FRS inspections 2018/19 – tranche 1 - service press releases

In its first inspection of fire and rescue services, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that Avon Fire and Rescue 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
• is ‘inadequate’ at looking after its people.

Fire and Rescue Service inspections 2018/19 – Avon Fire and Rescue Service

In a report published today by HMICFRS, inspectors found that Avon Fire and Rescue Service’s performance did not meet the expected standard. The inspectorate had serious concerns about how the service protects the public from fire and other risks, and how it looks after its people.

In light of the inspection’s findings, the service was asked to design an action plan to address the concerns identified in relation to the regulation of fire safety.

The inspectorate later revisited the service in October 2018 to assess the service’s progress against the plan. A letter to Avon Fire and Rescue Service published today recognises that the service has taken initial steps to address HMICFRS’s concerns. However, it notes that many of the areas for improvement will only be resolved following the implementation of a wide-reaching risk management plan, which is due to come into force in April 2019.

HM Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Wendy Williams said:

“Our first inspection of Avon Fire and Rescue Service showed that the service’s performance isn’t up to scratch in some critical areas. This is disappointing, but I recognise that Avon has seen a lot of upheaval over the past year and has been working hard in difficult circumstances. The service has a new chief fire officer who is keen to improve Avon’s performance, and I am confident that this will translate into a better service under his leadership. We know that it takes time for new approaches to bed in, and longer still to change an organisation’s culture.

“But I remain concerned that Avon Fire and Rescue Service isn’t working to its full potential. It hasn’t taken advantage of national operational guidance and joint learning to improve how it responds to incidents. We also found that the service’s productivity was being limited by some overly bureaucratic and inefficient processes.

“The service could also take a more proactive approach to its protection work. Fire and rescue services have a responsibility to minimise risk, as well as respond to incidents. We found that this team was chronically under-staffed back in July, and I was disappointed to see that it had even fewer staff when we revisited the service in October.

“Some of our most serious concerns were to do with how the service looks after its people. We found that people who had been through traumatic experiences in the line of duty were not getting the right support. Staff told us that inappropriate behaviour and insensitive language was rife, but the service’s leadership is trying harder to engage with staff. It is developing another framework to show what appropriate behaviour looks like.

“I am aware that Avon Fire and Rescue Service is also in the process of refreshing its risk management plan. I am told that it should be a comprehensive plan which will redistribute resources across the service and put more staff into areas where they are sorely needed, like protection. This is encouraging, and we hope to see some much-needed improvements made as the plan is put in place.

“So, while I welcome the service’s hard work, it could take more immediate action to tackle some of the problems we found. I look forward to working closely with the service’s chief fire officer and senior team and to seeing the service make good on its ambitious plans for the future.”

In its first inspection of fire and rescue services, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service:

• is ‘good’ 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.

Fire and Rescue Service inspections 2018/19 – Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

Inspectors found that the service is effective at keeping people safe from fire and other emergencies, but needs to make the service more affordable in the long term. The report notes that the service’s efficiency is sometimes hampered by a reliance on paper-based systems, with too much bureaucracy and duplication of work.

The inspectorate found that Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service prioritises staff wellbeing, health and fitness, and that its training facilities were excellent. But inspectors were concerned that staff lack confidence in speaking to managers outside of their immediate teams and raising grievances.

HM Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Zoë Billingham said:

“Our first inspection of Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has shown that the service is good at responding to fires and other emergencies and has a good handle on local risk. It uses a wide range of information to recognise where the real risk lies, so it can prioritise its protection and prevention work. That’s why I can confidently say that Bedfordshire is an effective service.

“But while it may be an effective service, we are not convinced that it represents good value for money yet. For example, we found that Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service hasn’t kept up with the pace in technology. There are too many layers of bureaucracy and duplication which is preventing hardworking staff from doing their jobs effectively as possible. Out-of-date IT can be a real source of frustration and it can keep staff from accessing vital information when they need it most.

“However, I was pleased to see that Bedfordshire prioritises the health and wellbeing of its staff. They had good things to say about the support they get from the occupational health team and employee assistance programme.

“But staff also told us that they didn’t have much faith in the service’s disciplinary procedures and that they doubted many recent improvements in the culture of the organisation would last. I recognise that senior management have introduced new programmes to improve engagement, but more needs to be done to earn the workforce’s trust.

