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JILL MCMANUS of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) provided an update on the national firefighter selection tests, due to be rolled out to fire services shortly.
Selection tools, job-specification tests and guidance have been developed, she said, because current selection procedures are seen as inconsistent and inadequate. The various components include:
• a pre-selection tool – designed to ensure that applicants are suited to the job
• psychological tests – these cover personal qualities and attributes, understanding information, situ-ational awareness, etc
• physical fitness tests – ladder climb, ladder lift, manual dexterity, casualty evacuation, enclosed space working and equipment carry
The selection tools were completed in July 2005 and piloted in several fire services over the summer. ODPM will look at the findings from these trials when taking the tests forward next year. In addition, ODPM has recently consulted on the firefighter selection and assessment development centre processes for operational and control managers in the service.
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