Serious concerns about Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service’s management of resources
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service has not made enough progress since its previous inspection and does not manage its resources well, the fire inspectorate has said.
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Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service 2023–2025
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has graded Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service’s performance across 11 areas. It found the service was ‘good’ in one area, adequate’ in three areas, ‘requires improvement’ in six areas and ‘inadequate’ in one area.
The inspectorate found that the service’s performance had deteriorated in some areas, with serious concerns about how it manages resources and risk. This is a cause of concern in relation to the scrutiny of financial decisions, transparency around capital project funding and performance management.
The inspectorate said that the service needs to do more to improve its culture. Inspectors found that the service’s values aren’t routinely demonstrated by all staff and were disappointed to hear of instances of poor culture on some shifts, as well as misogyny and bullying. HMICFRS also found that staff have limited confidence in how well the service can deal effectively with these issues, as well as grievances and discipline.
Despite the findings, HMICFRS said the service understands risk well and has improved its processes to manage risk information. For example, it routinely collects and updates information about the highest risk people, places and threats it has identified.
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Andy Cooke said:
“I am grateful for the positive and constructive way in which Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service staff engaged with our inspection team. And I acknowledge the challenging and uncertain environment at the time of our inspection.
“However, I have concerns about the performance of Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service in keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks. In particular, I have serious concerns about its use of resources.
“We were disappointed to see that the service hasn’t made the progress we expected since our 2021 inspection despite having a good basis to build on. Many areas have deteriorated, particularly in relation to efficiency and the service’s people.
“In view of these findings, I have been in regular contact with the acting deputy chief fire officer as I do not underestimate how much improvement is needed. I will keep in close contact with the service to monitor its progress in addressing the cause of concern and associated recommendations.”
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Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service 2023–2025
Notes
- For further information, please contact the HMICFRS Press Office on 0300 071 6781 or HMICPressOffice@hmicfrs.gov.uk.
- During the time of inspection, the chief fire officer and an assistant chief fire officer were absent and facing allegations of inappropriate behaviour in the workplace. The inspection team paid careful regard to these circumstances while using the same methodology we apply during every inspection wherever possible.
- This inspection contains our third assessment of the service’s effectiveness and efficiency, and how well it looks after its people. We have measured the service against 11 areas and given a grade for each.
- We haven’t given separate grades for effectiveness, efficiency and people as we did previously. This is to encourage the service to consider our inspection findings as a whole and not focus on just one area.
- We have expanded our previous four-tier system of judgements to five. These changes mean that it isn’t possible to make direct comparisons between grades awarded in this round of inspections with those from previous years.
- A reduction in grade, particularly from good to adequate, doesn’t necessarily mean that there has been a reduction in performance, unless we say so in the report.
- More information about the 2023-25 assessment framework for fire and rescue service inspections.