Police, fire and ambulance staff are joining forces for a special event later this month to showcase various jobs opportunities with the emergency services.
The Bluelight Jobs Fayre during October half-term in Dartford is free and open to everyone. It has been organised by Matthew Scott, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent, who said: ‘I encourage anyone – especially those out-of-work, studying, or considering a change in career – to drop in to North Kent College on Friday 26 October anytime between 10am and 4pm. Come and meet Kent’s emergency services, learn more about the rewarding careers you can have and find out how to apply.
‘Kent Police, for example, is currently in the middle of its biggest recruitment drive for a generation. The force is looking for police officers and staff to help make us all safer in Kent.’
Superintendent Tracey Quiller from Kent Police said: ‘This event is a great opportunity for people to come and find out more about an incredibly varied and rewarding career with the emergency services. It is an extremely exciting time to join Kent Police as we continue to recruit both police officers and police staff for a number of roles across the county.
‘We will have representatives on hand to discuss the different roles available and how you can become part of the Kent Police family.’
Karen Irvine, Assistant Director of Human Resources and Learning at Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said: ‘We are actively recruiting on-call firefighters at a number of stations around the county. The role is part-time and is done by all sorts of people and can be done alongside another job, college or around caring for children.’
She added: ‘Firefighters aren’t the only heroes we employ. Behind the scenes, there are many professionals working hard in essential roles the public doesn’t see, including our fire and rescue control team, community safety, information systems, finance and more. We also have a range of apprenticeships and volunteering opportunities. Not all of us are frontline staff, but we all play a vital role in keeping people safe.’
South East Coast Ambulance Services’ Paramedic and Operations Manager Phill Morris said: ‘We have a number of careers to promote at SECAmb. There are opportunities to take up clinical and non-clinical roles and we’d encourage anyone who’s interested in a career which saves lives to come and speak to us.
‘The roles include Emergency Care Support Workers across our whole region and also roles working as 999 Call Handlers and NHS 111 Call Handlers at our locations in Ashford, Coxheath and Crawley. We’re really looking forward to meeting everyone at the jobs fayre and showcasing the variety of career opportunities we have to offer.’
As well as the three main blue light services, the event will feature stands from partner agencies including:
• British Transport Police
• Crown Prosecution Service
• Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust
• Kent, Surrey and Sussex Community Rehabilitation Company
• Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service
And there will be the chance to find out more about volunteering with groups like Kent’s Special Constabulary, the fire service, Victim Support and the Young Lives Foundation which provides appropriate adults to help vulnerable people, including children, detained in police custody.
Nikki Franks, Curriculum Manager for Public Services at North Kent College, said: ‘We are delighted to be hosting this event and working in conjunction with the blue light services who support our courses and students year after year.
‘Public Services Courses at North Kent College are designed to prepare learners for a career improving and safeguarding the communities which they are a part of. The jobs fayre will give them the opportunity to learn more about the careers they wish to pursue.’