Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service

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Firefighter Selection Process

This section allows you to find out about the selection process from the point of your initial application, through to the Service taking up references and medical checks, should you be successful in completing all other aspects.

There are five stages in the selection process.

Initial application
Written tests
Physical tests
Interview
Pre-employment Screening e.g References, Medical Checks and Drug and Alcohol Screening

Initial Application

You will be asked to provide personal details such as name, address, contact details, qualifications, driving licence, and any previous fire service employment etc.

Retained Duty System applicants will also be required to provide details of the cover they will be able to provide i.e. number of hours per week, and during which parts of each day. This information will be considered against the requirements of the particular station at that time, which will decide whether or not the application should be progressed any further.

You will also be asked at the application stage to complete a declaration of any criminal convictions that you have that are 'unspent' (under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act). If you have any ‘unspent’ convictions we are unlikely to consider your application. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 can be viewed on the OPSI website by clicking on the following link

General advice regarding the disclosure of convictions can be found on the Careers Advice website by clicking on this link

You will need to complete the Assessment of Personal Qualities and Attributes (PQA’s) section of the application form, which are: Working with Others, Commitment to Diversity and Integrity, Commitment to Development, Confidence and Resilience, Commitment to Excellence and Openness to Change. For each of these PQAs, you are required to describe an activity that best illustrates your experience in that area, and your personal input to the given situation.

The application form is designed to assess the personal qualities and attributes required to be an effective Firefighter. It forms an important part of the selection process and assesses characteristics that are related directly to the role of a Firefighter.

Written Tests

You will be invited to take part in a series of written tests, designed to be highly relevant to the work of firefighters. These take approximately three hours to complete.

These tests consist of written and psychometric testing that make up the National Firefighter Questionnaire and three National Firefighter Ability tests, which cover the following areas:

Working with numbers test

This is a timed test consisting of 32 questions, lasting 45 minutes. Firefighters need to be able to make basic mathematical calculations, for example interpreting gauges or calculating how much hose is needed at a fire. In this test you will be presented with a number of scenarios that include numerical information in a variety of formats, from graphs to gauges. For each scenario you will be asked multiple choice questions.
Understanding information test

This is a timed test consisting of 25 questions, lasting 30 minutes. This test assesses your ability to understand and interpret the type of written information that you may commonly come across as a firefighter. You will be presented with a number of scenarios, each followed by a number of multiple choice questions that you should answer using the information contained in the scenario.
Situational awareness and problem solving test

This is a timed test consisting of 30 questions, lasting 35 minutes. This test is designed to assess your ability to ensure the safety of yourself and others, plus your ability to use information to solve problems. You will be presented with a number of scenarios and asked to select your most likely response from a series of answers.

The Preparation and Practice booklets, which will provide you with a better idea of what to expect, and how to prepare yourself for the written test phase of the process.

Physical Tests

The physical tests are designed to assess your fitness, strength, stamina, co-ordination, dexterity, and ability to understand and apply information. The tests also look at your ability to work at heights and in darkened confined spaces. All the tests are relevant to the role of a firefighter.

Casualty Evacuation Test

This test is designed to assess upper and lower body strength and co-ordination. Within a time limit, candidates drag a 55kg dummy backwards around a 30m course at walking pace using a carrying handle fixed to the dummy. You will be guided around the course by a qualified assessor.
Confined Space Test

Designed to assess confidence, agility and stamina. Wearing a breathing apparatus set and face mask, you will make your way halfway through a crawl-way with unobscured vision. Once inside you will have your vision obscured and have to return to the start, performing tasks on the way as instructed. This is all within a time limit.
Equipment Assembly Test

This test assesses manual dexterity. Within a time limit, candidates assemble and disassemble a number of components to make a piece of equipment, following a series of diagrams. You will be given a demonstration of the test beforehand.
Equipment Carry

This is designed to assess aerobic fitness, stamina, upper and lower body strength and co-ordination. Within a time limit, you carry various items of fire and rescue service equipment up and down a course between two cones placed 25m apart. You will be given demonstrations on correct lifting techniques and have the opportunity to practice picking up the items beforehand.
Ladder Climb

