Benefits of working for us

The leave entitlement for each employee group is as follows:

Support employees - Annual leave ranges from 24 to 27 days depending on the grade of the role. Following 5 years continuous local government service this increases by an additional 5 days. You will also be entitled to all statutory bank holidays.

Wholetime Duty System / Command and Control - 30 days annual leave and all statutory bank holidays. Following 5 years service you will also be entitled to an additional 3 days of leave.

On-call System - Employees who provide on-call cover over 7 days per week are entitled to 36 days annual leave. Following 5 years continuous local government service this increases to 43 days. These entitlements include statutory bank holidays. For those employees providing less than 7 days per week cover the entitlement will calculated on a pro-rata basis for the number of days on-call cover is provided.

Early in 2018 DFRS were proud to open a new Joint Training Centre (JTC) with Derbyshire Constabulary located near our Ripley Headquarters, providing training to new and existing employees, designed to help both services work more closely and effectively together.

Within DFRS we have an extensive and dedicated People and Organisational Development portfolio to support employees with development and progression during their career with us.

All employees have regular meetings with their line manager and an annual review to discuss their successes and development needs.

There are development opportunities for all employees within DFRS and this includes the option of gaining relevant qualifications.

Tax-Free Childcare - for further information please visit www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/tax-free-childcare.

The aim of the association is to encourage and support employees to participate in all sports within DFRS. Funding may be available to facilitate competitions. Membership is open to all employees.

DFRS have established a number of network support groups, with the purpose of employees being able to meet and raise issues of common interest, share experiences, views and ideas, as well as consulting on Service’s policies and procedures and being able to feed back.

Offering advice and support to each other and building better relations within the organisation is a key part of networks’ role. Networks are open to any member of staff who supports the aims and values of an individual network.

Currently, employees can access the following network:

• LGBT+ & Allies Network
• Gender Support Network
• Dyslexia Support Network
• Wellbeing Support Network
• Multi-Cultural Network
• Chaplains Network

Out of the 180,000 charities in the United Kingdom, the Fire Fighters Charity is listed in the top 100 and offers a number of professional services to fire service employees and their families.The Charity has three centres in Devon, Cumbria and West Sussex and these offer a range of support programmes which include rehabilitation and recuperation to members of the fire and rescue community in times of need. To aid emotional recuperation the Charity also offers one or two week breaks designed to help those who have suffered injury, illness, stress or bereavement.

The Charity offers support services across the UK for the whole fire community, assisting in excess of 17,000 individuals every year. This community includes firefighters, support employees, and retired employees, as well as dependents. Further information is available at www.firefighterscharity.org.uk.

All employees have access to an employee discount scheme providing savings at hundreds of retailers, including supermarkets, restaurants, cinema, DIY, holidays and electronics, to name a few.

DFRS recognises the importance of achieving a good work-life balance and has policies which offer family friendly working arrangements to all employees. These include annualised hours, term time contracts and job share.

A flexi time scheme is available to support employees.

Recognising the importance of making access to work easier and convenient, free car parking is available on site to all employees at all DFRS premises.

There are many factors, both inside and outside of work, which can impact on our health and wellbeing including lifestyle, relationships, finance, genetics and the physical environment. 

The Service recognises this and offers all employees access to a range of services to support them in achieving and maintaining good physical, financial and mental health and wellbeing:

• Gym facilities
• An in-house Occupational Health Department
• Pro-active health campaigns and advice
• A Fitness Advisor
• A comprehensive external Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Blue Light Champions
• Chaplaincy Service

All employees are eligible to join a pension scheme, which scheme is dependent upon the post.

All Support / Control and Control employees are eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Wholetime / Retained Duty System employees are eligible to join the New Firefighters Pension Scheme.

We recognise the following trade unions at DFRS:

• UNISON (Support Employees)
• Fire Brigades Union
• Fire and rescue Services Association

DFRS and the unions work in partnership to support lifelong learning. We also have access to library resources based at the Fire Service College.

WFS is an independent voluntary group who aim to contribute to making the Fire and Rescue Service a place where men and women can work together professionally and harmoniously. For more information, please visit http://www.nwfs.net.