This department deals with the Service’s core training activities that include:

• Trainee School - All new trainees attend a 12-week training course that is overseen by the Training Delivery department.
• Driving School – Deals with all aspects of driver training within the Service.
• Technical Rescue– Deals with Rope, Water Rescue, Animal Rescue as and Road Traffic Collision Training.
• Breathing Apparatus – Deals with Fire Behaviour Training, Positive Pressure Ventilation Training and Fire Science.
• New Dimension - Resilience Training.

Training Delivery

The training delivery section is responsible for the delivery of all role specific training for operational staff.

Initial Training
The Initial Training team develops and delivers training to Retained and Wholetime trainee Firefighters. The initial training programme is BTEC accredited and aimed at providing training that meets the Firefighter development modules and national occupational standards - IPDS. This training is offered either as modular or a 12-week course.

Breathing Apparatus Training
The Breathing Apparatus team help ensure that all breathing apparatus wearers within the service receive appropriate training during their initial period of 10 days or during re-qualification after two years. Additionally, regular seminars are run with the network instructor to ensure they are up to date with modern protocols and procedures. The team also facilitates compartment fire training, involving flashover, backdraught and gas cooling techniques at various locations in South Wales.

They also lead the way in firefighting tactics and the use of positive pressure ventilation through delivery of a programme about the tactical use of fans in the aggressive phase of firefighting.

Road Traffic Collisions (RTC) Training
To assist in the reduction of deaths and serious accidents on the roadways of South Wales the RTC department deliver training in three phases at the centre (Initial, Technician and Instructor). These ensure that all firefighters contribute to this initiative during the intervention phase of incidents to ensure the best-trained personnel with the best equipment are available at the right time.

Rope Rescue
The three ‘Rope Rescue’ Stations (Malpas, Barry and Ebbw Vale) are subjected to a six-month audit by the training department to ensure that they maintain competence. Additionally, initial courses of two weeks are offered to these Stations for new staff.

Water Rescue
The first phase of Water Rescue training, ‘Water Awareness’, has been carried out across the organisation. The next phase will involve equipment use in the mud, the use of boats and rope over water.

Large Animal Rescue/Awareness
Cardiff Gate has been recognised as a centre for excellence in delivering Large Animal Rescue training. The first phase of Large Animal Rescue Training is delivered in partnership with Usk Agricultural College.

Driver Training
The Driving team assists the organisation in ensuring all Fire and Rescue Service drivers are competent to drive and operate the Service vehicles. They are also responsible for the delivery of seminars aimed at raising awareness of specific driving issues including economic driving for both uniformed and non-uniformed drivers.

Transport
The training delivery team contributes to the development of training solutions for Shipping, Railway and Aircraft firefighting. Two training modules have recently been developed to deliver theory and practical training for key supervisory managers in shipping and aircraft incidents.

New Dimension
The New Dimension department facilitates Personal Respiratory Protection Suit training, forklift truck training and driver training on all New Dimension and Urban Search and Rescue vehicles.

Wildfire
A relatively new area of work for the delivery team supports the organisation in the development of ‘Wildfire’ training for all levels of the operational command team.