Please introduce yourself, describe your role or position within your current workplace and an overview of your responsibilities.
I am Eddie Roberts and my company, Firecode Training limited, provides fire risk management services to healthcare organisations. I work as an Independent External Advice (Authorising Engineer) with healthcare organisations. My role is varied but there are three main aspects to it;
- I work with NHS Trusts and other healthcare providers to monitor the performance of their fire risk management system and provide reports to the Trusts Board.
- I also support healthcare Fire Safety Manager’s to assess and appoint Fire Safety Advisors/Authorised Persons which is the key technical fire role within the Estates engineering team, and
- I provide professional support on the application of healthcare technical fire safety standards and fire strategies
- I also deliver professional development courses for Fire Safety Advisors (Authorised Person (Fire)).
Please explain your volunteer role and what inspired you to become an IFE volunteer?
I am currently the lead examiner for the IFE’s Level 3 Award in Fire Safety which focuses on fire safety issues in relation to the built environment, covering methods of construction and methods for detecting and protecting buildings and people from fire. I also support the Eng Tech review process.
My role is to work with the IFE team and two other examiners, Neil Gibbins and Tony Lawson, to ensure that the question paper is based on the syllabus and it meets the educational standards for a level 3 qualification. Twice a year, we work with the IFE team to standardise, the examination papers and then mark them. At the end of the process, we produce an examination report to support prospective candidates understand what is required for the Level 3 examination.
My main reason for becoming a volunteer was to actively support people who want to access professional development. There are lots of ways you can do that but working with the team and with experienced examiners and learning from them really appealed to me.
What do you find most enjoyable about being an IFE volunteer?
I really enjoy the following:
- Working with the IFE team setting standards in relation to question setting for the papers and moving the papers on-line.
- peer review of applications for Eng Tech
- Sharing knowledge and expertise to help others develop and qualify
- Raising the profile of fire engineering and inspiring the next generation of fire professionals
- An opportunity to use my experience and knowledge to develop the IFE community to raise awareness and support educational opportunities.
How does being part of the IFE volunteering community benefit you (i.e. career, personally)?
Personally, I have met a lot of lovely people who are very happy to share their knowledge and experiences and who are very supportive. It’s the ad hoc conversations that are often the most productive. Working with different people in a close supportive environment allows you to gain insight into aspects of the fire profession that you may not be aware of. And sharing ideas and insights is always helpful!
What skills, insights or knowledge have you gained through volunteering?
Being an examiner has meant that I have to ensure that my professional knowledge, skills and understanding are to the standard required. That gives an edge to my professional development and reflective practice as I need to ensure that I have maintained alignment to the professional standards. To that end I need to ensure that I maintain a spread of development activity across active, passive systems and fire risk management systems. One of the best things has been how gaining knowledge and understanding regarding how examination systems and marking scheme’s function.
How do volunteers like you help shape the future of fire safety?
There are so many ways that volunteers help shape the future of fire safety. As a member led organisation we can help shape professional standards and competencies, create and maintain qualifications to support future professional registration (eg Engineering Council)and mentoring and developing future professionals.