Royal Berkshire 2021/22
Read more about Royal BerkshireThis 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 is good.
The extent to which the service is efficient at keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks is good.
The extent to which the service looks after its people is good.
Matt Parr, HM Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services
HM Inspector's summary
It was a pleasure to revisit Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, and I am grateful for the positive and constructive way that the service engaged with our inspection.
I am pleased with the performance of Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service in keeping people safe and secure from fires and other risks. For example, it continues to make effective use of its resources and responds quickly to fires and other emergencies.
We were pleased to see that the service has made progress since our first inspection in 2019, working effectively to address areas for improvement in quality-assuring its prevention and protection activity. It has made sure that learning from incidents is shared across the service and the public is public informed of ongoing incidents.
It has made sure that its staff record their maintenance of competency consistently. The service has also made sure positive values and behaviours are accepted by everyone across the service. It has developed a positive feedback culture and effective grievance procedures.
My principal findings from our assessments of the service over the past year are as follows:
- The service understands the risk and demand in its area. It has evaluated the way it mitigates risk using its prevention, protection and response teams. It has revised its risk-based inspection programme (RBIP) and is now more focused on the highest risk. This makes sure it can keep the communities of Royal Berkshire safe from fire and other risks.
- The service is facing challenges in recruiting and retaining a skilled workforce. The cost-of-living crisis and pressures raised through pension changes make workforce planning difficult for the service. It should continue to assess innovative ways to mitigate this risk.
- The service has improved its work in equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and its workforce demonstrates positive values and behaviours. The service seeks feedback and challenge from its workforce and the community. This supports it to make decisions based on the needs of both.
Overall, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is providing a good service to the public. It is effective in preventing fires and protecting the public through enforcement and fire safety audits. It has good response standards and knows the areas in which it can make improvements. We look forward to returning to the service for its future inspection.