Fire Safety Advisor (Competent Person)

Fire Safety Advisor (Competent Person)/ Authorised Person (Fire) Course

This course has been specifically developed to provide delegates with the necessary information to understand the core duties and responsibilities of the Fire Safety Advisor (Competent Person)/ Authorised Person (Fire) as set out in HTM 00, 05-01 (2026 edition) and other associated guidance. This course will explore how Fire Safety Advisors can deliver an assurance, oversight based advisory function to ensure compliance, support safe practice and maintain assurance of a healthcare organisations fire risk management system as recommended in HTM 05-01 (2026 edition).

Course duration: 3 days

Who is the course for?

This course is aimed at fire professionals who:

• have responsibility for the control, operation or maintenance of fire risk management systems (the Competent Person) in healthcare as part of the Estates function,

• are preparing to move into the healthcare sector as an organisations Competent Person/Authorised Person (Fire). 

• provide facilities management services to healthcare organisations.

Course aims

To provide delegates with essential information to understand the core duties and responsibilities of the Fire Safety Advisor (Competent Person)/ Authorised Person (Fire).

Learning outcomes

To enable delegates to:

• Recognise the different fire related legislation that applies to healthcare premises.

• Explain how fire risk management can be embedded within healthcare organisations.

• Use the RIBA Plan of Work to support fire risk management.

• Apply briefing tools to provide competent advice and support decision making.

• Use safe systems of work/permit to work to control fire risk in the workplace.

• Compare competency pathways to support professional development and career progression

The course covers;

• the legal requirements,

• the role of the Competent Person within the NHS fire safety management structure and progression into an Authorised Person (Fire) position,

• the role of the competent person as required in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005,

• managing safe systems of work as part of a wider Estates Team,

• advising stakeholders on the management of fire risk, and

• competence pathways and professional development standards.

Taking a systems-based view, the course aims to provide you with practical advice and guidance on how fire risk management is integrated into the Engineering function in healthcare organisations.

Assessment method

There is a course workbook that delegates complete after each learning activity. The aim is to support delegates and enhance their capability to be a reflective practitioner and gain insights into their whole practice as fire professionals in the healthcare sector.

Syndicate exercises and delegate centred activities support the learning process to explore the work activities being taught.

There is a final two part assessment designed to simulate the work environment and test confirmation of understanding against the course objectives.