FOI release

Freedom of Information request operational trainees

This request was refused in part, so we didn't provide some of the information the requester asked for. This may include information where we can neither confirm nor deny that we hold it.

Case reference FOI2026/00757

Received 30 June 2026

Published 6 October 2026

Request

I would appreciate any recorded information held by your organisation relating to the information provided to prospective operational recruits regarding the psychological and emotional demands of emergency response work. This request is made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in support of academic research being undertaken for an MSc in Crisis and Disaster Management at the University of Portsmouth. The research is entitled: "Individual and Organisational Preparedness for Traumatic Event Exposure Among Emergency Responders: A Focus on Pre-Joining Information and Psychological Readiness." The research aims to understand how emergency response organisations prepare individuals for potential exposure to psychologically challenging incidents before they commence operational duties. I would be grateful if you could provide copies of any recorded information held relating to the following. 1. Recruitment Information Please provide copies of any documents, publications or online material provided to prospective applicants that describe: the psychological or emotional demands of operational firefighting or rescue work; exposure to fatalities, serious injury, child fatalities, suicide, mass casualty incidents or other potentially traumatic events; the potential impact of repeated exposure to traumatic incidents on wellbeing. 2. Recruitment Campaign Material Please provide copies of any information provided to prospective operational applicants that refer to the emotional or psychological aspects of the role such as, recruitment brochures, candidate information packs, applicant guidance, recruitment presentations, website guidance. 3. Selection Process Please provide copies of any recorded guidance, policies or procedures indicating whether psychological resilience, emotional readiness or coping with traumatic events are discussed or assessed during: recruitment events, interviews;, assessment centres or pre-employment briefings. 4. Applicant Warnings or Advice Please provide copies of any information advising applicants about: the likelihood of exposure to traumatic incidents; expected emotional demands of the role; wellbeing support available; strategies for maintaining psychological wellbeing. 5. Induction Prior to Operational Deployment Please provide copies of any induction material delivered before recruits attend operational incidents that relates to: psychological preparedness; trauma awareness; emotional resilience; recognising stress reactions; seeking support following difficult incidents. 6. Recent Changes Please provide copies of any reviews, reports or lessons identified since 1 January 2020 that resulted in changes to the information provided to prospective recruits concerning psychological wellbeing or exposure to traumatic events. Where possible, I would prefer the information to be provided electronically in PDF or Word format. If any part of this request exceeds the appropriate cost limit under Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would be grateful if you could advise how the request may be refined.

Response

Please see the response in the link below.

Documents

• FOIA response for disclosure log - FOI2026_00757_Redacted.pdf (9.6 MB)

This is London Fire Brigade's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

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