National firefighter selection process

Conference notes that a number of Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) in the UK have begun to recruit new wholetime firefighters. Conference is concerned that a number of these Fire and Rescue Services have used their own local recruitment process and have failed to implement the “National Firefighter Selection Process”. The “National Firefighter Selection Process” is a DCLG led piece of work developed with the support and assistance of many different groups within FRSs, including the FBU, and published in 2009.

The processes were developed nationally and were put in place to ensure that Fire and Rescue Services had a robust process based around the necessary PQAs, which was equality impact assessed and legally compliant.

Conference believes that a failure to implement the “National Firefighter Selection Process” by an FRS could lead to the dilution of nationally agreed standards for firefighter roles and a potential for firefighters to lack confidence in colleagues recruited by a different FRS.

Conference therefore demands that the Executive Council raise this issue with the NJC and Government and seek an assurance that the “National Firefighter Selection Process” is recommended as best practice for all recruitment within UK FRSs.