“Overall, the people of Bedfordshire can be confident that their local fire and rescue service is keeping them safe. It has some considerable work to do around the edges, but it does a good job at its core responsibilities of managing local and national risk and responding to incidents. I look forward to seeing what Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service does over the next year to make sure it is running a truly efficient service.”

In its first inspection of fire and rescue services, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service:

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

Fire and Rescue Service inspections 2018/19 – Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service

In a new report published today, inspectors were pleased to find that Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service understands local and national risks well and is good at preventing and responding to them.

The report goes on to praise the service for its innovative schemes to promote community and road safety. It notes that Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service makes good use of its resources and secures value for money through collaboration, innovation, effective procurement and use of technology.

HM Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Zoë Billingham said:

“Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is doing a very good job at keeping its people safe from fire and other risks. We graded the service’s performance as good right across the board. This is a good result and should be welcome news to the service and to the people of Cambridgeshire, who can be confident that they are being well-served.

“Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service responds well to fires and other emergencies; it consistently meets its own response time targets and its firefighters are well trained and equipped. Senior leaders are empowered to make an informed judgment call at the scene of a fire and do what it needs to do to keep people safe.

“The service is also good at keeping its communities safe from fire through its protection and prevention work. Some of its work is truly innovative, like the service’s one-to-one arson intervention programme, Project Icarus. The first of its kind in the country, this is an exceptional programme which sees Cambridgeshire working with with forensic psychologists and local prisons to prevent arsonists from reoffending.

“I am pleased to see that the service takes an equally open and enthusiastic approach to engaging with the public it serves. It takes its responsibility to work with community organisations seriously and has appointed an engagement and positive action officer to make sure they hear all voices in the community. The service also works well with local businesses through support seminars to reduce false alarms.

“Cambridgeshire uses its reserves to make sound investments for the future, and I am confident that the service is well-equipped to respond to any financial pressures. But we think that the service could take a closer look at what might happen after 2020, so it can be confident it’s in a good position for the long term.

“I am impressed by Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service’s commitment to the mental and physical wellbeing of staff. It has an occupational health department to support staff with health and wellbeing advice, medical screening and fitness testing.

“In all, I am very pleased that Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is in a strong position to serve its communities well and I am confident that it is well-equipped to weather any challenges it faces over the next year.”

In its first inspection of fire and rescue services, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service:

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

Fire and Rescue Service inspections 2018/19 – Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

Inspectors found that the service is effective at keeping people safe from fire and other emergencies and makes good use of fire regulation to protect the public. The report notes that the service responds well to local emergencies and national risks and uses its resources efficiently.

However, HMICFRS also concluded that Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service should make improvements in how it looks after its people. The report finds that the service has more to do to promote the right values and culture, and to make sure staff are treated fairly.

HM Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Phil Gormley said:

“People in Cheshire can rest assured knowing that its local Fire and Rescue Service is an effective and efficient service. We found that it has comprehensive systems in place to help it understand and manage the risks faced by the local community.

“I was also encouraged by how well the service worked with other partners to make sure it can keep on top demand. Its collaboration with Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria fire and rescue services means that a response can be mobilised as quickly as possible across service borders. This means Cheshire Fire and Rescue can get its staff where they’re needed most within ten minutes.

“That said, we found that the service hasn’t yet evaluated how well its partnerships are working. Despite being in good financial shape overall, there is some scope for improvement to make sure resources are being used to their fullest. Cheshire Fire and Rescue can do more to make sure resources, both owned and shared, are being used productively at all times.

“When it comes to how it treats its people, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service requires some improvement. The service is good at getting the right people with the right skills and managing performance and developing leaders. It has a strong culture of learning and improvement. But it needs to improve communication between staff and senior managers. At the moment, staff have limited contact with leaders and tend not to trust that leaders will act on their feedback.

“I am pleased with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s performance and commend the service for its successes. I look forward to seeing what it does over the coming year to address its weaknesses and build upon its strengths.”

In its first inspection of fire and rescue services, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that Cornwall Fire and Rescue 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
• is ‘good’ at looking after its people.

Fire and Rescue Service inspections 2018/19 – Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service

In a report published today by HMICFRS, inspectors found that Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service’s performance did not meet the expected standard. The inspectorate had serious concerns about the service’s effectiveness and efficiency in keeping people safe and secure from fire.

In light of the inspection’s findings, the service was asked to design an action plan to address the areas for improvement.

The inspectorate later revisited the service in October 2018 to assess the service’s progress against the plan. A letter to Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service published today recognises the service’s efforts and notes that it has made a very good start to addressing HMICFRS’s causes for concern.

