Summary
We have an opportunity for 2 x Home Safety Assistants to join our Home Safety team based at Service Headquarters.
The available roles are:
1. 22.2 hours per week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday), Fixed Term Contract until 24 August 2026 to provide cover for the secondment of the substantive post holder.
2. 22.2 hours per week (days to be discussed with the successful candidate), Fixed term contract for 12 months to cover for the temporary promotion of the substantive post holder.
In return, you will receive a competitive salary of £29540 - £32061(gross) pro rata per annum. This equates to £17,724 - £19,236.60 (gross) per annum for 22.2 hours per week.
Our vision is that together, we will work to end preventable fire and rescue emergencies, creating a safer world for you and your family. Keeping people safe is what we do, and we owe our fantastic reputation to our highly skilled and motivated workforce.
Find out more
About the Home Safety Assistant role:
You will manage and prioritise the diaries for over 30 Home Safety Technicians for home safety visits, replacement alarms and arson letterbox requests, and liaise with other Departments and external agencies where required.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is an Emergency Service, and this is a very busy role which involves conversations with very vulnerable members of the community, some of which can be distressing. In order to prioritise risks and book Home Safety visits accordingly, we need people who are experienced and confident with this type of role.
Find out more:
Key responsibilities as a Home Safety Assistant:
3. Act as the first point of contact for members of the public and partner agencies to process and action any requests for Home Safety Visits for the most vulnerable members of the community.
4. Act as the first point of contact for Home Safety Technicians regarding changes to their workloads / schedules, to provide information on points of contact and any additional safety information required.
5. Manage phone calls to and from extremely vulnerable members of the community, some of which are distressing, in a calm, reassuring and professional manner.
6. Control and Monitor the FireKills email inbox and ensure each request is actioned appropriately and in line with required deadlines.
7. Use agreed criteria and processes to determine eligibility of highly vulnerable occupants for a home safety visit with an appropriately trained Technician, while also having the authority to use professional judgement to override these criteria and processes when risks are apparent from the initial contact, whether this is over the phone or via written correspondence and arrange a home safety visit. Provide appropriate safety advice, signposting and information to members of the public who are not eligible for a visit.
8. Manage and update the Home Safety systems and other essential Community Safety IT based systems quickly and accurately, and in accordance with GDPR requirements.
9. To ensure occupants safety by using agreed criteria, processes, and professional judgement, with sensitive and confidential personal information which is received to escalate issues to the Safeguarding Team or Business Safety and to update ORIS information as necessary.
What we are looking for in our Home Safety Assistant:
10. Good Academic background
11. Knowledge of basic office systems and procedures
12. Willingness to undergo Vetting/Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks as required by the Service
13. Ability to work effectively and efficiently on own initiative as well as a member of a busy team, taking responsibility for personal performance and responding to feedback
14. Good listening and questioning skills
15. Flexible and facilitative approach
16. A commitment to continuous improvement
17. Ability to work under conditions where you are interrupted on a regular basis
How to apply
Closing date: 2359hrs 4 March 2026
If you feel you have the skills and experience to become our Home Safety Assistant please click 'apply' today, we would love to hear from you. Please note, previous applicants need not apply.
How to apply:
You will be required to complete an application form and submit a supporting statement. As part of your supporting statement please ensure you provide evidence of how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role detailed in the Job Description and Person Specification. The evidence provided will be used to shortlist applications received.
18. Ability to interpret and appropriately act on guidance / procedures.
19. Excellent telephone manner; ability to create rapport with client/situation and to determine appropriate need exercising appropriate levels of empathy/patience when dealing with vulnerable callers.
20. Two years’ experience of dealing with members of the public both face to face and on the telephone; ideally experience in dealing with vulnerable groups.
21. Experience of handling conflict/hostile situations with customers.
22. Ability to work effectively and efficiently on own initiative as well as a member of a busy team, taking responsibility for personal performance and responding to feedback.
23. Ability to work under conditions where you are interrupted on a regular basis.
To help you complete this part of the application form please find attached below the word document “Home Safety Assistant – Shortlisting Evidence” for you to download and complete with your evidence for the above criteria. You can then upload this document where requested when completing your application.
Please note the evidence that you upload to your application should not exceed 2000 words in total.
Evidence submitted in relation to the essential criteria above will be used to shortlist any applications received.
Our values
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and all employees must share this commitment and adhere to the Services Safeguarding Policy.
Fire and Rescue Authority roles are listed in Schedule 1 of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order and as such it is our policy to require all applicants to disclose any criminal convictions (both spent and unspent) including driving offences, cautions and reprimands.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority are committed to the rehabilitation of offenders, as such any positive disclosures will incorporate a reasonable and proportionate response.
As a Service and as individuals:
24. We are proud to help
25. We are honest
26. We are respectful
27. We are working together
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service recognise and celebrate the vast diversity of the local communities that we serve, and we aspire for this to be reflected in our workforce. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, experience and beliefs, who share our values to consider working for us.