South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue (SYFR) - Experts & Thought Leaders

Following the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) Culture and Inclusion Conference on 27 and 28 March 2023 and the spotlight report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) entitled ‘Values and culture in fire and rescue services’, released on 30 March 2023, the NFCC has developed a Culture Action Plan to address culture and inclusion within the fire and rescue sector. NFCC’s fire and rescue services protect the public and save lives. The people in them are at the heart of this duty, and they know that the public trust them to do their jobs well. To create, maintain and build on this trust, fire and rescue services must be inclusive, safe places to work; places where people are valued and supported. Need for fire services to be inclusive, safe places NFCC believes that everyone deserves to work in safe environments that are free from bullying, harassment and discrimination, abuse and harm, where they feel supported, welcome and able to thrive.  This, in turn, enables them to support fire and rescue services, in order to provide the best possible service to the public – services that are inclusive, professional and inspire confidence and trust. Adhering to core Code of Ethics The NFCC Culture Plan is their commitment to work with fire and rescue services NFCC knows from national reports and from people sharing their lived experiences, that fire and rescue services are not consistently displaying the standards and behaviors set out in their core Code of Ethics. They need to change.  The NFCC Culture Plan is their commitment to work with fire and rescue services, UK Government and wider fire partners to deliver sustainable improvements and establish an inclusive, safe culture. The plan will do this by continuing to support services in developing effective leadership and behaviors, embedding equality, diversity and inclusion, finding and nurturing diverse talent, and supporting the health and wellbeing of people in fire and rescue services. NFCC Culture Action Plan The NFCC consulted UK Fire and Rescue Services and wider national partners on the draft action plan and received extensive feedback, both written and through focus group discussions, which has informed the development of this Plan. This NFCC Culture Action Plan is a renewed call to action to improve culture and address all forms of discrimination, bullying and harassment across UK fire and rescue services. Working with partners, the NFCC will monitor and review progress, drawing on feedback and learning to continue to develop and implement the Plan. Embedding a positive organizational culture The Action Plan also provides all leaders and staff across fire and rescue services with details of how the NFCC will support them to develop and embed a positive organizational culture in their services. I have seen initiatives and plans come and go, but this time it is different" Cornwall Chief Fire Officer, Kathryn Billing, NFCC Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Lead, said: “NFCC's Culture Action Plan comes at a time when many have felt disillusioned by the slow pace of equality, diversity and inclusion progress across our sector. Serving in the fire service for more than 20 years, I have seen initiatives and plans come and go, but this time it is different.” She adds, “There is strength of leadership, togetherness and the collective commitment for change and the momentum for progress has shifted from the minority to the majority. I am proud to be moving forward alongside colleagues across our fire services, NFCC, and from so many affiliated organizations to drive our culture transformation. The time for action is now to ensure our sector is fit for the future." Culture and inclusion are a priority at NFCC Mark Hardingham, NFCC Chair, said: “As Chair of the NFCC, culture and inclusion is my number one priority. This action plan is an important step forward in working to build an inclusive culture across every UK fire and rescue service. In the plan, NFCC has brought together and will further develop a suite of programs, guidance, standards, and frameworks to support services as they work to embed the values of inclusion and equality.” He adds, “We can only deliver it by working together, across our services and with all our partners, to ensure that we deliver the step change needed. We will continue to listen to the voices of those with lived experience to ensure that the plan delivers on its commitments. We know that change doesn’t happen overnight, but we will work quickly, and invest the leadership, time and resource needed to realize the aims of the plan.” Challenge and Support Panel An independent Challenge and Support Panel has also been established to provide external scrutiny An independent Challenge and Support Panel has also been established to provide external scrutiny, challenge and advice to the NFCC in its work around culture and inclusion, including delivery against the action plan. This new panel presents an important step forward in bringing external expertise and insights to inform work around culture, diversity and inclusion, with 7 panel members bringing expertise and experience from wider sectors. The Chair of the Panel is Anthea Sully, Chief Executive of White Ribbon UK, a charity working to end violence against women. Other panel members are:   Sal Naseem: Former Regional Director IOPC; strategic advisor DEI. Sue Fish OBE: - Former Chief Constable; consultant - transformational change, leadership and equality. Prof Katrin Hohl: Academic, University of London - Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Alex Johnson: Former Chief Fire Officer; vice chair of Women in the Fire Service. Eimear Meredith-Jones: Deloitte partner - culture and transformation Baljit Ubhey – Director of Strategy and Policy CPS The panel had their first meeting this week and will meet regularly to provide independent challenge and advice to NFCC senior leaders. The NFCC will work with partners and the new panel to monitor progress against the plan and will publish regular updates on progress.