Ref: FOI/19079
RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 REQUEST
I am writing to confirm that the West Midlands Fire Service has now completed its search for the information you requested on 5th June 2019.
Please find below a summary of our findings.
Request
In each of the four years 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19 how many operational posts within your FRS were filled at:
(i) crew manager (CM) and
(ii) watch manager (WM)
levels or their equivalent within your operational hierarchy?
Reply
| Financial Year | Fire fighter to Crew Commander | Crew Commander to Watch Commander | Fire fighter to Watch Commander | Total |
| 2015/16 | 100 | 60 | 160 | |
| 2016/17 | 84 | 53 | 1 | 138 |
| 2017/18 | 72 | 49 | 121 | |
| 2018/19 | 58 | 76 | 134 | |
| Total | 314 | 238 | 1 | 553 |
Request
Of those posts (i) and (ii) above, what percentage were filled by open competition?
Reply
For the period June 2018 to March 2019 includes 110 people of which the percentage of those who were filled by open competition was 63%
For the previous years this information is exempt under section of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as we do not hold this information. In line with our data retention policy information regarding our selection process is only kept for 12 months.
Request
Of those posts (i) and (ii) above, what (if any) was the minimum qualification level required of applicants?
Reply
Applicants are required to be performing competently in their current role before being eligible to apply for the next role.
If you have any queries about this freedom of information request, please contact us. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
For service complaints, issues or comments regarding this request please contact The Public Relations Department, West Midlands Fire Service, 99 Vauxhall Road, Birmingham, B7 4HW
Further information concerning Freedom of Information requests can be found on the Information Commissioner website at either the following link: https://ico.org.uk/ or at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF
