Warwickshire County Council

FIREFIGHTER ARcHITEcT OccUPATIONAL THERAPIST TEAcHER WEBMASTER SOLIcITOR SOcIAL WORKER cOMMUNIcATIONS OFFIcER cIVIL ENGINEER SOLIcITOR SURVEyOR cARETAKER LANdScAPE ARcHITEcT FAcILITIES MANAGER

Being a part of the Fire & Rescue Service really is like having a second family.

Leeanna-Christene Kostka, On Call Firefighter

On call Firefighter

A degree in astrophysics and politics could have led Leeanna-Christene Kostka down many career paths but she was happy to choose the Fire Service.

She started out at Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service as a Performance Monitoring Officer, but the lure of the active side of the service proved too great and two years ago she applied to become a Retained Firefighter alongside her current role. A Retained Firefighter is someone who has another job but is ready to answer the call when required.

She underwent a rigorous assessment programme including physical and psychometric testing before starting out on basic training.

“Although a degree isn’t a compulsory requirement to join the Fire & Rescue Service,” says Leeanna, “I think a good level of education is a big help in terms of progression within the service.”

Leeanna is in no doubt of the benefits of being a part of the Fire & Rescue service.

“It really is like having a second family, the cameraderie is fantastic.”

Leeanna’s training is ongoing, she’s completed her central assessment period and is now looking forward to gaining her LGV licence so she can drive the fire appliances.

“It really is a job where you learn something new everyday and no two days are the same.”

Leeanna-Christene KostkaFirefighter

case Study

How to become an On call FirefighterEntry requirementsTo become an On Call Firefighter you will need to live or work within 5 minutes travel time of one of our On Call Fire Stations, have a good level of physical fitness and be able to pass our firefighter selection test. Communication, team skills, being able to make good decisions and use your initiative are vital skills that all Firefighters use on a daily basis. You will need to commit to provide at least 40 hours on-call operational cover each week which could include daytime, nights and weekends. The cover you provide can be flexible to match your other commitments including other work and childcare.

Skills & interestsYou will need good communication skills, work in a team, think laterally and use your initiative so that you can adapt to rapidly changing situations. Physical fitness is a must, as is the ability to apply specific instructions to a given task.

Daily activitiesA high standard of training is of the utmost importance. This is done through initial training at the service Training

and Development Centre and other locations and regular training on weekly drill nights at your Fire Station. Training includes computer based training, practical scenario based simulation training and standard drills. Firefighters rely heavily on their equipment being in perfect working order to enable them to carry out their role as effectively and safely as possible, so a structured programme of testing and maintenance is adhered to.Although responding to emergency incidents is our primary role, prevention work is also embedded in our daily activities. We engage all sections of the community through structured programmes targeted at those groups and people who are most vulnerable. We visit people in the homes, schools and businesses to educate people on the best ways to stay safe.

Future prospects & opportunitiesPromotion is available by passing the relevant examinations and sitting assessment boards. There is the opportunity to rise through a formal rank structure up to a chief fire officer or Her Majesty’s chief inspector of fire services. Specialist training such as Command and Control or Fire Investigation is available at the national Fire Service College at Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire.

Tel. 0845 155 0987www.warwickshire.gov.uk/jobs