Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Item

5 December 2001

Community Fire Safety (CFS) Thematic Inspection : Progress Report

Report of the Chief Fire Officer

Contact:

Chris Bacon

T/Assistant Chief Fire Officer

Tel: 023 8064 4000

ext 207

1

Introduction

1.1

In 2000 the HM Fire Services Inspectorate completed the Thematic Inspection of Community Fire Safety in England and Wales and the report 'Making a Difference was published in November 2000. It reviewed brigades' efforts to shift the emphasis from firefighting to fire prevention as previously outlined in the report 'In the Line of Fire' and the task force report 'Safe as Houses'.

1.2

The Thematic Review 'Making a Difference' made 36 recommendations, some targeted at the Home Office (now Department of Transport, Local Government and Regions (DTLR), some at brigades, some at fire authorities and some at the NJC. The Community Fire Safety Sub Group (CFSSG) of the Fire Safety Advisory Board has been identified as the forum responsible for overseeing the implementation of the recommendations in the report and has agreed that 19 of the report's recommendations are for implementation by fire authorities and brigades.

2

Action Points and Progress

2.1

The 19 recommendations have been actioned by HFRS with good progress being made to meet the targets. The HFRS Community Fire Safety Plan for 2001/2 addresses the 19 recommendations and these have been progressed as follows:

2.1.1

Fire authorities should ensure that their CFS efforts are targeted at identified risk groups.

Progress: Links have been established with social services departments and Age Concern to target the supply and fit of smoke detectors to elderly persons' homes.

An effective schools education programme has been established to increase children's fire safety awareness, using the Fire Challenge Crew, Young Firefighters Association and Firesetters Intervention Programme.

2.1.2

Direct intervention should be seen as a key element of fire authorities' CFS strategies.

Progress: HFRS has a CFS Annual Plan and specific objectives set out in the Corporate Plan to ensure CFS is a key element of the Authority's strategy.

2.1.3

Brigades should take ownership and put internal mechanisms in place to ensure the quality and timeliness of Fire Report Form (FDR1 and 3) returns so that brigades can rely on the information contained to assist them in their CFS work. Research, Development and Statistics Directorate should update the guidance notes to ensure that brigades are operating with current information.

Progress: HFRS's Database Team have developed effective recording and analysis of fire statistics. Work is in hand to develop a geographic information system (GIS) to better target resources where they are needed.

2.1.4

All brigades should assess their arrangements for internal consultations on CFS matters against the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers' Association (CACFOA)/Fire Brigades Union (FBU) protocol in order to achieve a partnership approach.

Progress: HFRS was instrumental in the development of the CACFOA/FBU CFS protocol and has regular consultation with the Trades Unions Representatives who are members of the CFS Task Group.

2.1.5

Chief Fire Officers should ensure that a principal officer is responsible for delivering the brigade's CFS strategy.

Progress: DCFO (FS/P) is designated as being the principal officer responsible for HFRS CFS strategy.

2.1.6

Brigades should follow the example of a number of those which have pursued a change management strategy and re-engineered the Service organisation to secure CFS as the priority central to the success of the brigade.

Progress: HFRS Corporate Plan details the importance of CFS in protecting the residents of Hampshire from fire and promoting greater awareness and safety - a number of specific actions help to underline this.

2.1.7

Brigades must recognise that good communication reinforced with comprehensive CFS guidance is fundamental to successfully changing the culture of the Service.

Progress: HFRS has initiated many ways to effectively promote CFS within the Service, e.g., CFS Plan, CFS quarterly newsletter, Website development, together with detailed guidance in the form of a CFS Directory and 'Toolbox' issued to each station.

2.1.8

Those authorities that are not currently involved in the Fire Service's Youth Training Association (FSYTA) and Prince's Trust Volunteers (PTV) should undertake a review of their current community programmes to see if the introduction of such partnership schemes would add value to CFS.

Progress: HFRS has introduced a Young Firefighters Association (YFA) group at Andover which has been working well for over 12 months. Further groups are to be introduced to stations in the Southampton area. Discussions are continuing with the PTV scheme about the feasibility of a programme for HFRS.

2.1.9

In order to develop a comprehensive CFS strategy brigades must cultivate partnerships with those agencies that work with vulnerable groups within the community.

