Work with businesses to help protect people, premises, and the environment from fire.
A Fire Safety Advisor works with businesses to help them keep people, premises, and the environment safe from fire by offering advice and education to reduce risk. People in this role may be employed by a Fire and Rescue Service or they may work for an organisation in the public, private or not for profit sector. The role contributes to the aims of saving life, preventing injury, enhancing business continuity, and protecting premises. The role involves a diverse mix of essential work including visits to a wide spectrum of businesses and joint visits with other agencies in order to actively support and promote business safety. The role may also involve proactive promotional work at events and reactive work after incidents to raise awareness of fire safety in the business community. As representatives of their organisation Fire Safety Advisors will demonstrate excellent customer and communication service skills to influence businesses in their community.
The key function of a Fire Safety Advisor will be to visit simple premises - this is defined by the sector as: small premises with a simple layout such as small shops, offices or industrial units with non-complex means of escape and simultaneous evacuation conforming to a recognised code of practice. Simple premises may range from low to high-risk dependent upon the use, management, and maintenance of the premises.
A typical day in this important role will see the Fire Safety Advisor assessing risks and hazards associated with fire, evaluating measures in place to protect people and premises, influencing, and supporting businesses to act on recommendations and where appropriate, reporting breaches. A fire safety advisor will contribute to sustainability both within their own organisation and within the wider community. They may assess fire hazards and risks within buildings that use new or innovative building practices and provide advice to building managers to ensure that the people, property and environment are safe. They will need to ensure they stay informed on best practice for audits on a range of building types as approaches to construction and energy use may change.
This is a summary of the key things that you – the apprentice and your employer need to know about your end-point assessment (EPA). You and your employer should read the EPA plan for the full details. It has information on assessment method requirements, roles and responsibilities, and re-sits and re-takes.
An EPA is an assessment at the end of your apprenticeship. It will assess you against the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. Your training will cover the KSBs. The EPA is your opportunity to show an independent assessor how well you can carry out the occupation you have been trained for.
Your employer will choose an end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) to deliver the EPA. Your employer and training provider should tell you what to expect and how to prepare for your EPA.
The length of the training for this apprenticeship is typically 18 months. The EPA period is typically 3 months.
The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:
The EPA gateway is when the EPAO checks and confirms that you have met any requirements required before you start the EPA. You will only enter the gateway when your employer says you are ready.
The gateway requirements for your EPA are:
For the fire safety advisor, the qualification required is:
Level 3 Certificate in Fire Safety (Fire Auditors)
Practical assessment with questions
You will be observed by an independent assessor completing a set of tasks. It will last 2.25 hours. They will ask you at least 4 questions.
Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
You will have a professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 90 minutes. They will ask you at least 12 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of your occupation. You need to compile a portfolio of evidence before the EPA gateway. You can use it to help answer the questions.
You should speak to your employer if you have a query that relates to your job.
You should speak to your training provider if you have any questions about your training or EPA before it starts.
You should receive detailed information and support from the EPAO before the EPA starts. You should speak to them if you have any questions about your EPA once it has started.Reasonable adjustments
If you have a disability, a physical or mental health condition or other special considerations, you may be able to have a reasonable adjustment that takes this into account. You should speak to your employer, training provider and EPAO and ask them what support you can get. The EPAO will decide if an adjustment is appropriate.
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