Fire and rescue services have shown encouraging improvements, including continuing to be well prepared to respond to major incidents, evident in last week’s heatwave, a positive shift in fire protection, and a continued strong focus on health, safety, and welfare.
These are some of the findings from a report released by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), looking at the results of recent inspections of 15 fire and rescue services.
Praising fire and rescue services (FRS), HMI pointed out that firefighters attended more than half a million incidents in 2021 - and they showed courage and dedication to keep the public safe.
Authority comment
Mark Hardingham, NFCC Chair, responded: “In the last week, the value of FRS has been brought to the forefront with their excellent response to the UK-wide heatwave, often working in grueling and relentless conditions to keep the public safe.”
“This highly professional and dedicated response undoubtedly saved lives, protected properties, and increased public confidence as FRS were pushed to the limit.”
This comes just months after the FRS coordinated fire engine and equipment convoys to Ukraine, which followed the sustained FRS response to the pandemic, with firefighters and staff taking on additional roles and duties supporting ambulance, local authority, and other partners in local communities."
Following the Core Code of Ethics
HMI praised services that have adopted the Core Code of Ethics for Fire and Rescue Services
HMI also praised services that have adopted the Core Code of Ethics for Fire and Rescue Services, developed by the NFCC, Local Government Association, and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners.
The report also referenced NFCC’s other leadership products and their benefits where FRS increasingly takes advantage of these national tools.
Areas for improvement
However, the report also set out areas for improvement; most notably around culture and diversity, work required to further reduce risks to public safety, and more targeted prevention work. Clearly, there is further work to do in these areas and NFCC's dedicated programs of work will continue to support FRS.
Mr. Hardingham concluded: "Culture and diversity are issues raised consistently by HMI and are challenges across many sectors. It is disappointing that progress hasn’t always been made at the pace that was intended.
NFCC is committed to support FRS to be a great place to work for every member
NFCC is committed to support FRS to be great places to work for every member of staff, and to be services that better reflect the communities they serve – and we will revisit our work in these areas.
“The report shows there is a lot to be proud of balanced with areas for improvement. Our response to the government’s White Paper on Fire Reform, and our partnership work with the national employers (England) and LGA to establish the ‘Fit for the Future’ model - referenced positively by HMI – set out our view on FRS reform and improvement, and the investment needed to realize this."
Other key areas
The other key areas are:
- HMICFRS inspect fire and rescue services in three key areas; effectiveness, efficiency, and how well services look after their people.
- HMICFRS highlighted there has been a ‘positive shift’ in services prioritizing protection work and risk planning. There needs to be sustained government funding to make sure the number of competent fire protection staff continues to increase.
- Fire and rescue services in the second tranche were up to date with their building risk review work.
- While prevention was praised in some areas, HMICFRS would like to see it prioritized more in some areas to ensure better identification of vulnerable people.
- The mix of virtual visits and home safety checks means more visits are being carried out, with more than 30 fire and rescue services signed up to NFCC‘s Online Home Fire Safety Check tool.
- HMICFRS inspections of all 44 English fire and rescue services will be completed by the end of the year and the findings will be reported in the 2022 State of Fire and Rescue report.
- Fire and rescue services inspected were: Devon & Somerset; Essex; Gloucestershire; Humberside; Lancashire; London; Norfolk; Northamptonshire; Nottinghamshire; Oxfordshire; Shropshire; Staffordshire; Tyne & Wear; West Sussex and West Yorkshire