HM Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Wendy Williams said:

“Our first inspection of Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service showed that there was some room for improvement in how it works to keep the people of Cornwall safe. I am pleased to report that the service has started to address these areas with real enthusiasm and commitment to making sure it serves its community more effectively and efficiently.

“We were concerned to find that the service hasn’t exploited technology to improve its productivity. Staff often relied on paper records, firefighters didn’t have access to computer systems with vital information when they attended incidents, and staff in the control room didn’t have the confidence to use the computer systems they did have access to. This was contributing to the significant delays we saw in service’s response to incidents.

“Our revisit in October showed that the service has made good progress. It is reviewing its procurement processes, so it can upgrade its technology faster, and control room staff are now more confident using the systems. It has bought new equipment to help speed up mobilisation in stations, though I understand it has yet to be installed. This is all welcome news.

“However, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service is a rural service and many smaller stations are reliant on on-call firefighters. We’ve seen that this has a knock-on effect on many of the service’s day-to-day operations. On-call fire engine availability is often limited, which means not all fire engines are available across Cornwall at any one time. In some cases, fire engines have even been held back because there aren’t enough on-call firefighters to mobilise a response.

“We were satisfied that the service looks after its people well, particularly when it comes to promoting the right values and culture. Mental health awareness and support is a clear priority for Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, and we found that staff were generally pleased with the support they received.

“Overall, I am encouraged by Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service’s drive to do better. The service has strong oversight in place to make sure that its comprehensive action plan is followed and brings about the improvements we’ve recommended. I look forward to keeping in close contact with the service over the coming months.”

In its first inspection of fire and rescue services, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service:

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

Fire and Rescue Service inspections 2018/19 – Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service

Inspectors were pleased with most aspects of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’s performance, though the report indicates that the number of protection inspections has been falling year on year since 2010/11. It also notes that the service has reduced staffing for its protection work, leading to heavier workloads for remaining staff and considerable inspection backlogs. As a result, the service’s approach to protecting the public through fire regulation has been flagged as an area for improvement.

The report goes on to praise the service for managing its resources well and aims to provide better value for money by having smaller, more flexible teams to crew fire appliances.

HM Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Matt Parr said:

“There are many things Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service does well and that it can be proud of. It is good at dealing with emergencies. It provides a comprehensive service to the public, bolstered by good communication and effective preparation for national risks. Hampshire staff are well trained, including in the use of new technology, and the service has a sensible approach to its budget and resources.

“While Hampshire is good at preventing fires, it needs to understand its comparatively low rates of home fire safety checks. The service requires improvement in its use of fire regulation to protect the public. Areas where we found good practice, such as effective incident commanding and good debriefing procedures, could be made even better by more thorough evaluation.

“On the negative side, there was strong evidence that Hampshire requires significant improvement in promoting the right values and culture. While I recognise the efforts of the Diversity and Inclusion team, senior leaders across the organisation really need to show they buy in to the concept of having a diverse workforce.

“We found occasional examples of low staff morale, and some staff reported a culture of domineering behaviour. Many staff, including female and retained officers, feel undervalued or simply not listened to, and this needs to be addressed.

“If Hampshire can rectify these issues then I am confident that the service can build on its operational successes to create an even better provision for both its communities and its staff.”

In its first inspection of fire and rescue services, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service:

• is ‘good’ 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.

Fire and Rescue Service inspections 2018/19 – Hereford and Worcester on Fire and Rescue Service

Inspectors found that the service has a good understanding of risk, protects the public well through appropriate fire regulation and responds to both local fires and national risks well.

But the report identifies several areas for improvement within Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service’s provision. It notes that the service needs to provide a more efficient service and exploit its resources in a more effective way. The service should also improve the way it promotes the right values and culture in its staff and how it manages performance and develops leaders.

HM Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Wendy Williams said:

“Our inspection highlighted a lot of the good work that Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service does. Broadly speaking, the service provides a good service to its local communities. It is flexible in its approach to local incidents and works well with local businesses to help them understand fire regulations.

“I was particularly impressed by the work of the multi-agency targeted enforcement team, a group of partners who work together to enforce fire safety regulation. This is an area of real promise and the service could do even more to build on its success here.

“That said, we did find a few areas for improvement. The service made some ambitious financial plans back in 2014 which haven’t quite worked out. As a result, the pace of improving value for money has been too slow. We found that the service is still spending more than it receives in funding and is using reserves to shore up financial position. This is not sustainable in the long term, and we think more can be done to keep costs down without compromising public safety.

