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The application process

Please note: if you have applied as part of the recent wholetime firefighter recruitment process the following dates apply:-

  • Closing date for applications: 18 November 2024
  • Values and behaviours evaluation: week commencing 2 December 2024 onwards
  • Fitness testing: week commencing 16 December 2024
  • Role related tests: week commencing 6 January 2025
  • Team building and mental agility tests: week commencing 20 January 2025
  • Interviews: week commencing 3 February 2025 onwards

More information on each of the stages can be found below.

Online application

To apply for the role of wholetime firefighter you will need to click on the apply button provided in the advert. You will need to enter your personal details, qualifications and employment history in the application form. You do not need to enter a personal statement highlighting the skills, work experience and personal qualities that make you suitable for the role. Please enter NA to allow you to move on in the application form.

You will then be asked to confirm the following:

  • You are not claustrophobia
  • You do not have a phobia of heights
  • You can swim 25 metres

We recommend doing this well before the closing date as we reserve the right to close the advertising window earlier than the closing date, if a sufficient volume of applications are received.

You will then be sent an email (please check your junk/spam boxes to avoid missing out) acknowledging your application and giving you a unique ID number.

Once you have received this email, please click onto the link to a system called ALICE (this will be provided in the advert from the 1st November 2024). You will need to enter your unique ID number and will then be asked to complete 4 behavioural questions (word limit will be 200 per question). ALICE is a platform that utilises the power of AI to analyse the answers you provide and support our recruitment team in the selection process.

You have until midnight on the 18th November to submit your answers to these four questions:-

Personal Impact: Please describe a situation where you have understood how your actions and behaviour impact on others.

Outstanding Leadership : Please explain with an example how you value and appreciate differences in people and treat everyone with kindness and respect.

Service Delivery: Please provide an example where you have focussed on customer needs in your approach to work, including issues of safeguarding and inclusion.

Organisational Effectiveness: Please outline an example of how you have previously been open to, and positively engage with, new ways of working.

Please note, after the closing date your answers given to the questions in ALICE will be scored using AI technology as well as human assessors. The AI will “read” the application answers you provide and then score it using a scoring matrix provided by the GFRS recruitment team by utilising the NFCCs leadership framework.

(Full details of this framework can be found on this link: NFCC_Leadership_Framework_Final.pdf).

The system will also provide us with a rationale for the score it has awarded, which will be based only on the information provided in your answers. Shortlisting decisions will be made by members of the GFRS recruitment team.

For more details on how AI is used in this process and your data protection rights in relation to this, please see our Transparency Statement which will be on the advert when it is live on 1st November. Additional information on how Gloucestershire County Council will process your information can be found on the council’s website: Privacy Notices | Gloucestershire County Council

Values and behaviours test

Professional discussion that will look at your values and behaviours to make sure they align with our Workplace Charter.

Team building

Candidates will be asked to take part in a team building exercise.

Mental agility testing

Candidates will be asked to carry out an online mental agility test

Mental agility example questions:

  1. What is the next number in this series? 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21...
  2. Nose is to Smell as an Eye is to... A) Hearing B) Taste C) Sight D) Touch
  3. Which word does not belong in this list? A) Square B) Triangle C) Circle D) Cube
  4. James had £5 pocket money. He spent 20% on crisps and ½ on stickers. How much does he have left?
  5. Which number is smaller? A) 1/4 B) 0.2 C) 1.02 D) 1/3
  6. What is the 4th letter of the month before September?

The chester treadmill test

To be employed by Fire and Rescue Service you are required to have a reasonable standard of physical fitness which is assessed using the chester treadmill walking test which forms part of the assessments to become a firefighter.

More information on these can be found in our fitness brochure.

Role related tests

You will be required to undertake a series of tests which are designed to assess your ability to work in a team, as well as your reaction to environments that you will be required to work in.

You can expect to be assessed on your level of fitness, strength, and manual dexterity, as well as your level of confidence in simulated exercises.

Don’t worry if you haven’t done these kinds of exercises before. You will be given clear guidance and instruction on how to use the equipment involved, as well as a demonstration of each individual test. You may be required to wear firefighter personal protective equipment and undertake the following tasks:

  • Ladder climb
  • Confined space test
  • Ladder extension
  • Casualty evacuation
  • Equipment carry

More information on these can be found in our fitness brochure.

Interview

The interview stage allows you to discuss your personal values and skills that will make you an effective wholetime community firefighter.

During the interview you will be asked a number of questions to demonstrate your understanding of the role of a firefighter and the qualities that you feel would be advantageous to such a role.

An offer of employment is conditional on the successful candidate satisfying a number of recruitment checks:

  • at least two references;
  • photo identification (National identity document, Passport, driving licence etc);
  • you will need to undergo a medical health screening prior to appointment, after which a decision will be made as to your suitability for the role;
  • if you already have a driving licence: you will need to provide the original copy of your driving licence and you will be required to consent to an online check as well; if you do not already have a driving licence you will need to sign a commitment to obtain one within 12 months of being made a job offer;
  • original documentation to meet our legal obligations under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1996;
  • original copies of Maths and English qualifications. This will be qualifications set out in the job profile under the heading ‘essential criteria’; and
  • a satisfactory enhanced DBS certificate.

Medical examination

If successful in the above stages you will be required to undergo a full medical examination by the service's Occupational Health department. The purpose of the medical is to assess your general level of health and to ensure you are fit to take on the role of a firefighter.

You will be asked to complete a questionnaire covering your medical history and will then be subject to a series of tests.

Your medical records may need to be obtained from your GP.

More information can be found in our recruitment brochure.