Gateway Outcomes

This promotion gateway aims to assess the potential of candidates across the range of skills, personal qualities and attributes common to the range of jobs in that role ‘family’. Those successful are judged to have shown sufficient potential for either temporary, or substantive promotion to any of the jobs in that role ‘family’ e.g. Station Commander or Group Commander. The pool of candidates successful at the gateway may still undergo a further job specific interview before promotion and whilst the gateway will be scored, candidates will not be appointed based solely on their ranking order.

Assignment decisions are made by the Service and will be based on a review of skills, knowledge, experience and performance during the selection
process. Assignment is based on best fit and suitability for the role rather than on the rank order and scores from the promotion board process.
An external candidate who is not offered a post immediately will remain in the promotion pool until the next formal promotion board process – typically 12 months, where they will be offered the opportunity to participate within the next process. Internal candidates not offered a post within 12 months of being in the promotion pool will undertake a professional discussion to remain.

Applicants successful at the selection process will be required to gain pre-employment clearances, including a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance and pass a Service Medical and Fitness Test before appointment will be offered.

They may be required to serve at any location in the Service. Relocation assistance may be available to the successful candidate (details available on request). Successful applicants will be required to undertake a probationary period of 6 months and those successful on promotion will also be required to satisfactorily complete the relevant Development Programme (for Crew or Watch Manager).

If an individual in the promotion pool becomes subject to a disciplinary sanction, their position within the pool will be suspended until the sanction has been spent. Depending on the nature and severity of the sanction, discretion may also be applied to remove candidates from the promotion pool.

All applicants will be entitled to feedback on their performance at the end of the gateway process.

Internal candidates successful at the gateway process with non station based Watch Manager experience only may be offered WM operational experience in charge of a Fire Station Watch as part of their development outcome.