Job Title: Fire risk assessor
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £54,523.73 per annum
Working Hours: 35 Hours per week
Working Pattern: Monday-Friday
Location: London
If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact at Riverside, please ensure you attach a current CV and covering letter. At Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the essential criteria on the job description.
Please note that whilst we will accept applications on the basis of any form of valid legal permission to work in the UK, we will be surrendering the Riverside Sponsorship licence, so for the avoidance of doubt, we are unable to apply for any further sponsorships whether on behalf of existing colleagues or candidates.
The difference you’ll make as a Fire Risk Assessor
You will deliver an excellent fire risk assessment service within residential properties and properties where Building Safety has responsibility. To undertake surveys and to follow these up to ensure we adhere to health and safety, legislation and TRG procedures. To take a co-operative lead in the strategic direction and delivery of the fire risk assessment programme. To ensure best practice methods are used in the execution of the fire risk assessments. To be fully responsible for the quality of fire risk assessment services and to keep up to date with current fire safety legislation and guidance, applying this knowledge to all assessments. This role reports directly to the Lead Fire Risk Assessor.
About you
We are looking for someone with:
- Experience of Working as a fire risk assessor for residential housing and care and support schemes and evidence of applying BS9792:2025 and PAS 79-1.
- Minimum practical experience of undertaking 20+ fire risk assessments in low to moderate risk buildings and at least 12 months relevant experience.
- Ability to carry out site visits and physical inspections of work, including accessing loft spaces by means of ladders.
- High understanding of risk mitigation and how it should be applied.
Why Riverside?
At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives.
We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.
Working with us, you’ll enjoy:
- Competitive pay & generous pension
- 28 days holidays plus bank holidays
- Flexible working options available
- Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
- A wide range of benefits
Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside:
We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues.
Riverside is a Disability Confident Employer and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for any applicant who declares they have a disability. If the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the role (as set out in the role profile and/or person specification) they will be guaranteed an interview.
Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.
We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the criteria on the job description, at Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience.
- Role Profile
- To carry out a type 1, 3 and 4 fire risk assessment programme in residential properties, care and support schemes, and in properties where Building Safety has responsibility such as community halls, offices, warehouses and workshops.
- Identify hazards and risks associated with fire in general and specialist buildings and processes.
- Report fire risk issues including any directly related to awareness of reporting arrangements for residents and occupants.
- Evaluate existing fire risk assessments including appropriateness for the risk.
- Audit management of fire safety systems. Recommend controls to manage residual risks, including where necessary in higher risk situations temporary controls that might be required until a permanent control is implemented.
- Liaise with the Senior Fire Safety Manager (FRA) and Lead Fire Risk Assessor to deliver risk assessments in line with the Fire Safety Management System.
- Management and coordination of contractors on site, required to support destructive inspections as part of the type 4 fire risk assessment process.
- Ensuring that all making good of intrusive survey complies to fire safety standards and is of a high quality.
- Provide concise but sufficiently detailed fire risk assessments for all type 1, 3 and 4 assessments.
- To carry out surveys as per the fire risk assessment programme and following any major works carried out on properties.
- To carry out pre-occupation and post-occupation surveys as part of the handover process for new build properties.
- Carry out inspections of all new build properties to ensure they comply with the Regulatory
Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Building Regulations and other associated legislation.
- During or following assessments - provide advice to managers and staff to assist them in the fulfilment of their responsibilities and therefore organisational compliance with legislative requirements and where appropriate internal standards and best practice. Such advice should be pragmatic, presenting achievable options to eliminate or sufficiently mitigate risk.
- To conduct site visits to liaise with residents where appropriate to the benefit of TRG.
- To support and provide advice to frontline workers in carrying out person-centered fire risk assessments (PCFRA) personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPS) on residents identified as needing support in an evacuation.
- To keep abreast of relevant fire safety related legislation and good practice, in order to provide advice to enhance compliance and maintain fire risk assessor competency requirements through training and updates of legislation.
- To carry out post inspections and quality assurance, including necessary remedial action following fire risk assessments.
- Support the Head of Fire Risk Surveying, Senior Fire Safety Manager (FRA) and Lead Fire Risk Assessor to manage the completion of fire safety actions in terms of management of the delivery of required works via the contractor.
- To investigate and report on all fire incidents and provide recommendations to improve fire safety
- To develop and maintain effective internal relationships creating a supporting and assisting attitude to foster and promote a positive risk management and safety culture, maintaining the highest possible internal and external customer satisfaction.
Person Specification
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential
- Experience of Working as a fire risk assessor for residential housing and care and support schemes and evidence of applying BS9792:2025 and PAS 79-1.
- Minimum practical experience of undertaking 20+ fire risk assessments in low to moderate risk buildings and at least 12 months relevant experience.
- Ability to carry out site visits and physical inspections of work, including accessing loft spaces by means of ladders.
- High understanding of risk mitigation and how it should be applied.
- NEBOSH Fire Certificate/Diploma or Certified in Applied Fire Risk Assessment (previously FRA and Fire Safety Management) or equivalent.
- EQF level 3-4 i.e. Level 4 Diploma in Fire Safety or equivalent, ASFP Level 3 in Passive Fire Protection or equivalent.
- Membership of Third Party Accreditation Scheme such as BAFE, LPCB, IFE or equivalent.
- In depth knowledge of Fire & Building/Structural Safety within Social Housing, including government and industry guidance, British Standards, building regulations and the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
- High levels of literacy and excellent communication skills with a diverse range of people and ability to co-ordinate and manage internal and external stakeholders, including statutory organisations, with good presentation skills.
- An awareness of personal emergency evacuation plans and who they are for and when they should be used and an understanding of the different types of evacuation strategies including simultaneous evacuation, stay put, progressive horizontal evacuation and zoned/staged evacuation.
- Customer focused with an ability to present reports and data and to clearly explain to and influence a wide range of people in regard to fire safety and its management.
- Ability to use various IT systems and tablet platforms, to be able to interrogate database information to produce risk-based programmes of works. Ability to update the database as work items are completed.
- Excellent team player with the ability to work under pressure, deliver to strict deadlines and manage conflicting priorities.
Desirable
- Minimum of 2 - 3 years relevant experience of undertaking fire risk assessments, with demonstrable experience in residential fire risk assessments.
- Experience of working for a BAFE SP205 accredited organisation.
- Experience in the maintenance and testing of fire safety systems and record keeping.