This test assesses your confidence and co-ordination at heights. Within a time limit, you climb a 13.5m ladder and carry out a number of tasks. You will be given the opportunity to practice at ground level before ascending two thirds of the way up, carrying out selected tasks as instructed, before descending correctly. A full safety harness is worn during this test.
Ladder Lift Simulator Test

Testing upper and lower body strength and co-ordination. Within a time limit you will raise the bar of a ladder lift simulator to the required height, with 15kg of weight placed on the simulator cradle, and then lower it safely under control.

Further detail regarding the tests is included in the Physical Assessment Guidance Note.

General exercise guidance and more information regarding the physical tests is available in the: Firefit Steering Groups' Guidance on Physical Training Preparation for National Firefighter Selection Tests.

Personal Qualities And Attributes (PQA) Interview

If you are invited to interview it will last approximately one hour. Two people will undertake the interview process, one asking questions about your experiences and the other taking full notes to ensure that a record is kept of all the examples given. Initially your interviewers will introduce themselves and talk you through the format of the interview.

As in your application form, your interviewers will investigate your experiences and how you have actually used the relevant Personal Qualities and Attributes (PQAs) that are being assessed. These areas are:

Working with Others

This is about working effectively with a variety of people, whether they are in your team or in the community.
Commitment to Excellence

This focuses on adopting a conscientious and proactive approach to work, and achieving and maintaining excellent standards.
Commitment to Development

This is about being able and committed to developing yourself and others.
Commitment to Diversity and Integrity

Focusing on understanding and respecting other people’s differences and treating people fairly and ethically.
Communicating Effectively

Looking at how effectively you deliver information verbally, make yourself understood and how you understand information.

The aim of the interview is to gather examples of when and how you have used skills that are important for potential firefighters.

Further information regarding the interview process is detailed within the Firefighter Interview Practice booklet.

Pre-Employment Screening

Medical Assessment

If you successfully complete the written tests, physical tests and interview, you are required to complete a medical assessment with our Occupational Health provider.

Along with a general examination, you will undergo the following tests:

Vision (including colour)
Hearing
Lung function
Cardio fitness (step test, minimum standard of 42 VO2)
Grip strength
Co-ordination and flexibility test
Urine test

All applicants for entry to the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service as a Firefighter must have an eyesight test undertaken by a qualified optician at their own expense. There is an Optometric Assessment Form that must be completed by the applicant and the Optician and returned to the Human Resources Department.

The eyesight standards are as follows:-

6/9 with each eye individually-unaided.
N12 at 30cm with both eyes open-unaided.
Normal visual field in each eye (as determined by confrontation techniques).
No history of nyctalopia (night blindness) or ocular disease which is likely to progress and cause subsequent failure of eyesight standards.
Appropriate level of colour vision (normally no more than two identification errors in the Ishihara set but candidates who fail this standards will be allowed to undertake more specific tests of colour vision which will be arranged by the Occupational Physician advising the Service.

You will be asked to declare any disability or impairment on your application form, and also on a health questionnaire which will be forwarded to you prior to the medical assessment. The health questionnaire is sent directly to occupational health in confidence, and will assist us in considering your fitness to perform the role of firefighter.

The medical standards are set out by Communities and Local Government (CLG), however it is the responsibility of each fire and rescue service to make a judgement on fitness and capability for the role.

With this in mind, we do not automatically exclude an individual with a disability, for example asthma or diabetes, but would consider each case on its merits. In these cases the medical takes place following the written tests, before the physical tests and interview, for practicality and to further consider feasible reasonable adjustments and capability.

Drug and Alcohol Screening

You will be required to participate in, and successfully pass a Drug and Alcohol Screening Test, which will be undertaken by our screening test providers.

References

References will only be sent for if you are successful at interview and you will need to supply details of your current and previous employer for references to be obtained.

For more information and to discover more about the Fire and Rescue Services, the following websites may be of use: http://extraordinary.direct.gov.uk