Cornwall 2021/22
Read more about CornwallThis is HMICFRS’s third 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 requires improvement.
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, HM Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services
HM Inspector's summary
It was a pleasure to re-visit Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, and I am grateful for the positive and constructive way that the service and its staff engaged with our inspection. I want to thank the service for working with us by accommodating the virtual approach of this inspection. Inspections usually take a hybrid approach but inspecting during the pandemic meant we had to adapt. I also want to recognise the disruption caused by the pandemic. This has been considered in our findings.
The service has experienced resource limitations and other challenges, including changes in senior leadership, COVID-19, and preparations for the G7 conference. However, I am satisfied with some aspects of the performance of the service.
The tri-service safety officer collaboration has developed and been expanded. This innovative scheme has provided a range of community safety benefits for several rural Cornish communities, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to financial efficiencies for the service and its partners.
I am also pleased the culture in the service has improved. There are signs of progress in people management. But there are barriers to the service improving equality, diversity and inclusion. It must also get better at identifying and developing future leaders and staff with high potential.
I am pleased that I can discharge the cause of concern we found in our 2018 inspection. But it is disappointing that the service has been slow to respond to some areas for improvement identified in our last inspection. And we identified one new cause of concern. The service still doesn’t have effective systems in place to manage risk-critical information. This information should be collected, shared and reviewed consistently and when it is needed.
It also should improve the alignment between the community risk profile, risk management plans and key service strategies. Its risk management plans must include simple, clear, measurable outcomes. It can then use them to show progress and effectiveness to the public.
Management oversight and assurance still isn’t good enough in several areas. These include acting on shared risk information, following up fire safety requirements and completing actions from equality impact assessments. As a result, the service cannot assure itself that important actions are completed.
The service must robustly address its finance and resource needs so it can build capacity for improvement and change. It should base resourcing decisions on risk, not on savings.
I am satisfied with some aspects of Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service’s performance. But there are areas it still needs to improve.