“The service could also look after its people better. Communication between senior leaders and the workforce is weak, so staff often don’t understand the rationale behind big changes. The importance of diversity isn’t fully understood by some staff and is an important area for improvement. A diverse service can benefit from diverse perspectives, and it often means services can build more trust and confidence in its local community.

“Overall, when it comes to the safety of the people in Hereford and Worcester, I am confident that the public is served well. But there is some room for improvement and I look forward to seeing what Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service does in the coming year.”

In its first inspection of fire and rescue services, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue 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.

Fire and Rescue Service inspections 2018/19 – Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

Inspectors were satisfied that the service was able to respond to local risk adequately, but concluded that it needs to improve its effectiveness and how it makes the most of its resources.

The inspection found that Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue service was using out of date risk information to inform its risk management plan. This meant that in some cases, the service was using data that was ten years old to plan its services for the future. Inspectors expressed concern that the fire and rescue service had put its plans for the future on hold due to its uncertainty around the future governance model.

HM Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Zoë Billingham said:

“While Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service can be proud of how it responds to fires and other emergencies – and how it keeps the public safe by enforcing fire regulation – it has more to do before we can call it a fully efficient and effective service.

“We found evidence of some innovative work on community safety and the service is good at using its powers to uphold fire regulations and bring prosecutions against businesses who aren’t following the letter of the law.

“But the service’s risk management plan is out of date, its local risk profiles are out of date and its prevention strategy is about to expire too. This has the potential for having a significant impact on how Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue service can manage and mitigate risk in its communities, and it could prevent the service from working as effectively as it should.

“Because the service doesn’t have an up-to-date plan, it can’t be sure that it is getting the most out of its resources. The true cost of running this fire and rescue service is unclear. The county council carries out a lot of back-office work, but the service doesn’t factor this into its annual budget. Without a proper understanding of its financial resources and local risk, the service can’t explain its rationale for how it allocates resources between its prevention, protection and response duties. The service understands that this needs to change.

“I am encouraged to see that staff speak highly of the service’s open leadership style. The chief and deputy chief fire officers have the trust of their workforce, who believe they want to see the service change for the better.

“I am also encouraged that since our inspection, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has already taken steps to address the areas for improvement. Importantly, the service is at an advanced stage of updating its risk management plan. The service will then be in a better position to plan for and deliver more effective services to the communities across Hertfordshire.”

In its first inspection of fire and rescue services, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that Isles of Scilly Fire and Rescue Service:

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

Fire and Rescue Service inspections 2018/19 – Isles of Scilly Fire and Rescue Service

Inspectors found that while the service is effective at keeping people safe from fire and emergencies and understands the risks its communities face, it should improve its use of fire regulation to minimise risk.

The report notes that Isles of Scilly Fire and Rescue Service needs to do more to promote the right values and culture. While the service provided equality, diversity and inclusivity training, it does not update or review firefighters’ training records. The inspectorate also expressed concern that the chief fire officer was reluctant to set the standard fitness bar too high, because the service could lose staff.

HM Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Wendy Williams said:

“I was pleased to find that, on the whole, Isles of Scilly Fire and Rescue Service is working well to protect the public. It has built a good picture of what local risk looks like by using its own data and its staff’s local knowledge of the islands.

“The Isles of Scilly service has relatively few fires and other emergencies, so we would expect that its Fire and Rescue Service is in a strong position to focus its resources on preventative work.

“That is why it was disappointing to see the service hadn’t taken any enforcement action against commercial premises on the islands in the last five years. The service’s senior management tends to trust that building owners are meeting their obligations without checking that this is the case. This is a significant oversight and the service should have a robust risk-based inspection programme to make sure that businesses are playing their part in keeping people safe from fire.

“The service has worked well with the local authority to manage its finances, and it is collaborating with Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service to drive more savings. But we found evidence that pension pay-outs will put more pressure on the service to make further savings.

“The most significant area for improvement is how the Isles of Scilly Fire and Rescue Service looks after its people. Staff have limited access to information about the service’s wellbeing policies, and so they are unable to refer themselves or colleagues to the right services. And we were concerned that the service doesn’t keep track of its staff’s learning and development, so some safety-critical training was simply out of date.

