Fire Control Operator Review

A Fire Control Room Operator handles emergency calls, mobilises resources, manages incidents, and supports operations. They monitor systems, communicate with agencies, maintain logs, and make quick decisions. The role requires calmness under pressure, teamwork, technical skills, and excellent communication, working in shifts to ensure 24/7 coverage.

I find the apprenticeship programme quite difficult to follow as we do not attend college so all of the work is completed during my days on shift which can be difficult to complete when we are very busy in the control room. I also feel like there wasn't much guidance initially when beginning the programme and the forms required were not emailed to me from the college until a good while after starting so I was spending a lot of time catching up on recording my off the job hours onto the correct form as I had been recording these on my own word document whilst waiting to receive the forms. I meet with my Assessor once every 3 months approximately and it is very difficult to book these meetings in due to each of our diaries clashing quite often and myself working shifts/weekends and also how busy it is in the control room. Sometimes I struggle to understand what is expected of me on the apprenticeship side as little guidance has been given.

I receive huge support from my employer with regards to my job role. The rest of my colleagues on my watch help me daily with new tasks. I am able to shadow my colleagues and there are numerous reference documents to access which can help me. My manager does allow me the time to complete my apprentice paperwork however the control room is incredibly busy so quite often has to be put on hold until later. A lot of the apprenticeship paperwork I complete is when I am on nightshift in the early hours of the morning which isn't ideal but I find its the only time I can complete this with minimal disruption. I am counted as part of a watch of 3 therefore it isn't possible for me to move to another location within Headquarters to complete this work, it all has to be completed within the control room whilst carrying out my role.

As stated I meet with my Assessor once every 3 months approximately. When we meet we go over the necessary paperwork and the meetings go really well however I feel in-between the meetings I am quite alone when it comes to completing the apprenticeship and don't really have anyone to answer any queries I may have. I do have another 3 colleagues completing the same apprenticeship within the control room however we are on different watches so can be difficult to ask each other but we do always confer with each other if we have queries but this can only be done quickly during handovers or via email.

I don't think it will help me perform any better as I'm learning my role through my employment however I think the qualification will be good to have.

Yes

Very good organisation to work for and I feel like a very valued member of staff,