Group Fire Officer

Spire Healthcare

Group Fire Officer Home based with regular travel FT Permanent Salary DOE

Spire Healthcare is one of the UK’s largest independent private Hospital providers, a FTSE 250 entity listed on the London Stock Exchange, and operates across an estate valued in excess of 1bn. The estate includes a diverse range of property types comprising 38 hospitals, 33 clinics, 2 national distribution warehouses, 3 regional administration hubs, a shared finance centre, an IT support centre, central Head Office and two recently acquired entities – the Doctors Clinic Group (Private GP and Occupational Health provider) and Vita Health Group (Physical and Mental Health provider).

The Estates and Facilities Directorate is seeking to appoint a suitably experienced, qualified and dynamic Group Fire Officer (GFO) to replace the outgoing incumbent GFO to maintain and continue to deliver a positive and proactive approach to fire safety across Spire ensuring compliance with legislation, latest guidance and Spire Healthcare policy.

Proven experience and successful track record of a similar role within a large commercial or healthcare organisation is a prerequisite.

The role of GFO is crucial in ensuring that Spire remain safe and compliant at all times providing the ‘Fire Safety’ expertise for Spire Healthcare and work with the Director of Estates & Facilities to monitor and deliver Fire Safety obligations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Be the Subject Matter Expert to the business being fully conversant and familiar with all relevant HTM’s, Building Regulations, Statutory Legislation, Guidance and codes of conduct in relation to Fire Safety.
• The development and implementation of the organisations fire safety policy including regular review and update as necessary ensuring appropriate dissemination and change of local procedures.
• Monitoring and update of Spire’s compliance in relation to current regulation, guidance and codes of practice and the subsequent reporting of non-compliance to the Group Supply Chain Director.
• Management of appointed external 3rd party Fire Risk Assessments, Audits and Actions providing central governance assurance compliance reporting.
• Maintain, update and develop Spires Fire Safety Compliance Dashboard informed by FRA’s, inspections and audits to prioritise a risk based approach to capital investment across the estate.
• Continue to develop Spire Healthcare’s Fire Safety culture by identifying opportunities to share best practice across the hospital network through compliance monitoring and audit.
• Continue to develop appropriate standards of fire safety training including emergency action plans & evacuation training protocols across Spire estate.
• Maintain and develop Spires existing relationship with Primary Fire Authority.
• Maintain and develop Spires existing relationship with Authorising Engineer for Fire.
• Dissemination of relevant Fire Safety updates to the group.
• Provide and present quarterly reports on Fire Safety performance and incidents to the Group Health, Safety, Environment Committee (HSEC).
• Liaison with hospitals for correct reporting and closure of any Fire Safety related reportable events.
• Identification of Fire Safety incident trends and suitable central Fire Safety improvement training programmes.
• Raising awareness of all fire safety measures and their purpose throughout the organisation. Be the SME liaison with external enforcing authorities where required.
• Be the SME for investigation and support for major fire related incidents.
• Have financial management and responsibility for delivery of Fire Safety AOP capital projects to program and budget
• Work closely with Central Function colleagues and stakeholders and provide SME support and advice in the planning, design, delivery and commissioning of central and local delivered construction projects across the estate.
• Work closely with the central procurement team to ensure effective and efficient delivery of Fire Safety related maintenance and service contracts and training across the estate.
• Be the SME liaison with SMT at Spire Healthcare facilities.

Key Requirements:

• Minimum 5 years experience and successful track record of a similar role within a large commercial or healthcare organisation.
• Member of Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) and/or Fire Safety Managers (FSM)
• Have a degree in Fire Engineering or be working towards (Desirable)
• Hold a relevant NEBOSH or equivalent qualification in fire safety
• Hold a relevant qualification in risk assessment eg IFE fire risk assessors register for life safety
• Hold a relevant qualification in Fire Door Assessor & stopping (level 3)
• Hold a relevant qualification in Project Management (Desirable)
• Must have strong project management skills and be able to prioritise demands against resources.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Must be able to produce clear, concise and accurate reports and other written communications.
• Have the ability to provide solutions and options when confronted with new situations.
• Be highly motivated and equally able to work both as part of a team and under own initiative with the ability to provide solutions and options when confronted with new situations and challenges.

Benefits:

We offer employed colleagues a competitive salary as well as a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• 35 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays
• Employer and employee contributory pension with flexible retirement options
• ‘Spire for you’ reward platform – discount and cashback for over 1000 retailers
• Free wellness screening
• Private medical insurance
• Life assurance

Spire Healthcare is committed to creating an environment that will attract, retain, and motivate its people. We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to the health and wellbeing of all our colleagues and consultants.

We firmly believe that it is our people that make the business successful, and everyone should have the opportunity to work in a motivated team, free from discrimination on any grounds. We, therefore, are keen to receive and review applications from all candidates of under-represented groups who feel they offer the requisite skills.

For us, it’s more than just treating patients; it’s about looking after people.