Recruitment
We are currently recruiting for on-call firefighters. Please register your details by selecting 'apply now'.
Please note: Once you’ve submitted your application, check your email inbox or junk folder for an automated reply
Apply now >
In order to apply you must be able to respond from home or work within five minutes of one of the on-call fire stations. Please check you live close enough before registering.
Candidates who do not live within the 5-minute response time will not be eligible to apply and their applications will not be progressed further than registration stage.
1. Registration
Upon registering via the apply now link you will automatically receive an e-mail containing an availability form which allows you to indicate what hours you can provide cover at your On Call station. Ideally, we are looking for candidates to be on Call between 06:00 & 18:00 or some hours between them times. We will compare all candidate’s availability form to the needs of that particular station as not all stations require the same cover.
2. Online Assessments
Once your Initial Availability Form is received and checked to ensure the hours that you can provide are beneficial to the station, you will be invited to undergo the Online Assessment Stage of the recruitment process.
The tests include mechanical, verbal reasoning and numerical tests. Please click the links below to access the online practice tests.
Mechanical FRS (tptests.com)
Verbal reasoning FRS (tptests.com)
Numerical FRS (tptests.com)
3. Assessment Centre (Interview & Role Related tests)
The Assessment Centre will be hosted at Bishop Auckland Community Fire Station (DL14 6RS) on the following dates: 4th, 5th, 6th & 9th of April. Once Candidates are invited to attend this stage, they will be able to choose their preferred date and time to attend the Assessment Centre, which normally takes candidates two hours to complete.
This stage of the recruitment process combines both the Role Related tests and the interview stage, the interview will last for approximately one hour and will be hosted by two members of CDDFRS Staff, the interview questions will be based around Firefighter Personal Quality and Attributes (PQA’s) as well as your knowledge on both the On Call Duty System and County Durham & Darlington FRS
There are 6 components to the role related test stage.
- Ladder climb
- Ladder lift
- Casualty evacuation
- Equipment carry
- Equipment assembly
- Enclosed space
Ladder climb
Ladder lift
Casualty evacuation
Equipment carry
Equipment assembly
Enclosed space
Further information on what to expect and how to prepare for the Role Related tests can be found by following the link below.
4. Fitness Test
The Fitness test is carried out at our Welfare suite which is located at our Service Headquarters within Belmont Business Park (DH1 1TW). You will be met by the service fitness advisor and will conduct a VO2 treadmill test, please see the below links to see what the test entails
What is the VO2 treadmill test? – https://youtu.be/ELY8Bo6EyJM
As part of the pre-fitness assessment health screening process, you will be required to complete a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire which asks the following questions:
- Has your doctor ever said that you have a heart condition OR high blood pressure?
- Do you feel pain in your chest at rest, during your daily activities of living, OR when you do physical activity?
- Do you lose balance because of dizziness OR have you lost consciousness in the last 12 months? Please answer NO if your dizziness was associated with over-breathing (including during vigorous exercise).
- Have you ever been diagnosed with another chronic medical condition (other than heart disease or high blood pressure)?
- Are you currently taking prescribed medications for a chronic medical condition?
- Do you currently have (or have had within the past 12 months) a bone, joint, or soft tissue muscle, ligament, or tendon) problem that could be made worse by becoming more physically active? Please answer NO if you had a problem in the past, but it does not limit your current ability to be physically active.
- Has your doctor ever said that you should only do medically supervised physical activity?
Should you feel that any of the above apply to you or if you wish to discuss further then please contact Joe Astbury - Service Health and Fitness Advisor in advance on 0191 3755652 or 07786027235. Doing this will help speed up the process should you need to be referred to Occupational Health or your G.P.
If none of the above apply then please attend your appointment at the agreed time at the Fitness Assessment Suite.
Fitness Tests will be conducted throughout the week of the 24th April, candidates are able to select their most preferred time to conduct their fitness test.
5. Medical
Our medical appointments take place on a Tuesday at our Technical Services Centre at Bowburn (Unit 7, Bowburn Industrial Estate South, DH6 5AD) please note this is not the same building as our Service Training Centre. The medical includes the following tests:
- Hearing
- Eyesight
- Lung function
- Alcohol & Drugs
Medicals will be conducted on the following dates 2nd, 9th & 16th May
6. Background checks and references
Once you have successfully completed the recruitment and selection process and subject to your ongoing availability meeting the current requirements of the station, you will be sent an offer of employment letter together with your contract. All offers made are subject to confirmation of your legal right to work in the UK, Disclosure and Barring Service Check, our receipt of references satisfactory, a fitness test and a medical (including an eyesight examination).
Following completion of the above stages your contract will commence on the 1st of June, you will then progress onto the start of your training.
Initial training
- If you are selected to join County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, whatever your educational achievements, you and other new recruits. At the commencement of your employment with the service you will undergo your Phase 1 training and will be classed as a Trainee Firefighter. You must attend the Stations’ weekly training session and either conduct Modular based training on station or attend a 5-day Foundation Course.
Once your Phase 1 training has been completed, you will be assessed by either a trainer or a member of your Divisional Management Team and when you are deemed to be safe to ride you can then respond to operational incidents as the 5th Person.
Phase 2 training:
During phase 2 training you will be required to attend the following Risk Critical courses:
Working at Height
3 days (Friday 11st, Saturday 12th Sunday 13th of August)
Road Traffic Collision (RTC)
3 days (Friday 28, Saturday 29, Sunday 30th of July)
BA Course
10 days (Candidates must attend all 10 days)
Week 1 - Monday 18th September – Friday 22nd September
Week 2 Monday 25th September – Friday 29th September)
Risk Critical training alternative dates for RDS1
Road Traffic Collision (RTC)
3 days (Friday 27th, Saturday 28th, Sunday29th October)
Working at Height
3 days (Friday 10th, Saturday 11th, Sunday 12th November.)
BA Course
10 days (Candidates must attend all 10 days)
Week 1 – Monday 11th March – Friday 15th March
Week 2 – Monday 18th March – Friday 22nd March
After completion of the above courses, you will be able to respond to operational incidents as the 4th person.
Continuous training
Once you finish phase 1 and phase 2 training you will be required to gather and record evidence to complete your development plan and become a fully competent fire fighter. Evidence gathering is done via attending operational incidents, attending drill periods, carrying out community protection and fire prevention work.