Please note if you have received laser eye surgery, this procedure must have been carried out a minimum of 12 months prior to your assessment)
A lung function test (spirometry)
A urine drug screen

The medical appointment may take up to two hours.

On the day of your medical, the team will also do your BA Face Fit and your PPE fittings.

Basic Training Course

Once all the checks have been completed, we will organise a place for you on our Wholetime Basic Training Course. This course gives you the skills to become a Firefighter and it's the start of your professional journey with us.

The training course last for up to 14 weeks, and you will learn core skills needed for the role of a Firefighter. Candidates who are successful in getting a place on our course must be able to attend all of the training course.

Video from our first Virtual Session: Practical Tests and Medicals, presented by Annie