Assessment and Development Centres

Future Promotion within HFRS for Wholetime and Retained Duty Systems

Hampshire Fire and Rescue is committed to harmonising the recruitment, development and promotion of all firefighters using the nationally agreed Integrated Personal Development System. From April 2006 the process will be standardised by the implementation of the National Assessment Development Centre toolbox which has been developed and trialled over the last few years in several fire service regions.

The main aim of the Assessment and Development Centre is to identify a candidate’s potential to be developed to the next role, not to assess current competence. Once potential has been assessed the successful candidate will be given a comprehensive development programme. This will reflect prior experience and qualifications and allow the individual to acquire the skills and knowledge to perform their new role.

Assessment Development Centres will be run for each level of management; supervisory, middle and strategic. Each ADC will be open to uniformed personnel in any rank, so a firefighter could apply to sit the middle management ADC. In future ADCs will also be open to external candidates, in order to facilitate multi tier entry. Individual development programmes will be tailored to take into account successful applicants previous experience, skills, and training needs.

The process itself will follow the path below:

Dates of ADCs advertised
Interested candidates receive a personal development review meeting from line managers
Application forms submitted
Initial Test of Potential (a two part written assessment based around Personal Qualities and Attributes)
Successful candidates attend the ADC

The ADC is set in a fictitious environment with the participant playing the role of a shift manager. It will consist of the following stages:

Role play exercise
In basket exercise
Multi role play exercise
Consultation exercise
Group discussion

There is very little candidates can do to prepare for the ADC as it is a test of an individual's management ability and potential. It would be beneficial however to study and become familiar with the appropriate level of Personal Qualities and Attributes. Both successful and unsuccessful candidates will receive feedback at each stage. Successful candidates will be eligible for development to the next role.

For more information on Assessment Development Centres go to www.ipds.co.uk