FAQs About Joining Us

As part of our Wholetime Firefighters fitness tests you will be required to complete the Bleep Test to a level 8.6, as well as the completion of 3 strength tests. These include Equipment Grip and Carry (testing aerobic endurance and grip), Ladder Haul-Aloft (testing upper body strength) and a Push-Pull test. If you are considering applying, it is advisable that you start working on your fitness and strength in advance. If you are successful at the early stages of the process, you will then be ready for the fitness test. It is also important that you maintain your fitness.

Yes you can. We welcome all applications. As part of the recruitment process, you will be asked if you have a disability, and asked to give details of the type of adjustments you may require in order to take part in the selection process and to fulfil the role you are applying for, should you be successful. Each case will be considered on an individual basis and, where reasonable adjustments can be made, your application will be progressed.

At stage two of the recruitment process you will be given a link to our online application form. This happens after you have attended one of our On-Call awareness evenings. You can sign up for an awareness evening here.

You can find out which On-Call fire stations are recruiting by clicking here.

Our On-Call Firefighters are a required to meet set role-related standards this includes a bleep test pass mark of 8.6. Anyone applying to become an On-Call Firefighter with us will need to reach these standards at stage four of the recruitment process. More information about the On-Call role related testing is available here.

There are seven steps to becoming an On-Call Firefighter with Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service. They are:

1. Awareness evening
2. Application form
3. Interview
4. Written and role-based tests
5. Occupational health medical
6. Formal offer of employment
7. Induction day

Yes, our Support Staff are enrolled into a local government pension scheme, unless they choose to opt out.

Yes. Although we do not offer operational work experience opportunities, we do have a number of Support Staff work experience roles available. However, this is dependent on the department you wish to work in.

Unfortunately, we do not offer volunteering opportunities.

Yes. Apprentice opportunities are listed on the Jobs page when they become available.

Yes, there are many benefits to being a member of the Support Staff team, these include but are not limited to:
– Free on-site gyms
– Free on-site parking
– Employee assistance programme
– Childcare vouchers/tax-free childcare
– Annual leave entitlement
– Maternity/paternity leave
– Pension scheme
– Ride to work bicycle scheme

Yes, you would be enrolled into a local government pension scheme.

We undertake Disclosure and Barring Checks for employees in all front facing roles, and where:
– Employees are new to the Authority and appointed to a role where a check is necessary
– When existing employees move into a role where a check is necessary and do not have an in-date check
– As part of the three yearly renewal process for all employees with enhanced checks
During the three-year period, if there is anything relevant, employees are required to declare it.

Yes, you can still fast, but it is important that all members of the Service are able to perform their core role while on duty. We encourage staff who choose to fast to discuss it with their line manager. Employees have a responsibility for being fit for duty and, where fasting has affected a member of staff adversely, they must tell their manager immediately.

Contractual hours of work for Support Staff employees are 37 hours a week. Their normal pattern of work is agreed with their line manager, and can be varied to meet service requirements following appropriate consultation with the employee.

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service has a service policy that secondary employment has to be authorised by the Service. Any application for secondary employment from an employee on our Firefighter Apprenticeship scheme will only be considered after six months of service.

Unfortunately not. As a Firefighter you agree to serve at any station within Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service. All successful candidates may be required to work within any of the duty systems employed within BFRS. When placing Firefighters we must take into account where we need to fill vacancies. However, we will review skills of all new employees and try to place them at a station and watch that will help them develop further.

Operational employees working at a fire station which runs a shift system are split into four rota groups known as ‘watches’ – White, Red, Blue and Green. The four rota groups ensure we can provide a continual service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from that station.

Every Firefighter has access to a room which can be used as a private changing facility if required.

All of our Firefighters are trained in water rescue and therefore applicants need to be able to swim and be able to rescue themselves from calm water.

Yes, you need to hold a full UK driving licence with no pending issues at the point of application.

Firefighters whose shift/work pattern falls on a weekend or public holiday will be required to work. There is the option to take leave, subject to a maximum number of people being on leave at any one time. This is to make sure our fire appliances have enough people on duty to crew them. Firefighters who are required to work a public holiday will receive the relevant enhanced pay.

You have to be a minimum of 18-years old at the start of your employment. There is no upper age limit. As long as you are physically fit and can pass the fitness test you can become a Firefighter.

A criminal record does not necessarily prevent you applying for a role. Applicants are asked to declare any criminal convictions during the recruitment process, and we expect honesty in declarations of any convictions or charges. If an applicant declares a conviction or charge it will not necessarily prevent them from progressing any further through the recruitment process, however the matter will need to be risk assessed and discussed between the person concerned, the line manager and Human Resources.

We undertake driving licence checks on all employees every three years.

Not necessarily. We will undertake a driving licence check through an external contractor as part of the pre-employment clearance stage. So please be honest on your application. Let us know of any driving convictions, fines, etc. that you have had in the past, as some still appear even though they are spent.