Archived decisions

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Human Resources Committee Item 6

8 September 2006

Establishment

Report of the Chief Officer

Contact: T/ACO Charlie House - Head of Human Resources Tel: 023 644000 ext 2346

1

Summary

1.1

This report brings the Committee up to date on the authorised and actual establishment, as of 10 August 2006 . This takes account of any efficiency savings or deletions of posts, successful budget bids or variations within the Service's authorised establishment level since previous changes to establishment under delegated powers were reported to the Human Resources Committee on 16 June 2006. This report identifies any further variations across all employee groups within the time period 18 May 2006 to 10 August 2006. Note: This report is in line with previous reports using a tabular format to show post changes.

1.2

The authorised establishment level is defined as the level of establishment approved by the Fire and Rescue Authority.

1.3

The actual establishment level over the year is influenced by the planned recruitment to vacancies, difficulties in recruitment and retention, retirements, terminations, resignations, long term absences due to sickness and injury.

2

Recommendations

2.1

That the HR Committee notes the changes to the establishment under the Chief Officer's delegated powers, contained within this report.

3

Establishment Management

3.1

Establishment management is an important aspect of our human resources strategy and workforce planning. It informs our longer term planning for recruitment, assessment and development centre activities, career development and accelerated promotion programmes. Performance management and personal development plans are also influenced by how we manage our establishment.

3.2

The duties and responsibilities of posts within the organisation continue to be reviewed against changing service delivery requirements aligned to the Service's Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP), new legislation and central government initiatives.

4

Authorised and Actual Establishment as at 10 August 2006

4.1

The tables below reflect the authorised establishment figures as at 10 August 2006 in different employment groups. Externally/other funded posts are reflected separately where they exist and the actual establishment figures include these externally/other funded posts. Full time equivalent (FTE) posts are indicated where appropriate.

Note: Grey Book posts are listed in the role structure which was implemented wef 1 April 2006.

Wholetime Establishment

Role

Scope

Of Role

Authorised

Establishment (Head Count)

Externally/Other

Funded posts

(Head Count)

Actual Establishment

(Head Count)

Principal Officers

3

0

3

Assistant Chief Officers

0

1

1 *

Area Managers****

B

4

1

5

A

0

0

0

Group Managers ****

B

12

5

19

A

19

1

18

Station Managers ****

B

36

5

42

A

8

5

15

Watch Managers ****

B

72

4

71

A

31

4

33

Crew Managers ****

91

4

104

Firefighters

487

5

502

Total

762**

35

813*** (16 FTE

over establishment)

* Area Manager (Risk and Safety Management) is a temporary promotion due to non appointment of a replacement Head of Human Resources. This arrangement will continue until April 2007.

** Please note the establishment figure has reduced by 12 FTE since the last reported figures of 774. This change resulted from :

    - 10 posts at Waterlooville station being removed following the change from WT to RDS crewing arrangements

    - 4 WM'B' posts at Basingstoke being removed following JE results and a realignment of roles at this location

    - 2 GM'B' posts being removed to self fund project posts in HR

    - 1 SM'A' post was created as part of the Middle Manager Review (MMR)

    - 2 posts were added back in as they had been deleted prematurely, but will ultimately change from Grey to Green book posts as part of the MMR

    - 1 WM position was created for a Safety Compliance Officer

*** Figures include 18 trainees on the May 2006 Firefighter trainee courses that is scheduled to end on 25 August 2006. Due to predicted retirements, leavers and other staff movements we anticipate that this number will be back to the established level by the end of 2006.

**** The current distribution of managers is based on the existing personnel that held the posts as at the point of change from rank to role i.e. 1 April 2006. Over time, the Service will manage the movement of personnel, via the appointments, transfers and promotions (ATP) process, to ensure we move back towards the establishment levels. The `A' and `B' positions are within the same role, although the size/scope of the role differs. `B' positions attract a higher rate of pay.

Externally/Other Funded Posts Breakdown (Grey Book)

The following details new posts since that are to be externally or alternatively funded, the funding source and end date. These changes have occurred during the period 18 May 2006 to 10 August 2006.

Post Title/Area

Funding Source

Start/End Date

Group Manager `A'

Fire Safety Engineer (Enforcement)

Holding other positions vacant. This initial arrangement has been extended for a further three months to 31 October 2006.

Started May 06 to 31 October 2006

Station Manager `B'

Arson Task Force Officer

Pump priming funding has been received from HCC to establish an Arson Task Force, in partnership with Hampshire Constabulary, to tackle arson across the county.