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) has been recognized by the Ministry of Defence for its commitment to the armed forces community. SYFR has been named a Silver award-winning organization under the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), delivered locally by the Reserve Forces & Cadets Association for Yorkshire & Humber. three award levels The ERS consists of three award levels – bronze, silver, and gold. Each level indicates an organization’s commitment and involvement to offer support programs that align with the scheme’s framework. The main objective of the scheme is for employers to endorse their employees who are military personnel (current, former, and associated) and enable development opportunities that support their current or past duty to the forces with their civilian employment. The scheme also encourages the overall support of the general armed forces community. Armed Forces-friendly organization Being awarded the Silver award further celebrates all of the positive actions we are taking" Silver ERS Award winners will be celebrated regionally at an awards event in York in September. South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Group Manager - Mike Anthony, said, “At South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue we recognize the invaluable contribution members of the Armed Forces Community make." Mike Anthony adds, "As a service, we want to promote the fact we are an Armed Forces-friendly organization, and being awarded the Silver award further celebrates all of the positive action we are taking in support of the Armed Forces community.” Silver award Major General - Marc Overton, Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets) says, “I would like to thank and congratulate the recipients of this year’s Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Awards." He adds, "A Silver award recognizes the fantastic efforts of employers throughout the UK who have both elevated their communities under the Armed Forces Covenant and provided actual benefits to the Armed Forces Community." life-changing impact Major General - Marc Overton continues, "The winners should all be proud of their life-changing impact and the fresh opportunities they are providing to our Reservists, veterans, and their families. The number of winners this year yet again shows that the Armed Forces family talent pool is also providing tangible business benefits.”

The fire service is calling for the widespread adoption of sprinklers by businesses, schools and care homes, as it marks a national awareness week. South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue has tackled 1,065 fires in non-domestic properties over the last three years. The most serious of these incidents can take fire engines several hours to tackle, as well as potentially putting the company involved out of business. Commercial premise fire But business fire safety officers say fire sprinklers are the most effective way to suppress or even extinguish a before the fire service can arrive. Sprinklers save lives and reduce injuries, protect firefighters who attend incidents and reduce the amount of damage to both property and the environment from fire. Business Fire Safety Manager - Amy Jenkinson, said: “A sprinkler system can quickly suppress a fire before it gets out of control. When you consider the huge costs associated with a commercial premise fire such as rebuilding, relocation, loss of equipment, stock and trading, it seems like an obvious move to install a sprinkler system, but many businesses still don’t.” Care homes and specialized housing South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue has already helped pioneer a drive for sprinklers The fire service, through the National Fire Chief’s Council, is currently campaigning for this threshold under which businesses must legally install sprinklers to be lowered- as well as calling for sprinklers to be installed in care homes and specialized housing, schools and student accommodation. South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue has already helped pioneer a drive for sprinklers to be installed in residential properties. In 2011, sprinklers were retro-fitted into a block of flats in Gleadless after a grant from the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association. It was the first scheme of its kind in the country. High-risk domestic premises It has also provided funding to support the installation of sprinklers in high-risk domestic premises- like care homes and refuges- in a bid to protect vulnerable residents using the Fire Authority’s Safer Stronger Communities Reserve (SSCR). “We’ve already had several success stories as a result of the sprinkler projects we’ve supported in South Yorkshire. In all of these incidents a fire has occurred, but the presence of sprinklers has drastically reduced the amount of damage and potentially saved lives,” said Amy. Fire Sprinkler Week (15 to 21 May), coordinated nationally by the National Fire Chief’s Council, seeks to raise awareness of the benefits of sprinklers to businesses, high-risk domestic premises and educational establishments.