New on-call firefighter shares her 'challenging but enjoyable' training experience

A new on-call firefighter has shared her experience of recently completing the ‘challenging but enjoyable’ core skills training.

We are currently recruiting new on-call firefighters across Staffordshire, and we've spoken to Andrea Valentine, who has recently joined us.

Andrea works as a Operating Department Practitioner at a hospital, which she says has lots of transferrable skills to being a firefighter.

She enrolled as an on-call firefighter at Ipstones only five months ago and since then has been working hard to complete her core skills training.

Andrea said: "I've always fancied being a firefighter so when I moved to Ipstones it was the perfect opportunity to give something back to the local community.

"I've recently completed my core skills training which involved the bleep test first, which went really well, then we do the job-related tasks such as climbing ladders, doing a leg lock and being in confined spaces.

"Those tasks really test your physical and motor skills and give you an idea as to what to expect on the job. I really enjoyed doing the pump training in particular and despite me not finding it easy, climbing ladders in the wind was really good fun."

New on-call recruits spend around four hours a week on the core skills training, which is complete at around the 20-week mark.

Once core skills is complete, recruits are then 'in development' for 12 months, and this is where Andrea is now with her training.

Andrea said: "The key focus is on ensuring you can carry out tasks safely so that now, if I got called to a fire, I could run a hose reel off or throw up a ladder.

"I would encourage anyone currently going through or looking to start the training to really look after themselves as well as focusing on what you are there to achieve.

"I feel really proud to be an on-call firefighter at Ipstones and to serve the local community. I love getting involved and would encourage anyone interested to come and have a chat with us."

Anyone over the age of 18, who lives or works close to an on-call station can apply to become an on-call firefighter, and all applicants will go through the same recruitment and training process.

To find out more about the role and to apply, visit On-call firefighter recruitment.