Start wef 1.9.06 for 12 months

Station Manager `A'

Fire Safety Engineer

AFD Reduction Strategy. Internal secondment. Will eventually become green book post.

1 year wef July 2006

Station Manager `A'

MIRG Officer

Funded by keeping alternative CFS post for a CFS Group Support Manager vacant.

1 year wef April 2006

Total

4 FTE

The following is a summary of all other existing arrangements that are in place:

Post Title/Area

Funding Source

End Date

Temporary Assistant Chief Officer

Head of HR vacancy

April 2007

Area Manager Regional Secondment South East HR Partnership

SE HR Partnership

13 February 2008

Group Manager `B' internal secondment to HR.

Secondment to support the retained IRMP objective and pay and allowances review project arising out of Grey Book job evaluation. Funding from the modernisation budget.

1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007

Group Manager `B'

Internal secondment for RCC and Firelink projects.

Group Manager seconded to this project to address the `operational' issues that are outside the remit of the existing GFCO. 53K provided by the DCLG under the New Burdens Budget for this financial year.

2 May 2006 to 2 May 2008

Group Manager ` B' internal secondment shift pattern project

Internally funded from modernisation reserve

31 March 2007

Post Title/Area

Funding Source

End Date

Group Manager `B'

HR Support Managers

(2 posts)

As part of MMR review these posts were designated as Station Manager A posts, but a business case submitted to maintain initially as Group Manager positions. One post is being used to undertake the RDS review and the other to manage the Equalities team.

December 2006 and May 2007

Station Manager (1 x `B' and 1 x `A' posts) secondment to DCLG

DCLG

30 June 2007

23 February 2007

Station Manager `B'

Civil Protection

DCLG

30 September 2006

Station Manager `A' secondment partnership support Southampton City Council

Southampton City Council

13 June 2007

Station Manager `A' training co-ordination and audit

Review March 2007

Station Manager `A' Business Education Unit Manager

Business Education income

31 March 2007

Station Manager `B' USAR

DCLG

Reviewed annually

Station Manager `B' secondment HCC Partnership Liaison Officer

Hampshire County Council (HCC)

Funding extended to 31 March 2007

Station Manager `A'- Secondment MCA Liaison

Maritime Coastal Agency (MCA)

31 March 2007

Watch Manager `B' (2 posts)

Internal secondment for Command Training

(non establishment posts)

PO's meeting of 23/3/06 agreed to second 2 x WM'B' to SHQ Training Centre to develop Command Training.

1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007

Watch Manager

(3 posts) USAR

DCLG

Reviewed annually

Watch Manager (2 posts) Business Education Training

Business Education income

31 March 2007

Crew Manager (3 posts) USAR

DCLG

Reviewed annually

Crew Manager

Communications Facilitator

Funded from Modernisation budget until 31.3.07 then to be reviewed.

End 31.3.2007

Crew Manager

CFS Waterlooville

Funded from Waterlooville changes

1 April 2006 to 1 April 2007

FF CFS Waterlooville

Funded from Waterlooville changes

1 April 2006 to 1 April 2007

FF (3 posts) USAR

ODPM

Reviewed annually

Total

31 FTE

Note 1: End dates may be reviewed depending on funding/Project/Task need.

Note 2: The USAR posts above are those posts which are on a full time contract to provide UK based support, although all the above team members have retained USAR contracts as well. Funding is provided by DCLG as per their requirements, it is reviewed annually with no end date given.

Note 3. Outreach Worker funding for 1 x Firefighter to be reviewed September 2006.

Retained Duty System Establishment - Represented as 24 hour cover units (See Note 1 Below)

Rank

Authorised

Establishment (FTE)

Actual Establishment (FTE)

Watch Manager A

46

55.5

Crew Manager

112

96

Ff

470

429.25

Total

628

584.75 (43.25 FTE under establishment)

Note 1: Retained cover is measured in units with 1 unit equalling a period of full cover (1 FTE), a part unit equals 0.75 cover (0.75 FTE). Actual figures includes 4 x Animal Rescue specialists that also undertake retained duties.

Note 2: Small increase in actual establishment from 584.5 to 584.75 FTE, although overall 43.25 FTE under establishment

Externally Funded Team

Funded by ODPM - Urban Search and Rescue Team (UK Team - On Retained USAR Contracts)

Authorised

Establishment (Head Count)

Externally/Other Funded (Head Count)

Actual Establishment (Head Count)

0

33

32

Note 1: As recorded under the wholetime establishment externally/other funded posts, 10 posts also have one of the above 32 USAR retained contracts. The USAR retained employees provide cover in a similar way to retained duty system employees. However, they are shown above as head count only.

