The SFE - Doc 20 Beccles Firefighter
Suffolk County Council
Fire Service
To Sub Officer
055
KES/HR6.1/MLA
DCFO Seager
(01473) 588939
27th May 1997
Dear Sub Officer,
TRANSFERS IN THE RANK OF SUB OFFICER
I thought it might be sensible to write to you following recent events surrounding the potential transfer of sub officers from operations into specialist day-duty posts.
Our general strategy on promotional appointments to Sub Officer rank is that, wherever possible, such appointments are made to operational posts. It follows that where sub officer vacancies do not arise in operational posts, some thought must be given to transferring existing Sub Officers from Operations into specialist posts to create vacancies in the right places to give effect to our general strategy.
Why should this be?
Substantive promotions, as you are aware, are subject to a six month assessment period immediately after appointment. The purpose of this period is to monitor the performance of the individual “on the job” so that weaknesses can be identified and addressed by proper training and encouragement. Promotion examinations, tests and interviews only give an indication of the likely abilities of a candidate after all, and it is clearly wise to make a final judgement after a period of real experience.
It is, in my view, important that wherever possible the assessment period is used to assess the performance of the newly promoted individual in the most demanding area of a Sub Officers work, i.e. operational incident and watch management. There is a risk, if promotions were made first to posts elsewhere than in Operations, that appointments might be confirmed, only for it to be found later that the individual lacks the essential qualities required for incident and watch management. This may prove to be difficult, if not impossible, to put right after the passage of some years already in the rank.
Additionally, there is compelling evidence to show that a Sub Officer in either Fire safety or Training brings to that post invaluable experience, which he or she has gained from first holding an operational appointment.
Finally, there can be no argument, surely, that a broader range of experience at sub Officer level increases professionalism, makes for a more rounded individual, and enhances promotion prospects beyond Sub Officer for those that seek them.
For these reasons, it seems sensible for me to continue with a general strategy of transfers between Operations and specialist posts at appropriate intervals. You should note, however, that it is not possible to predict the duration of transfers with any accuracy due to all sorts of factors, some outside of our control, which can affect it. I shall be discouraging officers in the future from making any predictions, or hints, as to the likely duration of any transfer.
The purpose of this letter is to spell out why I believe this approach is both to the individual’s and to the brigade’s long term benefit and to put you on notice that a permanent appointment to an operational post at Sub Officer rank cannot be taken as an inalienable right. Those who, like you (unless your appointment was a very long time ago) have accepted offers of promotion to sub Officer rank must understand that, sooner or later, a transfer to a specialist post for a period of time is almost certain. It is important for you to realise that your personal circumstances should always have regard to this as a possibility, otherwise you are in danger of being unable to fulfil your contract with us on the terms you agreed when you accepted promotion.
Please do not take this letter as a threat. That is not my intention at all. It is an honest attempt to spell out for everybody’s benefit the clear message about promotion and transfers.
If you would like to discuss anything in this letter with me in more detail, I’d be delighted to hear from you
Yours sincerely
K. E. Seager,
Deputy County Fire Officer
Fire Service
To Sub Officer
055
KES/HR6.1/MLA
DCFO Seager
(01473) 588939
27th May 1997
Dear Sub Officer,
TRANSFERS IN THE RANK OF SUB OFFICER
I thought it might be sensible to write to you following recent events surrounding the potential transfer of sub officers from operations into specialist day-duty posts.
Our general strategy on promotional appointments to Sub Officer rank is that, wherever possible, such appointments are made to operational posts. It follows that where sub officer vacancies do not arise in operational posts, some thought must be given to transferring existing Sub Officers from Operations into specialist posts to create vacancies in the right places to give effect to our general strategy.
Why should this be?
Substantive promotions, as you are aware, are subject to a six month assessment period immediately after appointment. The purpose of this period is to monitor the performance of the individual “on the job” so that weaknesses can be identified and addressed by proper training and encouragement. Promotion examinations, tests and interviews only give an indication of the likely abilities of a candidate after all, and it is clearly wise to make a final judgement after a period of real experience.
It is, in my view, important that wherever possible the assessment period is used to assess the performance of the newly promoted individual in the most demanding area of a Sub Officers work, i.e. operational incident and watch management. There is a risk, if promotions were made first to posts elsewhere than in Operations, that appointments might be confirmed, only for it to be found later that the individual lacks the essential qualities required for incident and watch management. This may prove to be difficult, if not impossible, to put right after the passage of some years already in the rank.
Additionally, there is compelling evidence to show that a Sub Officer in either Fire safety or Training brings to that post invaluable experience, which he or she has gained from first holding an operational appointment.
Finally, there can be no argument, surely, that a broader range of experience at sub Officer level increases professionalism, makes for a more rounded individual, and enhances promotion prospects beyond Sub Officer for those that seek them.
For these reasons, it seems sensible for me to continue with a general strategy of transfers between Operations and specialist posts at appropriate intervals. You should note, however, that it is not possible to predict the duration of transfers with any accuracy due to all sorts of factors, some outside of our control, which can affect it. I shall be discouraging officers in the future from making any predictions, or hints, as to the likely duration of any transfer.
The purpose of this letter is to spell out why I believe this approach is both to the individual’s and to the brigade’s long term benefit and to put you on notice that a permanent appointment to an operational post at Sub Officer rank cannot be taken as an inalienable right. Those who, like you (unless your appointment was a very long time ago) have accepted offers of promotion to sub Officer rank must understand that, sooner or later, a transfer to a specialist post for a period of time is almost certain. It is important for you to realise that your personal circumstances should always have regard to this as a possibility, otherwise you are in danger of being unable to fulfil your contract with us on the terms you agreed when you accepted promotion.
Please do not take this letter as a threat. That is not my intention at all. It is an honest attempt to spell out for everybody’s benefit the clear message about promotion and transfers.
If you would like to discuss anything in this letter with me in more detail, I’d be delighted to hear from you
Yours sincerely
K. E. Seager,
Deputy County Fire Officer
posted by Bert Blythburgh at 12:13 AM
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