Devon and Somerset 2018/19
Read more about Devon and SomersetThis is HMICFRS’s first annual assessment of fire and rescue services. This assessment examines the service’s effectiveness, efficiency and how well it looks after its people. It is designed to give the public information about how their local fire and rescue service is performing in several important areas, in a way that is comparable with other services across England.
The extent to which the service is effective at keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks is good.
The extent to which the service is efficient at keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks requires improvement.
The extent to which the service looks after its people requires improvement.
Wendy Williams, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services
HM Inspector's summary
We are satisfied with some aspects of the performance of Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service (FRS). But there are several areas where it needs to make improvements.
Devon & Somerset FRS is good at providing an effective service to the public. It is good at:
- understanding the risk of fire and other emergencies;
- preventing fires and other risks;
- protecting the public through fire regulation; and
- responding to national risks.
It does, however, require improvement in how it responds to fires and other emergencies.
The service’s efficiency requires improvement. We judged the way it uses its resources to require improvement. But the FRS is good at making its services affordable now and in future.
The way that Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service looks after its people requires improvement. In particular it requires improvement at:
- promoting the right values and culture;
- ensuring fairness and promoting diversity; and
- managing performance and developing leaders.
But it is good at getting the right people with the right skills. Overall, we would like to see improvements in the year ahead.