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Step 1: Application

Application 

To apply, please visit our application portal

If you require accessible documents or wish you apply in a different format please contact us at recruitment@rbfrs.co.uk

We encourage applicants to visit their local retained station before completing any application forms for support and guidance from our teams. 

Qualifying Criteria

To submit an application for you must be aged 18 years or over, and you must live or work within 6 to 8 minutes of your local retained fire station. Before being offered employment, you will be required to provide evidence of your entitlement to work in the UK, in accordance with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. Whilst a full driving licence is not required to apply as a retained (On-Call) firefighter, without one an individual would not be able to progress to competent status pay. 

Declaration of Offences

If you have a criminal record this will not necessarily disqualify you from employment. All applications are considered on merit and in particular, whether the offence has a bearing on your suitability for employment as a firefighter. However, firefighters do need to have a high level of self-discipline and be people in whom the public can have complete confidence.

You will, therefore, be required to declare any conviction which is not yet ‘spent’ within the meaning of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and any charges that are pending. You will also need to satisfy the requirements of a DBS check, this may be a standard DBS due to a change in legislation expected in July 2023.

Further guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act can be obtained via the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders. Visit their website at www.nacro.org.uk for more information.

Equal Opportunities

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is an equal opportunities employer. We value the diversity of our workforce and believe in creating a culture where every individual feels valued and respected. We are committed to making a positive difference to the communities we serve, and particularly encourage applications from those who are currently under-represented in our service. 

If you have any questions, or require recruitment documents in an accessible format, please contact recruitment@rbfrs.co.uk