A renewed call to action to improve culture and end misogyny, racism, bullying, and harassment across UK fire and rescue services underpinned by an action plan has been announced, following the culmination of a two-day National Fire Chiefs Council event on culture and inclusion.
culture and inclusion
With every UK Fire and Rescue Service represented, there was a unanimous commitment to improving culture and inclusion across fire and rescue services, with the publication of a clear and renewed national action plan within a month.
This will set out actions, milestones, and success measures, meaning the public, staff and wider stakeholders will know how we are going to improve and can hold us to account. This will include NFCC setting up an independent external advisory panel to provide challenge, support, and scrutiny to the NFCC plan.
reporting incidents safely
He spoke about the importance of people being able to report incidents, confident that action would be taken
The conference was opened by keynote speaker Nazir Afzal OBE who set out his concerns and reflections following his recent culture review of the London Fire Brigade and subsequent conversations with Fire and Rescue officers and staff from other services. He spoke about the importance of people being able to report incidents safely and confidentially, confident that action would be taken.
Other leaders from across the fire and rescue services and more widely were in attendance including the Home Office, Women in the Fire Service, Asian Fire Service Association, Local Government Association, Fire Brigades Union, Fire & Rescue Services Association, Fire Officers Association, Fire Fighters Charity, HMICFRS and more widely.
Open, inclusive, and welcoming environment
NFCC Chair Mark Hardingham said, “Any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment is completely unacceptable in a modern-day fire and rescue service and must not be tolerated. These forms of behaviors need to stop and stop now."
"All UK fire and rescue services come together this week to renew their focus and commitment to making fire and rescue services open, inclusive, and welcoming environments services that the public and our staff can have every confidence in. As Chair of the NFCC, this is my number one priority."
Cultural change
“The discussions over the past two days have added to those in every fire and rescue service and associated organizations in recent months."
"Our conference has provided a further and collective step change to increase momentum, commitment, and focus on culture change. We have listened and identified key actions to take forward together, learning from other organizations as well as from each other."
New plan and advisory
An independent external advisory group can provide a check to ensure NFCC delivers against our commitments"
“We will publish a new plan within a month of this event, setting out clear actions to improve our culture. This includes a commitment to ensuring every FRS has an independent, confidential reporting line so staff and the public can report concerns with confidence that they will be heard and action will be taken."
"We will also be establishing an independent external advisory group that can provide check and challenge to ensure NFCC delivers against our commitments."
Diverse and transparent fire service
“I want the public and every member of staff to see and experience a fire and rescue service which values diversity, equality, inclusion, aspiration, and fair challenge."
"A key theme from the event was absolute agreement and commitment to learning; a commitment to transparency, to tackling poor practices, and to celebrating good practices and behavior; all underpinned by robust policies, processes, standards, and inspection.”
Eradicating inappropriate behaviors
Everyone within all fire and rescue services must see and experience the benefits of being in a safe environment"
NFCC Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion lead, and Cornwall Chief Fire Officer Kathryn Billing said, “The united commitment from everyone in the room came across loud and clear. Eradicating inappropriate behaviors and cultural reform is a priority for fire and rescue services and we need to tackle it."
"Everyone within all fire and rescue services must see and experience the benefits of being in a safe, trusted, and inclusive environment."
positive, inclusive environments
“We heard several positive examples from fire and rescue services who are creating positive, inclusive environments as recognized by recent inspection outcomes."
"We need to learn from them and other sectors about the work they are doing to improve workplace cultures. Everyone has the right to feel safe, supported, and respected at work and we are committed to delivering this vital change, ensuring the public continues to get the high-quality services they deserve, to keep our communities safe.”