Fire service must improve relations with its workers
●
CHESHIRE Fire And Rescue Service (CFRS) has been told to improve its workforce relations as it received a ‘ good’ rating overall in its first independent inspection.
The assessment examined its effectiveness and efficiency in protecting the public and how it ‘looks after its people’.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary And Fire And Rescue Services (HMICFRS) rated it as good in most areas.
However, in the category for how it looks after its staff, it was told it ‘requires improvement’.
Specifically, inspectors said it needs to better promote ‘the right values and culture’ and give stationbased staff more access to managers so they can provide role models.
In addition, it said employees have ‘little faith’ that bosses will act on the staff survey, but added that the service had recognised this and had acted to create a ‘ more inclusive approach to dealing with the findings’.
The inspectorate also said the service needed to improve fairness, workforce diversity and communication between staff and senior managers.
CFRS was rated ‘good’ in half of the ‘looks after its people’ sub-categories.
A Cheshire fire service spokesman said the assessment meant CFRS was among the highestperforming services of the 14 inspected so far.
HMICFRS praised it for ● its effectiveness in keeping residents safe and secure from fire and other risks, understanding the risks facing its neighbourhoods, and its work to prevent fires and protect the public.
The report added that the service’s response to fires and other emergencies was good, and that it is efficient and uses its resources well.
Chief fire officer Mark Cashin said: “I am pleased that the service has been independently recognised for the work it does across Cheshire to keep people safe from fires and other emergencies.
“I hope this reassures the community we serve that Cheshire is amongst the highest performing fire and rescue services to have been inspected and that it is operating effectively and efficiently.”
Mr Cashin said work was already ongoing to address some findings within the report, and that these had already been identified before the inspection process.
He said: “The service has been through a significant amount of change in recent years and engaging with staff to promote a positive culture is a key priority for myself and other leaders within the organisation.
“We recognised this in our own self-assessment and action is already under way to address the findings of the inspection.
“Myself and senior managers have undertaken over seventy visits to teams over the past five months to engage with staff and listen to their views and concerns.
“We will work with members of Cheshire Fire Authority to develop action plans to address the findings of the inspection and improve the service even further.
“Overall this is a good report, with Her Majesty’s Inspector pleased with our performance and commending our successes.
“I would like to express my thanks to staff across the organisation.
“I believe that our people are our best asset and this report highlights the good work they do across Cheshire every day. They should be proud to work for a high-performing fire and rescue service.”
He added: “The service has made great efforts to increase the diversity of its workforce, it has been recognised nationally as the highest performing emergency service within the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, undertakes a number of positive action recruitment events aimed at under-represented groups and has recently introduced significant changes to its maternity policy. Increasing the diversity of our workforce has been, and will continue to be, a priority.”
Councillor Bob Rudd, Cheshire Fire Authority chairman, said: “This is a positive report overall and I am pleased that the inspection team have highlighted the wide range of good work that the service undertakes.
“As a Fire Authority, members and I are supportive of the chief fire officer and other officers in taking forward actions to address the areas of improvement identified in the report. Work is already under way in some of these areas and going forward the authority will monitor progress against these actions.”