Fire and Rescue Services and SFJ Awards devise qualification to recognise in-role learning

Both whole-time and on-call firefighters are eligible for entry to the Ofqual-regulated qualification, with appraisal of learning outcomes primarily assessed in-role.

Cheshire is one of the 12 Fire and Rescue Services on the Steering Group supporting this project. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service ‘Watch’ manager Andy Houston said: “We are proud to have been involved in the development of this qualification, which is a significant step forward in ensuring firefighters have access to formal recognition of vocational skills and training.”

Houston added: “By providing a structured and standardised qualification, we will help to build a skilled workforce within our organisation and open new career progression opportunities for both our whole-time and on-call firefighters.”

Certificate mapping

David Higham, managing director at SFJ Awards, noted: “The objective of this qualification is to provide learners with the knowledge and skills required to carry out the role of an operational firefighter whether they’re an on-call firefighter or whole-time firefighter.”

Higham added: “The certificate has been mapped to the operational firefighter apprenticeship standard and provides learners who are unable to complete the apprenticeship with the opportunity to receive recognition of the knowledge and skills gained through in-role learning and informal training.”

Higham concluded: “The SFJ Awards Level 3 Certificate for Operational Firefighting supports the standardisation and quality assurance of vocational training in the discipline of Fire and Rescue, while also providing learners with a recognised and transferable record of their achievement, which in turn will support their careers into the future.”

Platform for career progression

The SFJ Awards Level 3 Certificate for Operational Firefighting provides a platform for career progression and specialisation of whole-time firefighters in areas such as incident command, community safety, water rescue and breathing apparatus.

The qualification consists of four units and the total qualification time for the SFJ Awards Level 3 Certificate for Operational Firefighting is 200 hours.