Control Establishment

Authorised Establishment

(FTE)

Externally/

Other Funded

Actual

Establishment

(FTE)

39*

1**

40

* This figure excludes 1 FTE for the post of Database Co- Ordinator (CCC) that is included under the green book establishment.

** Radio Project Manager. The funding source is DCLG New Burdens. The post is covered by secondment of a Control Group Manager, open ended position currently.

Green Book Establishment (Including Incident Support Teams (IST))

Authorised

Establishment

(FTE)

Externally/Other Funded

Actual Establishment (FTE)

IST

48

(Head Count)

-

42

(Head Count)

Other

251.69

11.77

243.07 (20.39 FTE under establishment)*

Total

299.69

11.77

285.07

Note: IST. Whilst they do not cover 1 FTE, they are counted in the above figures as 1 Team Member equalling 1 FTE. The IST which includes the Emergency Catering Team and the Incident Command Team has a head count establishment of 48 included in above.

* We are actively recruiting for 14 of these positions at present. However, the remaining vacancies are covered by long term Agency Temps for genuine business reasons e.g. to enable some staff members to undertake career development opportunities in other teams.

Externally/Other Funded Posts Breakdown (Green Book)

The following details new posts since that are to be externally or alternatively funded, the funding source and end date. These changes have occurred during the period 18 May 2006 to 10 August 2006.

Post Title/Area

Funding Source

End Date

Fire Safety Officer - Business Education Unit

Temporary Position

Modernisation budget to implement the HFRS strategy for the reduction of unwanted AFAs.

31 March 2007

Total

1 FTE

The following is a summary of all other existing arrangements that are in place for Green Book positions:

Post Title/Area

Funding Source

End Date

Civil Protection- currently filled by Grey Book secondee

DCLG

30 September 2006

USAR Administrator

DCLG

Reviewed annually

Arson Forum Data Inputter

LPSA

March 2007

GDA Home Fire Safety Visits (2 FTE)

DCLG

March 2008

CFS Home Fire Safety Data Inputter

1 year temporary position

DCLG

1 May 2007

Schools Fire Safety Instructor (0.7 FTE)

Children's Fire and Burns Trust

July 2008

Prince's Trust Delivery Partner Manager

Prince's Trust

Subject to funding reviewed annually

Prince's Trust Co-ordinator

Prince's Trust

Subject to funding reviewed annually

Prince's Trust Basic Skills Next Steps Facilitator

Prince's Trust

1 Year - Review November 2007

Post Title/Area

Funding Source

End Date

CFRMIS Project Officer

(part time post)

HFRS holding a WT Ff establishment vacancy

Funded until 1 September 2006

Communications Executive

1 year temporary position to fulfil the objectives outlined in the Corporate Marketing and Communications Strategy Document.

Modernisation Budget

31 March 2007

Total

10.77 FTE

5

Green Book Variations to Establishment

5.1

Under the Chief Officer's delegated powers, the following variations have taken place to the establishment (excluding grading changes) in the time period 18 May 2006 to 10 August 2006 and have not been previously reported to the Human Resources Committee:

Post

Action

Position Number

Senior Station Support Administrator

Effective: August 2006

Approved growth bid for retained station administrator support. Currently recruiting to fill post. The post is graded as scale E.

50040574

Station Support Administrator

Effective : 1 September 2006

Temporary increase in hours from 15 - 22.5 per week for the existing administrator at Lyndhurst to cover vacancy at Redbridge, whilst recruitment takes place. 1 September to 30 November 2006.

Driver Training Administrator

Effective : August 2006

Following a redistribution of workloads this post has been created to directly support the Driver training team at SHQ. Funding for the position comes from this years training budget and from 2006/7 onwards will be gained from the vacant Driver Training Manager post. The post is graded as scale D

To be advised.

ICT Manager

Effective: September 2006

This post has been held vacant in excess of 5 years and for the last 3 years a Manager has been engaged under a contract for services with Hampshire County Council. Following the recommendations of a Best Value Review, the Manager has now transferred to the post under a contract of services.

40008886

6

Financial Implications

6.1

All posts are being funded by the existing budget arrangements, which where advised includes external/other funding.

7

Consultation

7.1

This report has been compiled in conjunction with the finance department and aligns with the information forwarded to the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

8

European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998

8.1

The proposals within this report are compatible with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998 and considered in the light of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

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.

None

Note: The list excludes:

(1) Published works

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

laj/WP/HFRA/HFRA HR 8 9 06 Establishment

24 August 2006 (updated 11 9 2006)