Pay
We offer competitive pay levels, with increases through national pay awards each year, and dependent on your salary, annual increments within the scale.
The starting salary will be specified in the job advertisement. You will be paid monthly by direct credit transfer into your bank or building society account, on or around the 25th of each month.
Hours
Employment is available on a full time, part time or job share basis, depending on the role. A flexible working scheme is operated in most areas.
Full time hours are Monday to Friday, 36 1/2 hours each week. Some posts will be part time or job share. Hours will be specified in the job advertisement.
Holidays
The Fire Service offers a generous annual leave entitlement, which provides for additional leave after 5 years continuous service. You will receive a minimum of 20 days leave each year, rising to 25 days after 5 years continuous service (pro rata for part time or job share posts). Our leave year runs from the 1st April to 31st March. When employment commences after 1st April the entitlement will be a proportion of the basic leave.
You will be entitled to 12 public holidays and concessionary days each year, which are taken as and when they fall throughout the year. Paid leave can be taken during the first 6 months of service, however, if your employment ceases during this time, any holiday pay that has not been accumulated in the time served must be repaid.
Pension
Employees are able to join the contributory Local Government Pension Scheme, which provides a range of benefits.
Maternity Benefits
Employees expecting a child, irrespective of their length of service, are guaranteed a job on their return to work. Other family friendly policies include paternity leave, parental leave and adoption leave.
Childcare Vouchers
A childcare voucher scheme is available which enables you to take part of your salary in childcare vouchers which are then free from tax and National Insurance contributions (upto the value of £55 per week). The vouchers can then be used to pay for your childcare provider.
Occupational Health & Welfare
The physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of all fire service employees is paramount to enable a first class emergency service to be provided to the Community. Occupational Health and Welfare offers a friendly confidential service for all employees and prospective employees. We have qualified Occupational Health Practitioners, a Fitness Adviser, and qualified administrators who work in both the health and welfare area, to promote and maintain the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of our people. The range of services available includes: occupational health advice, pre employment and periodic health review appointments, fitness advice, welfare advice, confidential counselling (both in house and external), employee discount schemes, physiotherapy, pre retirement courses, critical incident debriefing and access to the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund facilities.
Equality & Diversity
We have a dedicated team working in this area. Read more about Equality & Diversity.
Career Break
There is the opportunity for employees to take a career break of up to 5 years unpaid leave. This scheme is available to all employees with a minimum of five years continuous and satisfactory service.
Gym Facilities
We have free on site gym facilities at most locations.
Occupational Sick Pay
Under our occupational sick pay scheme, entitlement to paid sick leave.
Unison
West Midlands Fire Service is a responsible employer that works in partnership with the trade unions to improve the working lives of all our staff, including non uniformed support staff (known by UNISON as Fire and Rescue Service Staff (FRSS)). UNISON, the largest union in the country, is the union that represents FRSS and as a demonstration of its commitment to developing representation of FRSS and encouraging FRSS to join UNISON, the Fire Authority funds a full time UNISON post.
The West Midlands Fire and Civil Defence Authority is an employer committed to achieving a working environment that actively encourages, promotes and values equality and diversity. To support this aim, we welcome applications from all of the community who share our commitment.
