Hyper Links

Should be an operational member of the F&RS with at least 8 years service remaining in order to ensure continuity with the dog’s anticipated working life of 10 years.  This also goes for the post holder who will need approx 3 to 4 years working with urban search & rescue dogs to become a reasonable experienced handler in this role.

Must possess a full driving licence and have the ability to pass an emergency fire appliance, blue light course to be able to respond to incidents.

Preferably have experience in the USAR environment or must possess detailed knowledge or be prepared to learn these skills.

It is advisable to select a person who has had some experience with dogs, present or past.
 

The post holder must have the ability or be able to quickly acquire knowledge of the procedures and techniques for training an Urban Search & Rescue Dog.
 

The post holder must be prepared to attend training programmes and certification testing anywhere in the country on a regular basis. (Which will include residential elements) as detailed by the F&RS USAR dog team, lead officer.

The post holder must be made aware that trained operational dog teams will need to attend 12 individual training sessions and a 5 day consolidation training week each year to maintain competency skills levels and to be evaluated.

Must be willing to carry out the duties and agree to provide a response as part of a national rota of F&RS USAR dog teams and deploy immediately to a protracted incident anywhere within the UK for up to 2 weeks.
 

Must understand that experience has proved that there is a need to spend a minimum of 12 – 15 hours of the handlers own time (off duty) and the same amount of time (on duty) a week to care, exercise and keep the dogs standard of efficiency at the correct level. This is after the dog has been initially trained, which will take up many more hours than this during the initial training period of 18 months.  Because of the PR that the dogs attract (all good) there will also be a demand on time to attend demonstrations and high profile events, etc.
 

Good communication skills both written and verbal, in order to liaise effectively with staff at all levels, representatives of external organisations and members of the public; and to actively promote the Urban Search & Rescue Dogs at publicity events.
 

Good interpersonal skills in order to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of people and should exhibit the ability to work independently and unsupervised.
 

The post holder must be prepared to continually strive to meet or exceed the excepted standards required for a specialist Urban Search and Rescue dog handler.
 

The post holder must understand that dog handling at a collapsed structure type incident can be an arduous occupation requiring the handler to be strong, agile and fit. The work which will be carried out in a variety of climatic conditions and over very varied terrain may last for protracted period of time and will involve the need to walk many miles. This will also include the need to be able to assist and even lift the dog to a height or lower it into a void or space.
 

Must be able to provide suitable transportation and effective transportable kennelling within which the dog can safely travel.
 

The post holder must be willing to provide care for the animal once it has retired from operational service.