The latest round of inspections of fire and rescue services highlights many areas worthy of praise.
Last December, Sir Tom Winsor, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services, published his third and final report into the state of the sector. The report detailed the inspectorate’s conclusions following its latest round of inspections of 13 fire and rescue services.
Some areas were highlighted as real strengths of the sector, while there were others where the inspectorate felt more work was needed to improve.
“People have a right to be safe and to feel safe in their homes”
We were pleased that the report acknowledged the crucial role that the fire and rescue service plays in keeping our communities safe, whether that is through responding to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, or tackling fires or other emergencies.
People have a right to be safe and to feel safe in their own homes, so we were also glad to see recognition of the crucial building safety work that fire and rescue services are carrying out.
The work of the LGA, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners and the National Fire Chiefs Council in producing a Core Code of Ethics was also praised.
The ethical principles of the code are that services: put their communities first; act with integrity; treat people with dignity and respect; have accountable, flexible and positive leadership; and promote and recognise the value of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).
We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that the Core Code of Ethics is embedded and work is taken forward across the sector.
The inspectorate highlighted that the services they had visited were better at promoting a positive professional culture, and that staff wellbeing and health and safety were being prioritised. Further work was needed on EDI, however. This is particularly important, with the inspectorate highlighting in the ‘State of fire and rescue’ report that there is a “woeful lack of representation of both women and people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds”.
The LGA will be continuing to support the EDI Member Champions’ Network, to drive improvements in the sector.
The inspectorate outlined a range of other areas in which they felt further work was required, including the need for operational independence for chief fire officers and consideration of reform of the pay machinery, as well as what role the sector should have going forward.
The LGA’s annual fire conference, in Gateshead from 15-16 March, will explore some of these issues in more depth. Sir Tom will be speaking, as will Lord Stephen Greenhalgh, the Fire Minister, to discuss the Government’s fire reform programme.
The theme of the conference will be ‘Delivering transformation’ and there will be plenaries on the different areas of inspection, including people, effectiveness and efficiency, and a session on building safety. There will also be workshops on governance, sector-led improvement and climate change, among other topics. You can book your place on the LGA’s website.