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HomeMy WebLinkAbout104.002 - Specialty Teams General Guidelines ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL DEPARTMENT SPECIALTY TEAMS 104.002 SPECIALTY TEAMS GENERAL GUIDELINES EFFECTIVE: JANUARY 2012 Current Revision Date: 10/15/21 Next Revision Date: 10/15/23 Author’s Name/Rank: Brian Price, Battalion Chief Review Level: 2 Administrative Support: Evelyn Yin-Zepeda, Management Analyst II ADA PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines and provide direction for the administration of the Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) specialty teams. APPLICATION This policy provides the framework for all specialty team administration and is intended to govern the process of adding or removing members to or from a team. Each subsequent team policy provides specific direction on team administration. FFD specialty teams consist of highly trained personnel assigned to designated fire stations. Specialty team members perform the same duties as other suppression members, however, they are also tasked with specific duties designed to enhance operational effectiveness. The following is a list of current specialty teams: Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Team (ARFF) Communications Team (COM) Fire Investigations Team (INV) Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT) Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR) Water Rescue Team (WRT) Section 104.002 Page 1 of 8 OPERATIONAL POLICY It is the policy of the Department to provide the best possible service to its residents. To effectively do so, highly trained, specialty teams have been organized. Unless otherwise stated in individual specialty team policy, the following is expected: Support the direction of the specialty team through the team coordinator. Maintain current continuing education (CE) and other specialty team training requirements as per the specific team policy. PPE that is issued by specialty team is required to be carried by members when on duty. Current team members may be required to fill team vacancies based on seniority. Make a two-year commitment to the team that begins at time of appointment. If joining fully qualified the commitment will be until the next transfer draw. Once the commitment is met and the member would like to resign from the team, notification via written memo is to be made to the specialty team coordinator and special operations battalion chief. In the event there are insufficient minimally qualified members for any specialty team, the department reserves the right to temporarily hold members at a specialty station for up to six months to allow for new specialty members to be trained. Members will be given preference to resign based on rank seniority. Former specialty team members who would like to re-join the team, must participate in the solicitation process if not minimally qualified. If minimally qualified, seniority entry to the team applies. Note: Administration reserves the right to deny and/or terminate existing specialty team status to any member. The reason(s) for such denial and/or termination will be provided in writing. Section 104.002 Page 2 of 8 Failure to meet the above requirements is cause for removal from the team. Refer to the Administrative Manual, Sections 104.002a -104.002f, for information pertinent to specific specialty teams. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE 1. Specialty Team Command Structure: The special operations battalion chief oversees team operations as outlined in the Administrative Manual, Section 101.001, Administrative Assignments. In addition, each specialty team is assigned a team coordinator who is responsible for the overall operations of the team. EXCEPTION: The Fire Investigation Team is overseen by the Fire Investigation Unit Supervisor who reports to the Fire Chief. For the purpose of this, and related documents, unit supervisor is synonymous with team coordinator. a. Team Coordinator: In the event of a coordinator vacancy, team members will be solicited to fill the position by the special operations battalion chief and approved by the Fire Chief. If no team members apply, the Fire Chief can make the appointment. Once appointed, team coordinators remain in the position for a consecutive two-year commitment, unless otherwise directed by the Fire Chief. Note: Team coordinators should hold the rank of captain. In addition to other duties addressed in the individual specialty team policy, the specialty team coordinator is delegated the following responsibilities: Assign team responsibilities. Acquire, develop, and/or administer specialized training and continuing education opportunities, which must be coordinated with the Training Division. Conduct a CE audit of each team member and notify members who are deficient. Implement a plan to bring members current. Section 104.002 Page 3 of 8 Conduct a CE audit January 1, of each year for the previous year to determine team eligibility. Provide results of the courtesy semi-annual CE audit and annual CE audit to the special operations battalion chief and the respective team member. Ensure the monthly training schedule is adhered to by specialty team members. Ensure specialty team policies and related Department manuals are up to date according to operational needs. Develop signoff sheets and ensure they are up to date. Work with special operations battalion chief to establish the specialty team budget. Research grant-funding opportunities. Report operational issues immediately to the special operations battalion chief. Be available for notification and possible response to emergencies while off-duty. Develop and evaluate program improvements to ensure work aligns with Department goals and objectives. Perform and/or assign other duties as deemed appropriate. PROCESS 1. Becoming a Specialty Team Member: Per the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the selection of assignment to a specialty team is accomplished by solicitation of interested members. The number and rank of members assigned is determined by the staffing needs of the specialty team as outlined in the individual specialty