Working within local communities providing life-improving advice, guidance and interventions.
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.
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 12 months. The EPA period is typically 3 months.
The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:
When you pass the EPA, you will be awarded your apprenticeship certificate.
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:
Practical assessment with questions
You will be observed by an independent assessor completing a set of tasks. It will last 1.25 hours. They will ask you at least 5 questions.
Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
You will have a professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 60 minutes. They will ask you at least 10 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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