Additional Qualifications

[Carl]

I often get emails and messages through the forum from existing firefighters asking about additional qualifications, excluding the IFEs and promotional exams. The ones I get questioned about are usually anything from Disaster Management to Degrees in Leadership and Management. 

Im probably too close to retirement to undertake anything like this, but I am sure it will interest those thinking about doing a bit of studying for additional qualifications.

I wouldn't even know where to look for subjects that could be studied as part of distance learning. 

Has anyone undertaken some additional study and gained a decent qualification, job related of course?

[Becile]

Carl,

I suspect it’s also linked to what various services required of their people at various levels.

Some example: 

for us required as you progress-  iosh, nebosh, leadership and management lvls 3 then 5 then 6 . IFE to progress all ranks to name but a few, none self funded though.

[Noddy]

All my qualifications are FI related but I’ve been lucky enough to get an MSc, and more recently become a Chartered Forensic Practitioner with Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences.  Problem I have is that my qualifications are very specialised so outside of FI I’m useless 😂😂

[Desserts]

Qualifications are a bit lucky dip depending on your brigade. County brigades seem to be happy to invest in their staff compared to metropolitan brigades.

A friend who's WM in Northampton via his brigade has A1 assessors, G&C confined space 6150 range of quals, working at height and rope rescue to name a few.

As WM in London and former FRU I have done all the same training and had all the same responsibilities but the LFB didn't qualify me or any others in similar roles in any recognised qualification. I now only have qualifications because I've put my hand in my pocket and invested in myself. I've now got CAVA assessors, Teaching qualification, tunnel entry and rescue, confined space and rescue. All qualification skills that I used and was trained in in the fire service but not qualified.

This is all a touch frustrating when you retire and realise your 30 year skill set is worthless unless you spend your own money to prove skills and qualification.

I will say for anyone who is planning or needs to work in retirement, start planning and investing in yourself before you retire so that you can hit the ground running. A friend who was a Chief super in the Met police had exactly the same issue when he retired when he tried to use all his event and crowd management skills, he had to pay for his own quals!

[Aspire]

1 hour ago, Desserts said:

As WM in London and former FRU I have done all the same training and had all the same responsibilities but the LFB didn't qualify me or any others in similar roles in any recognised qualification.

All soon to change, or so I am led to believe. We now have the apprenticeship scheme and some roles have access to Level 3 Award in Education and Training which I recently completed. I should also be doing the Cava soon.

Its an absolute travesty it has taken so long to start talking about and actually getting real world qualifications for our people!

[Becile]

Wow I didn’t realise that, I have nationally recognised qualifications coming out of my ears,(lots of in house ones not worth the paper they are written on 🤐) glad your services are trying readdress the balance, also makes employees feel invested in, rather than used for a purpose.

[Messyshaw]

4 hours ago, Desserts said:

I will say for anyone who is planning or needs to work in retirement, start planning and investing in yourself before you retire so that you can hit the ground running. A friend who was a Chief super in the Met police had exactly the same issue when he retired when he tried to use all his event and crowd management skills, he had to pay for his own quals!

I had a similar issue when I applied for the job that I do now. It's mainly a fire safety role, with a commitment to be part of a crisis management team as and when.

I had no qualifications that are recognised outside in the real world. But I had extensive Ops experience as well as time in a LFB Staff team (who attend jobs in a command role). I had also had time in FI (and a couple of FI courses including presenting a FI lecture at Moreton) and finished my career in a busy FS team. My move to fire safety was part of my pre retirement plan as Desserts suggest and has paid dividends 

Anyway  I blagged my way in to the job by admitting no recognisable qualifications, but instead used the diversity of experience as my USP. I also committed to obtaining a formal FS qualification. I was lucky perhaps as such a plan B isn't always available, so I am pleased that the fire service are hopefully moving forward in developing their staff 

[Desserts]

4 hours ago, Aspire said:

All soon to change, or so I am led to believe. We now have the apprenticeship scheme and some roles have access to Level 3 Award in Education and Training which I recently completed. I should also be doing the Cava soon.

Its an absolute travesty it has taken so long to start talking about and actually getting real world qualifications for our people!

What leaves a bitter taste for me was being on the receiving end of a discipline case before I retired for basically not assessing training properly, the brigades policy stating that managers should have what was A1 assessors but not actually giving them the training. This became a farce when I appealed, won my appeal and the AC chairing the appeal made recommendation based on the failures of the first investigation and hearing. On principal I went to appeal even though the hearing was after retirement!

Cava and Level 3 award in E&T qualification cost me about £1000 to complete privately. I saw the cost as an investment in my own future!

3 hours ago, Becile said:

Wow I didn’t realise that, I have nationally recognised qualifications coming out of my ears,(lots of in house ones not worth the paper they are written on 🤐) glad your services are trying readdress the balance, also makes employees feel invested in, rather than used for a purpose.

Even the LFB's first aid (IEC) qualification is not recognised out side the LFB. Unfortunately the LFB won't pay for course registration and certification with awarding bodies.

[Rory-495]

We have had this issue where one of our FF queried whether the LAS provided IEC course could be used outside of the job for her second employment. Unfortunately as stated there is no accreditation or certification. I know its not the intended purpose and can't really moan that you can't use the qualification outside for your second job, but it seems odd that you can go out and get a St John's 1 day certificate for your job but 5 days training by LAS can't be transferred