Promotional Assessment & Development Centres (ADC) move personnel beween the key career levels of:
- Firefighter to Supervisory Manager;
- Supervisory to Middle Manager;
- Middle to Strategic Manager.
These assessments are based on the PQAs. In order to get promoted you will need to understand what you need to do to demonstrate the PQAs in practice.
The ADC
FRS assessment systems are based on the understanding that if an individual can demonstrate the core underlying abilities necessary for the next role up, then the specific knowledge and skills also required can be developed later. Your PQA behaviours will assessed in 2 Stages:
- ADC Stage 1 (also known as the ITOP)- This consists of a written exercise (known as a ‘Simulation Exercise‘ and a multiple choice test (known as a Situational Judgement Test or SJT).
- ADC Stage 2 (the full ADC)- a day event involving a written exercise, a number of roleplays and group exercises*
*This format may vary slightly in Scotland but will still involve the same type of exercises as used in the rest of the UK.
Would you like some help preparing for your ADC Stage 1 or ADC Stage 2?
All of the tests and exercises mentioned above are scored according to how well your peformance matches the PQAs.
In-Band Promotion
There is also the opportunity for career progression which is not assessed via an ADC. This includes movement between the following roles;
- Crew to Watch Manager;
- Station to Group Manager;
- Area to Brigade Manager.
This is refered to as ‘In-band’ promotion, because you progress to the next level but remain within the same managerial ’band’ ie Supervisory, Middle or Strategic.
In-band assessments are conducted by PQA Interview. Again, the evidence you present of your abilities to develop into the next role will be based on how well you demonstrate the PQAs through your Interview answers.