“In all, I am encouraged by the good practice and hard work we saw from the Isles of Scilly Fire and Rescue Service. I am looking forward to seeing how the service takes our feedback on board.”

In its first inspection of fire and rescue services, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service:

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

Fire and Rescue Service inspections 2018/19 – Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service

Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service provides an effective and efficient service to the public. Inspectors found that the service is good at understanding the risk of fires and other emergencies, and at fire prevention and response. Inspectors also found that Isle of Wight is good at responding to national risks.

However, the service needs to improve its fire inspection programme to better protect the public. The report also notes that improvement is required in how the service deals with its people, with specific concerns including fairness and diversity, values and culture and leadership development.

HM Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Matt Parr said:

“I am happy to report that Isle of Wight’s Fire and Rescue Service is doing a good job in keeping the public safe from the risk of fire. The service works well with local partners to develop detailed plans to help it keep on top of local risk. And the service has shown that it can be innovative in the way it uses its resources to improve value for money.

“However, the service could do more to put this good understanding of risk into practice. The Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service does not have an effective risk-based inspection programme and should allocate more resources in this area. It is good at responding to fires and other emergencies, but it should learn to be more flexible, so it can be sure incidents get the right level of response. Work can also be done to improve its post-incident debriefing system.

“I am also hoping to see improvement in the way Isle of Wight takes care of its people, as some of the findings in this area are troubling. The service needs to engage with staff much more effectively to address issues such as wellbeing, concerns over bullying, the impacts of its diversity strategy and performance management.

“I appreciate that Isle of Wight is facing considerable organisational change, and I hope that the service can not only manage this change successfully, but also use it to implement recommended improvements. I look forward to seeing the progress the service makes.”

In its first inspection of fire and rescue services, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service:

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

Fire and Rescue Service inspections 2018/19 – Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service

Inspectors commended the service for its overall performance and particularly noted that the way in which the service promotes the right values and culture was outstanding.

The report goes on to conclude that Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service has a good understanding of local risk, works well in communities and in partnership with business to prevent fires and emergencies, and makes good use of its resources.

HM Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Phil Gormley said:

“Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service should be proud of the work it does to keep its communities safe. In each of the areas we inspected we found that the service was doing a good – or when it comes to promoting the right values and culture – an outstanding job.

“The service’s senior leadership understands the importance of staff wellbeing and the part it plays in making sure the public has a strong and resilient service. Senior management is visible, trusted and clearly committed to making Lancashire safer. I am very pleased to see the service’s values engrained in the service’s culture at all levels.

“I was also encouraged to see that Lancashire Fire and Rescue is investing in technology to make sure it can handle demand more effectively. It has invested in more efficient fire engines that can put out fires more quickly with fewer firefighters and has installed computer terminals on each fire engine. This means firefighters can access information about known risks at the scene and respond appropriately.

“This new technology also helps the service to keep costs down. Our inspection showed that the service has a comprehensive understanding of its financial standing and is well-prepared to handle any problems in the future.

“Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is a well-rounded service that knows what it is doing. We have identified a few areas for improvement, such as making sure that its getting the most out of collaboration opportunities, but overall, I commend the service for its good work. I am confident it will continue to serve the people of Lancashire well in the year to come.”

In its first inspection of fire and rescue services, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service:

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

Fire and Rescue Service inspections 2018/19 – Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service

Inspectors were pleased with most aspects of the service’s performance and praised its work with partner organisations to reduce fires and other risk. The report notes that joint working with the police and ambulance services has helped the service bring down non-pay costs, so that it can protect frontline services.

However, the inspectorate found that Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service could do more to look after its people. While senior managers were well thought of by most wholetime staff, on-call staff reported that they had little contact with them and felt disconnected.

Inspectors also expressed concern that the service is not able to assure itself that its firefighters are appropriately trained and equipped with the skills needed to operate safely and effectively. Poor record keeping processes are preventing the fire service from doing so. HMICFRS has recommended that it takes action to rectify this by August 2019.

HM Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Zoë Billingham said:

“People in Lincolnshire will be pleased to know that its local fire and rescue service has hit the mark when it comes to its core duties. The service has a good understanding of local risk and a comprehensive plan in place to make sure that it has the right resources in the right place at the right time. This means that crews are ready to mobilise an effective response when a call comes in.

“Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service gets good value for money for its community. It has taken a pragmatic approach to the cost savings it’s had to make, restructuring the service and working more closely with the police and ambulance services. At the same time, it’s made good use of these savings and put them back into the service.

