Essex County Fire and Rescue Service needs to continue working to improve

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service needs to continue working to improve, although it is performing well in some areas, a new report has found.

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Effectiveness, efficiency and people 2021/22 – Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that the service:

  • ‘requires improvement’ at effectively keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks;
  • ‘requires improvement’ at efficiently keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks; and
  • ‘requires improvement’ at looking after its people.

Her Majesty’s Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Roy Wilsher said:

“We rated Essex County Fire and Rescue Service as requiring improvement across all three areas of our assessment. The service has improvement plans in place and is performing well in some aspects. Since our 2019 inspection, it has shown improvements in learning from operational activity, improving its culture and adopting service values, and providing out-of-hours support for technical fire safety advice. However, there are other areas where the service is falling short.

“In 2019, we issued a cause of concern on the service’s use of resources and how they align to risk across prevention, protection and response. Unfortunately, despite some work in this area, this cause of concern remains. The service isn’t meeting its own prevention and protection strategies, nor its own response standards. I’m disappointed to see station-based staff are not routinely involved in prevention work. There is still much to do to improve.

“During our last inspection in 2019, we found that the service required significant improvement in its organisational culture. I do not underestimate the scale of that challenge and I am encouraged by the improvements that are being made, but there is still work to do. The service needs to ensure its values are fully embedded and that all staff understand what is expected and behave appropriately to maintain a professional and effective service to the public, and a working environment where all staff feel safe and supported.

“We will revisit the service to review the progress being made.”

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Effectiveness, efficiency and people 2021/22 – Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

Notes

  1. In its last inspection, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service was rated as requiring improvement across all three areas of assessment.
  2. For further information, please email the HMICFRS Press Office at HMICPressOffice@hmicfrs.gov.uk  or call us on 07836 217 729.