Dyslexia is considered to be a disability and you will be asked if you have a disability as part of the recruitment process. If you let us know we can make reasonable adjustments for you at the relevant stages of the selection process. We normally ask for a report to confirm the type and extent of your dyslexia which is sent to our Occupational Health Practitioner for review, they will then decide if a reasonable adjustment can be made.

As part of our recruitment process applicants are asked if they have a disability, and to give details of adjustments they may require in order to take part in the selection process and to fulfil the role should they be successful. Each case will be considered on an individual basis and, if reasonable adjustments can be made to enable you to take part in the selection process and fulfil the role of a Firefighter, then your application will be progressed.

A new clause of the Deregulation Bill 2015 extends the existing exemption for Sikhs to have to wear a safety helmet under the Employment Act in all workplaces. However, there are exclusions for emergency response services and the military, which apply only in hazardous operational situations when the wearing of a safety helmet is considered necessary, for example when entering a burning building where protective clothing needs to be worn to enclose the whole body.

Yes, a Firefighter can fast. However, it is important that all members of the Service are able to perform their core role while on duty, so we encourage staff who choose to fast to discuss it with their line manager.

On top of their basic annual wage, a Firefighter can enhance their earning potential by taking overtime and undertaking extra bank shifts at an enhanced hourly rate.

Throughout their development Firefighters are assessed through:

– On the job observations
– Written assessments
– Evidence of duties/tasks performed
– Reports from mentors and managers
– Production of an e-portfolio of evidence
– End point assessment

Wholetime Firefighters can work within any of the duty systems employed within BFRS which currently include, but are not limited to, Shift (two x nine-hour days, two x 15 hour nights, followed by four days off), Day Crewed, and Flexi-firefighter system.

There are three phases of pay for Wholetime Firefighters:
– As a Trainee (until the end of training) the annual salary is £25,884 (£11.82 basic hourly rate)
– In Development (from end of training until end of apprenticeship) the annual salary is £26,962 (£12.31 basic hourly rate)
– Once Competent (on successful completion of apprenticeship) the annual salary is £34,501 (£15.75 basic hourly rate)

Unfortunately not.

When recruiting for Firefighters we look for people who demonstrate:
– A ‘Can Do’ attitude
– A keen interest in the fire and rescue service
– A willingness to learn
– The ability to communicate effectively with a range of people
– The ability to work in a team environment
– The ability to achieve a good level of physical fitness
– The ability to follow instructions
– The ability to think about the bigger picture in a dynamic and challenging environment.

To apply for a Wholetime Firefighter role you must:

– Be at least 18 years old by the start date
– Hold a full UK driving licence (must have passed test by completion of application)
– Live within 20 miles of the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes border
– Have Level 2 Functional Skills or GCSE’s in Maths and English Language A* to C (9 to 4) or accepted equivalent
– Be able to swim

Click here to see more details.

• 1st Line availability is an immediate response. This means you must respond to incidents within 10 minutes.
• 2nd Line availability is a delayed response. This means you must respond to incidents within 20 minutes.
• 3rd Line availability is a delayed response. This means you must respond to incidents within one hour.
• 4th Line availability is a delayed response. This means you must respond to incidents within three hours.

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.

Yes, there are many benefits to being an On-Call Firefighter at Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, these include (but are not limited to):

• Free on-site gyms
• Free on-site parking
• Free employee assistance programme
• Childcare vouchers/tax-free childcare
•  Annual leave entitlement
• Maternity/paternity leave
• Pension scheme
• Ride to work bicycle scheme
• Benenden Health Care – Membership costs £15.50 per person, per month, deducted directly from salary.

Wearing glasses or contact lenses will not automatically prevent you from becoming an On-Call Firefighter.

As part of the recruitment process, you will be required to attend an eyesight assessment with your optician, which includes testing for colour vision. Individuals with normal colour vision or a mild green colour vision deficiency may be suitable for appointment, subject to meeting the required visual standards.

Further information on fire service eyesight requirements can be found here: www.fireservice.co.uk/recruitment/eyesight/

Wholetime Firefighters are contracted to work in the fire service as their primary employment serving at Wholetime fire stations. On-Call Firefighters usually respond from home or their primary employment on a call-by-call basis via a smartphone app.

Drill Nights are regular training evenings where On-Call Firefighters attend their assigned fire station to develop and maintain the skills required for the role.

During these sessions, you will take part in training exercises, maintain firefighting equipment and appliances, complete administrative tasks, and keep your training records up to date.

Drill Nights also provide an excellent opportunity to train alongside your crew and build teamwork within the station.

To be considered for an On-Call firefighter role at Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, you must live close enough to an On-Call fire station that you will be able to drive to it, get your personal protective equipment on, and leave the station on the fire appliance, within 10 minutes. You can find your nearest On-Call fire station/s here.

Yes, as stage five of the recruitment process you will be required to undertake an occupational health medical assessment to determine if you are medically fit to perform the role. You will find out more about this during the On-Call awareness evening you attend. You can sign up for an awareness evening here.

Yes, as stage four of the recruitment process you will be required to undertake an online written testing using SHL, as well as role-based physical testing. This includes a bleep test with a passing score of 8.6. You will find out more about this during the On-Call awareness evening you attend. You can sign up for an awareness evening here.

Yes, we do. You can find out the dates for our next evening, and book your place here.

There are charges for some of our services, including reports. These are explained on the Services we charge for page, click here to go to that page.

Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority is a publicly accountable body which manages Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service on behalf of the communities it serves. It normally meets four times a year, with an annual meeting held in June. During these meetings, Members make decisions on policy, finance and resources. Click here to find out more about the Fire Authority meetings.

We publish information every year explaining how much council tax you will pay as a contribution to fire and rescues services within Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. This information also explains how the amount was reached, where it was agreed, and what it will be spent on. Click here to read this information.

We publish information about our financial arrangements including annual information on how much money we have, how much we will receive, how much we expect to spend, and how much we have spent. This information is available within the Finance and Procurement area of this site, click here to go there . We also provide regular reports and updates to the Fire Authority, this information can be found within the Meetings section of this site, click here to visit that area.