“I am encouraged to see that the workforce takes immense pride in their work, as they should. But I have a few concerns about how Lincolnshire fire and rescue service looks after its people. For example, the process for referring staff who have had difficult and traumatic experiences to the specialist support services they need, can be too convoluted. The service also needs to work on its staff training record keeping. At the moment, it cannot say with certainty that firefighters have all the skills they need to work safely in dangerous conditions.

“Overall, I commend Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service and its staff for their hard work. I am confident that when we revisit the service, it will be in even better shape.”

In its first inspection of fire and rescue services, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that Surrey Fire and Rescue Service:

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

Fire and Rescue Service inspections 2018/19 – Surrey Fire and Rescue Service

In a report published today by HMICFRS, inspectors found that Surrey Fire and Rescue Service’s performance did not meet the expected standard. The inspectorate had serious concerns about the service’s effectiveness and efficiency in keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks.

In light of the inspection’s findings, the service was asked to design an action plan to address the areas for improvement.

The inspectorate later revisited the service in October 2018 to assess the service’s progress against the plan. A letter to Surrey Fire and Rescue Service published today recognises that the service has reallocated resources and reviewed its governance structure since the first inspection. It praises the service’s commitment to making changes for the better, but notes that much more needs to be done to make sure it is serving its communities well.

HM Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Dru Sharpling said:

“Our first inspection showed that Surrey Fire and Rescue Service had some way to go before we can say it is effective and efficient service. While it understands the risk of fire and other emergencies, I am concerned that the service’s plans haven’t evolved enough to help the service meet the pressures of today.

“The service has reduced its workforce but has developed the habit of using overtime to make up the numbers of firefighters. It is not sustainable, financially and operationally. Even with overtime, there are periods when the service does not have enough staff to keep all the fire engines it needs available to respond. The service must manage these risks differently, particularly the availability of the workforce.

“I am also concerned that the service is not making the most of its resources. At the time of inspection, its programme of risk-based audits and inspections was under-resourced, and it was unclear how the service plans to meet its inspection obligations. The service does not routinely assess how well its partnerships and collaboration agreements are working, so we can’t be sure if they are providing good value for money.

“We think that Surrey Fire and Rescue Service could have done more to promote the right values and culture throughout the workforce. Although the service launched a new set of values and behaviours in 2017, not all staff have absorbed the messages.

“Senior leaders are revisiting the action plan every month to track its progress. They are clearly committed to making it work. Surrey Fire and Rescue Service has taken its first steps towards becoming a more effective, efficient service and I welcome the changes we have seen. I look forward to seeing how Surrey builds on its early progress over the coming months.”

In its first inspection of fire and rescue services, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service:

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

Fire and Rescue Service inspections 2018/19 – Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service

Inspectors were satisfied with most aspects of the service’s performance, but warned that it needs to improve how it looks after its people. The report goes on to say that Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service should improve how it manages performance, develops the next generation of leaders, and promotes the right values and cultures.

The report praised the service for working well with local police forces to tackle arson. Inspectors saw evidence that collaboration between the fire and rescue service and the police led to the identification and ultimately, conviction, of a serial arsonist.

HM Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Wendy Williams said:

“I am pleased to say that Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service is doing a good job at keeping its local communities safe. It has a good handle on local risk and we saw first-hand that the service has effective strategies in place to prevent fires and other emergencies. Overall, the people of Warwickshire are getting good value for money.

“My main area of concern is the service’s work on protection. It hasn’t put the resource where it’s needed, so fire safety inspectors now have particularly heavy workloads. As a result, the service hasn’t been able to prosecute businesses which fall foul of fire regulation. This doesn’t send the right message to local businesses.

“Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service has considerable savings to make over the next few years, but I am confident that its collaborative approach will help it achieve them. However, I would encourage the service to take a look at its current arrangements, so it can be sure that its partnerships with other fire and rescue services are working effectively. Until it does, it’s unclear where the partnerships are working well – and where we need to see changes.

“We identified further areas for improvement in the service’s workforce, which doesn’t represent the diversity of the community it serves. Generally speaking, staff didn’t have a good understanding of the benefits of employing a diverse workforce. The service could do more to engage the minority groups it does employ.

“However, the service does take its responsibility for staff wellbeing seriously and it shows a willingness to learn and improve. These are real assets which put Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service in a good place to step up and address the areas for improvement we’ve identified. I look forward to seeing how the service progresses in the next year.”