Courses

International Brigade Command

Course overview

This course is designed for international delegates who are operating at or preparing for chief officer level appointments.

It is suited to both experienced chief officers who wish to refresh their knowledge base and to those who seek an introduction to strategic level operational roles.

The course covers essential fire specific areas to support strategic leadership roles in the Fire and Rescue Service. There are five modules that cover:

Risk Management
Incident Command
Resilience and Assurance
Built Environment
Organisational Development

These modules can be taken individually or as a continuous course depending on the preferred method of attendance. They can be delivered at the Fire Service college in the UK or locally depending on client requirements. The course is validated by the Institution of Fire Engineers as an IFE recognised training course when all five modules are completed. The course also results in a Strategic level Incident Command qualification

The modules deal with a wide range of themes and has been designed and is delivered by a team consisting of experienced fire service officers from the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia, supported by specialist visiting lecturers.

The learning objectives are achieved through a blended approach that includes classroom-based learning, site visits, practical and tabletop exercises as well as input from industry organisations. The formal timetable is supported by five evening tutorial sessions delivered by visiting lecturers on contemporary fire service leadership issues.

Please see below for further details of the module content:

Module 1 – Risk Management (4-days)

The use of contemporary risk management techniques is fundamental for underpinning the organisation of emergency response, protection and prevention strategies in the fire and rescue service.

Topics covered include:

Concepts of risk management
Integrated risk management planning
Community safety

Module 2 – Incident Command (6-Days)

Strategic command is core to senior officer responsibilities in the fire and rescue service. Effective responses to significant major incidents require officers proficient in all aspects of command. In particular the effectiveness of multi-agency responses and the political implications of significant major incidents require professional knowledge, judgement and expertise.

Topics covered include:

Comparisons between various international incident command protocols
Practical strategic multi-agency incident command exercises
Case studies on major incidents including major fires, severe weather, and terrorism
Political and media pressures

Successful completion of this module results in a Strategic level Incident Command qualification

Module 3 – Resilience and Assurance (6-Days)

Maintaining effective service delivery to a high professional standard is an essential responsibility of senior fire officers. This module will develop skills and knowledge for delegates to achieve this in their service and will introduce the use of robust planning frameworks, together with operational standards and learning mechanisms.

Topics covered include:

Operational guidance and learning
Planning for special risks
National Resilience
Business continuity
Leadership and personal resilience

Module 4 – Built Environment (5-Days)

As technologies develop and construction methods change it is essential that fire safety can be managed to ensure tolerable levels of risk can be assured. This module will compare and contrast various regulatory frameworks and standards in use across the world. Delegates will have the opportunity to work in syndicates for significant periods of this module to support learning.

Topics covered include:

Approaches to fire safety in New Zealand, Australia, United States and United Kingdom
Case study of the Grenfell fire in London
Standards, codes and compliance
New technologies and fire safety