Job Title:Prevention Officer
Starting Salary: £35,570 per annum (pro rata)
Hours: 37 per week
Location:  Office based in Stevenage with travel required across Watford and Three Rivers including hybrid working when not on site
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract or Secondment for 6 months
Directorate: Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service

About the team

The Prevention Team plays a vital role in helping Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service reduce risk and keep communities safe. We work with operational crews, partners and local communities to ensure prevention activity is targeted where it can make the greatest impact.

As part of the team, you will support operational stations across allocated districts, helping crews understand local risk, identify vulnerable residents and deliver prevention activity that aligns with Service priorities. You will act as a trusted adviser, ensuring operational colleagues have access to the data, guidance and resources they need to deliver effective prevention work.

The team works closely with district management teams, the Hertfordshire Home Fire Safety Team, safeguarding partners, local authorities, health organisations, police, voluntary sector organisations and community safety partnerships. Together, we take a person-centred and risk-led approach to reducing harm and supporting those most at risk within our communities.

This is an established role that sits at the heart of prevention delivery across Hertfordshire. It offers the opportunity to influence local activity, shape preventative approaches and contribute to the continual development of prevention practice across the Service.

About the role

As a Prevention Officer, you will act as the prevention lead for a number of allocated districts and stations. You will support operational crews to understand local risk, identify opportunities for targeted intervention and deliver prevention activity that helps reduce community risk.

You will provide advice, guidance and access to approved prevention resources, helping crews plan and deliver activity that aligns with Service priorities and the NFCC Prevention Calendar.

Using information from a range of sources, including CFRMIS and Power BI dashboards, you will help operational colleagues identify vulnerable individuals, understand local trends and target prevention activity where it will have the greatest impact.

You will act as a safeguarding point of contact, supporting crews to recognise vulnerability, make appropriate referrals and understand safeguarding pathways and responsibilities. This will involve working closely with Adult Social Care, Children's Services, health partners, police and voluntary sector organisations.

You will maintain responsibility for allocated prevention themes, ensuring your knowledge remains current and that best practice, national guidance and learning are shared across the organisation. You may represent the Service at regional or national meetings and contribute to the development of prevention resources and public-facing guidance.

The role also includes quality assurance responsibilities, such as reviewing Home Fire Safety Visit records, supporting evaluation activity and sharing learning with operational colleagues to improve consistency and outcomes.

Working closely with other Prevention Officers, you will contribute to a consistent countywide approach, support continuous improvement and help develop prevention materials, guidance and training.

About you

We are looking for a highly motivated individual who is passionate about reducing risk and improving outcomes for the communities we serve.

You will be confident building relationships, influencing others and working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders. You will be able to analyse information, identify priorities and translate data into practical actions that support prevention delivery.

You will be equally comfortable working independently and as part of a team, with strong organisational skills and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Essential

• Experience of working within a prevention, community safety, safeguarding, emergency services, public sector, health, social care or related environment.
• Demonstrable experience of building and maintaining effective working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Evidence of using information, data or intelligence to support decision making and prioritisation.
• Experience of providing advice, guidance or support to colleagues, customers or partner organisations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to deliver presentations, briefings or training.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively across multiple workstreams.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office and the ability to learn and use specialist systems.
• Commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Ability to travel independently throughout Hertfordshire as required by the role

Desirable

• Experience of working with operational services or emergency service personnel.
• Knowledge of community risk management, prevention activity or fire and rescue service prevention work.
• Understanding of safeguarding processes, referral pathways and multi-agency working arrangements.
• Experience of quality assurance, auditing or performance monitoring activities.
• Experience of using systems such as CFRMIS, Power BI or other performance reporting tools.
• Knowledge of NFCC prevention priorities, campaigns or associated guidance.
• Relevant qualification in community safety, safeguarding, public service, health, education or a related field.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is Level 9. Please locate the job profile here:

Job profiles - Community services

Interview Date: 23rd November 2026

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Secondment
This role is open to secondments for eligible employees who work for HCC. If you wish to apply on a secondment basis, you must have your line manager’s approval before submitting your application. You will be asked to confirm this within your application form. If you are not eligible for a secondment (e.g., you are currently on a fixed‑term contract that would end before this positions ends) or you indicate that your manager cannot support a secondment, your application will be considered on a fixed‑term contract basis instead.

Additional information

We are changing
Hertfordshire County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), creating a unique opportunity to help shape the future of local services. To find out more, visithttps://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/

DisabilityConfident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.