Protective services
Community fire safety advisor
Working within local communities providing life-improving advice, guidance and interventions.
Summary
The occupation of community fire safety advisor can be found in the fire and rescue sector and other partner agencies. The fire sector is formed of three functions; prevention, protection and response. The occupation of community fire safety advisor is a role within the prevention function, linking closely with protection and response.
A community fire safety advisor works to educate local communities to adopt safer behaviours. This includes providing advice, guidance and interventions that support people to remain safe and reduce from risks of harm such as fire, falls, crime or due to the circumstances in which the individual is living. The broad purpose of the occupation is to impart education as part of Fire and Rescue statutory duty. This is done through planning and undertaking home fire safety visits, providing advice and guidance to members of the community, and fitting fire safety equipment.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation will interact effectively with the community, partner agencies and colleagues to provide advice and guidance to members of the community. The community fire safety advisor will use the Person Centred Framework for Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSVs), local policy, procedures and guidance, in addition to delivering community safety initiatives to improve the overall safety of the public. Community fire safety advisors work at functional level within the fire sector, but they do not usually work at supervisory level or manage others.
Typical job titles include
- Community safety advisor | Community safety advocate | Community safety assistant | Community safety officer | Home fire safety visit officer | Prevention advisor
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
The relevant legislation and guidance for the community fire safety advisor, including health and safety, safeguarding, data protection, sustainability, and equality, diversity, and inclusion.
K2:
The Person Centred Framework for Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSVs), local policy, procedures and guidance for delivering HFSVs.
K3:
The diverse local communities, their differing and changing needs and expectations and the implications for engaging with them to provide advice and to influence behaviour.
K4:
Risks to welfare of themselves and colleagues during a HFSV and techniques for managing safety.
K5:
The main causes of fire in the home.
K6:
The principles of a person-centred fire risk assessment.
K7:
Person factors which impact risk, which could include physical health, mental health, learning disabilities, mobility, sensory impairment, age and frailty and culture.
K8:
Behaviour factors which impact risk, which could include smoking, taking medication, substance and alcohol use, and bedtime routines.
K9:
Home factors which impact risk, including property layout, fire protection and safety devices, state of maintenance and repair, clutter, egress, and the social environment.
K10:
Emerging risks that have been nationally or locally identified in relation to fire safety in the home.
K11:
The principles and practices for engaging other agencies.
K12:
The professional boundaries that define what interventions fire and rescue services (FRSs) and other organisations can deliver to make physical changes and encourage behavioural change.
K13:
The advice, support and interventions to reduce risk in the community, including signposting and making referrals to other agencies.
K14:
Techniques for delivering brief advice to influence positive behaviour change in different contexts.
K15:
Techniques for managing conflicts and the use of de-escalation tactics.
K16:
Methods of reflection, and how reflecting on practice can lead to change.
K17:
Current standards and guidelines for record keeping.
K18:
Public perceptions and expectations of FRSs and how this impacts the role.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0593: Community fire safety advisor (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0593
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £29,439 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 3221 Youth and community workers
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 3221/01 Community workers
S1:
Interpret and implement legislation, data, and guidance in relation to HFSVs.
S2:
Preparation for the visit, in line with local procedures and guidance.
S3:
Provide advice, education and recommendations to members of the public through variety of interactions.
S4:
Check occupant’s understanding and ability to access all information provided.
S5:
Work with other professionals to support fire safety.
S6:
Manage risks to personnel associated with HFSVs.
S7:
Observe, question and listen to occupants to inform fire risk assessment.
S8:
Take a person-centred approach to fire risk assessment by considering the impact of person, behaviour and home factors on fire risk.
S9:
Identify and assess risks within the home, using the HFSV guidance.
S10:
Deliver brief advice to encourage positive behaviour change that enables people to reduce risk.
S11:
Signpost interventions or make referrals internally and to partner agencies that meet the needs of the occupants to mitigate the identified risks.
S12:
Deliver clear and achievable verbal and written fire safety advice to individuals and community groups.
S13:
Determine the need for, and demonstrate how to install and test, fire risk reduction equipment including smoke alarms and instruct occupants to use and maintain equipment effectively.
S14:
Reflect and evaluate performance and practice to inform change and improvement.
S15:
Keep records accurately observing the requirements of data protection and organisational policy.
S16:
Share relevant information and respond with courtesy, clarity and accuracy to enquiries from stakeholders and other agencies upholding responsibilities to data protection and confidentiality.
S17:
Work independently and proactively as part of a team; managing work, prioritising tasks, planning and leading visits.
S18:
Communicate with others and adapt communication media, methods and styles to suit diverse audiences.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0593: Community fire safety advisor (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0593
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £29,439 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 3221 Youth and community workers
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 3221/01 Community workers
B1:
Embraces and values equality, diversity and inclusion, treating everyone with dignity and respect.
B2:
Committed and able to identify their own needs, develop self and reflect on practice.
B3:
Acts with confidence and integrity, to create safe, effective and practical outcomes.
B4:
Works within own level of authority, responsibility and competence and recognises when to seek support or assistance.
B5:
Committed to supporting a strong safety culture.
B6:
Challenges unsafe or inappropriate behaviours and practices.
B7:
Committed to respecting life, the law, the environment and putting communities first.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0593: Community fire safety advisor (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0593
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £29,439 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 3221 Youth and community workers
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 3221/01 Community workers