team policies. Members who express an interest are placed on a solicitation list in seniority order. Members will be appointed to the specialty team in seniority order based on the needs of the Department. Section 104.002 Page 4 of 8 2. Selection Process: a. Eligibility: All members may participate in the solicitation process. Members on probation may apply, but must complete all probationary assignments prior to being assigned to a specialty team. Probationary employees currently appointed and meeting at least minimally qualified status to a specialty team may be assigned to a specialty station as part of their probation. i. Members interested in the Fire Investigation Team must currently hold the position of engineer for a minimum of two years. If an insufficient number of members holding the rank of engineer apply for Fire Investigation Team, the Fire Chief has the authority to allow members holding the rank of firefighter to apply. In all cases, members holding the rank of engineer are given priority over members. b. Pre-selection: Interested members may be required to pass a pre-selection process consisting of a variety of manipulative skills or physical ability tests as outlined in the individual specialty team policies. c. List: Lists are established based on the needs of the Department. There are two types of lists: interest and eligibility. Interest lists are generated by the solicitation of members who are interested in joining a specialty team. Once the solicitation process is complete, an eligibility list will be established. Members on the eligibiity list are expected to complete specialty team training that is offered to them by the Department to become minimally qualified. d. Appointment: Based upon the needs of individual specialty teams, eligible members will be appointed to the team once they meet the minimum qualifications for their respective team from the established eligibility list in seniority order. If, after the solicitation process has been completed, team vacancies still exist, appointment can be made by the Fire Chief for the betterment of the Department. e. Qualifications: In order to be considered qualified; a member must meet and maintain all the specific team qualifications. Each specialty team has a minimally qualified and a fully qualified definition. In order to be eligible to meet the staffing needs of the specialty team, the member must be at least minimally qualified. Section 104.002 Page 5 of 8 Achieving the status of fully qualified should be completed within one calendar year of appointment. f. Seniority Entry to a Team: A member may bypass the solicitation process by completing the following: i. Attain recognition as minimally qualified though a review process with the special operations chief prior to the due date of the FD-44 or FD-45’s for a biennial transfer or interim draw. ii.Minimum qualifications that are reasonably available must be met thru their own effort, including 50% of a full year CE. iii. CE credit will be provided for members who attend specialty team quarterly meetings and the scheduled period trainings. iv. Once the member successfully draws into the specialty team station, the member is considered appointed to the team. Achieving the status of fully qualified should be completed within one calendar year of appointment. 3.Taskbooks Refer to each specialty team’s policy for requirements. 4.Training: Specialty teams offer team members CE opportunities and conduct meetings as specified in the individual specialty team policy and/or the current MOU. Team members are responsible for ensuring training is entered into the Department learning management system (LMS). Specialty team members are required to meet certification status within one year, unless otherwise specified in a specific team policy, or become subject to removal from the team. Note: Members unable to maintain certification requirements due to prior commitments or family issues may be excused and/or postponed (based on case-by-case review) by the Fire Chief. Section 104.002 Page 6 of 8 Specialty team training opportunities are offered to Department members based on Department needs. INFORMATION This section intentionally left blank. DEFINITIONS Interest List: A list established through the solicitation of all members for those who are interested in joining a specialty team. Eligibility List: A list of members who have successfully completed the solicitation process and are awaiting minimally qualified status. Members on the eligibility list are expected to attend specialty team monthly trainings. Appointed Team Member: A member who has successfully completed a solicitation or seniority entry to a team recruitment process and is minimally qualified. Members may be utilized to fill daily vacancies for their respective team. Minimally Member: Qualified Team An appointed member who has completed the specific teams’ minimum required training eligible to serve as a team member. Members may be utilized to fill daily vacancies for their respective team. Fully Qualified Member: Team An appointed member who has completed all the specific teams required training. Members may be utilized to fill daily vacancies for their respective team. Assigned Team Member: An appointed team member who is serving at the designated specialty team station. Unassigned Team Member: An appointed team member who is not serving at the designated specialty team station. Certification: All requirements that must be met annually in order to maintain the status of qualified (either minimally or fully). Section 104.002 Page 7 of 8 CROSS-REFERENCES International Association of Firefighters A.F.L.C.I.O., Fresno City Firefighters Association, Local No. 202 (IAFF) Memorandum of Understanding Administrative Manual Section 101.001, Administrative Assignments Section 104.002a, Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) Team Section 104.002b, Communications (COM) Team Section 104.002c, Fire Investigations Unit (FIU) Section 104.002e, Hazardous Material Response Team (HRMT) Section 104.002f, Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Team Section 104.002g, Water Rescue Team (WRT) Section 104.002 Page 8 of 8