As part of the recruitment process to become an On-call (retained) Firefighter at Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, candidates must complete an application and go through a selection process. The process involves a written application, five physical tests, an interview and finally a medical for successful applicants.

If you have any questions about the process, you can hear about some of the experiences of our On-call firefighters on our YouTube channel. Otherwise, you can contact recruitment@rbfrs.co.uk for further information.

To help potential applicants prepare for the selection process, we run a series of On-call Firefighter recruitment events and ‘Have a Go’ days at fire stations across Berkshire all year round. 

• Step 1: Application
• Step 2: Physical Tests
• Step 3: Interview
• Step 4: Medical

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. 

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. 

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.

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

As part of the on-call firefighter recruitment process, you will be required to complete the following 5 physical tests that assess fitness, strength, stamina, coordination, dexterity and ability to work at height and within enclosed spaces.

This programme gives you some advice to help you improve your fitness in preparation for the physical tests. 

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is committed to equality of opportunity. If you would like information on the reasonable adjustments that can be made at this stage of the application process, please contact recruitment@rbfrs.co.uk

Candidates who successfully complete the physical tests will be invited to interview. The main aim of the interview is to find out about you and your motivation to become an On-call firefighter. The interview will be conducted by two people who will take it in turns to ask you questions about you and your experience, taking a set of notes to ensure a record is kept of the examples you give.

Interview questions will be behavioural based, during the interview you will be asked to give examples of when and how you have demonstrated the behaviours that are important for potential firefighters, in line with RBFRS’ Behavioural Competency Framework. You should answer based on your personal experience. More information about the interview structure and how to prepare will be sent to those invited for the interview. During this stage of the process, you will also be invited to complete online functional skills tests that will enable you to demonstrate your knowledge and skills applicable to the role (e.g. English and Maths).

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is committed to equality of opportunity. If you would like information on the reasonable adjustments that can be made at this stage of the application process, please contact recruitment@rbfrs.co.uk.

All On-call applicants successful at interview are required to undergo a medical examination. It is for the Fire Authority’s Occupational Health Physician to decide whether an individual is fit to undertake firefighting duties, allowing for any reasonable adjustments that may be made in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Minimum eyesight standards must be met. Corrected visual acuity should be 6/9 binocularly, and a minimum of 6/12 in the worse eye. The minimum uncorrected vision for recruits should be 6/18 in the better eye and 6/24 for the worse. There is an upper hypermetropic (long-sighted) limit of +3.00, and colour vision must reach the required standard. Hearing and lung function will also be tested and you will undergo screening for use of illegal drugs and alcohol misuse as part of your medical.

If you have any of the following conditions you should consider carefully whether the nature of the work and the attendance pattern, (which includes the possibility of very long hours at major incidents), would be detrimental to your health:-

• Significant joint injury or disease, especially if it affects the back or knees.
• A chronic respiratory problem, e.g. asthma.
• A history of hypertension, diabetes, epilepsy, cardiac or circulatory disease.
• Contact dermatitis, psoriasis or eczema.
• Vertigo, claustrophobia or acrophobia (fear of heights).

Your medical records from your General Practitioner will be required, for which you will be asked to give consent at the appropriate time.

You will also be required to undergo a Chester Step Test.The Chester Step Test is a 12 minute graded, treadmill walk test designed to assess whether or not a candidate can achieve the firefighter fitness standard of 42mls O ₂ /kg/min.

• Chester Step Treadmill Test
• Chester Step Information.