Progress: HFRS has developed many partnerships to deliver the CFS message, e.g., Local Authorities/District Councils, British Gas, Age Concern, Target 2000, Community Safety Panels, Property Developers/Builders and commercial sector sponsorship.

2.1.10

For CFS to become an integral part of the Service's work, fire authorities must ensure that a national training need analysis is carried out and implemented utilising the Fire Service standards of occupational competence.

Progress: HFRS has devised a CFS training programme which links to the recently issued National occupational standards for firefighters. Training for stations commenced in October 2001.

2.1.11

Current core training for the Fire Service should be reviewed in order to take account of the CFS agenda.

Progress: HFRS has already adopted increased CFS input into its Wholetime Recruit Course ahead of national guidance. This has been well received.

2.1.12

CFS must not be seen as separate to the conventional fire safety arrangements currently adopted by brigades but should be treated as an activity that encompasses all aspects of fire brigade work.

Progress: HFRS has a single Fire Safety Department which embraces both technical and community fire safety. Station personnel are actively involved in CFS as part of their prescribed duties.

2.1.13

All brigades should set realistic, achievable, local numerical or goal-based targets for the reduction of incidents and dwelling fires in an attempt to impact on the consequential loss of life or injuries involved.

Progress: HFRS has adopted the national targets for reducing fire deaths and injuries by 5% year on year until 2004 and the trend indicates that targets are being met.

2.1.14

Where brigades do not currently have station action plans to inform their CFS efforts they should seek examples of good practice and endeavour to incorporate something similar into their CFS planning process.

Progress: Station Action Plans for CFS have been introduced which aim to plot and target resources. These Plans are reviewed/presented at CFS Task Group meetings.

2.1.15

Each fire authority should consider the introduction of an appropriately resourced and dedicated CFS team capable of supporting their CFS strategy.

Progress: HFRS has been a national leader in introducing dedicated CFS staff and effective management to provide education/advice to Hampshire residents, with the good financial support of the CFA.

2.1.16

Brigades should make sure that there is structured audit and review of CFS activities to ensure performance standards are being met and to inform and aid the training regime.

Progress: Continuous monitoring of Station Action Plans takes place at a monthly meeting of divisional CFS managers. This is backed up by analysis of fire incident data.

2.1.17

Brigades should ensure that arrangements are in place for stations to receive regular and constructive feedback to all personnel on the effectiveness of their CFS efforts and the impact it has having on the community they serve.

Progress: A quarterly CFS newsletter is used to inform all personnel about HFRS's current best practice, new initiatives/developments, and achievement of local targets and effective use of resources.

2.1.18

Brigades should use attitude and awareness surveys to inform and aid CFS strategies.

Progress: This is currently being addressed by use of focus groups with community fire safety evaluation forms being utilised to test public opinion and fire safety awareness to assist in formulation of CFS strategies.

2.1.19

Brigades should include within their CFS Service Delivery Plan an evaluation system as described in the 'Safe as Houses' report to inform and direct future CFS policy and objectives.

Progress: HFRS evaluation system will be driven by the Geographical Information System (GIS) which is in the final stage of development. This together with local station plotting and targeting will allow us to direct future policy and objectives to focus CFS resources directly to problem areas.

3

National Targets

3.1

In 1998 added impetus was given to CFS work with the publication of national targets for the reduction of preventable house fire deaths in England and Wales of 20% by 2004 from an average starting point of 380 fatalities per year.

3.2

Brigades and fire authorities have a key role to play in helping the Government meet this challenging target. The Government, therefore, expects good progress to be made against implementing the recommendations by March 2002.

3.3

In 2000/2001 6 people lost their lives in Hampshire in 'preventable' domestic fires. Although this figure is lower than the target set by Government, any death has tragic consequences and it is essential that continuous improvement is made.

4

Schools Fire Safety Education Programme

The Schools Fire Safety Education Programme provided by HFRS provides both a short and long-term strategy for community safety and has been highlighted in the Thematic Review as an example of national best practice.

5

European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998

5.1

The proposals within this report are compatible with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998.

Recommendation

That the report be noted.

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose the facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of the report.

CFS Thematic Review

HFRS CFS Plan

Corporate Plan

NB The list excludes:

1 Published works

2 Documents that disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act

File name [HFRA 5 Dec 01 - CFS Thematic Inspection]