Archived decisions

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Human Resources Committee Item 6

15 June 2007

Establishment

Report of the Chief Officer

Contact: T/ACO Bob Ratcliffe - Director of HR and Training Tel: 023 644000 ext 2362


1	Summary

1.1	This report brings the Committee up to date on the authorised and actual establishment, as of 30 April 2007. 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 20 April 2007. This report identifies any further variations across all employee groups within the time period 1 March 2007 to 30 April 2007. 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 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 30 April 2007

4.1	The tables below reflect the authorised establishment figures as at 30 April 2007 in different employment groups. Externally/other funded posts are reflected below and as a part of a separate table where they exist to enable the Authority to monitor this aspect individually. 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		2*		1	3 **
	Area Managers	B	2*		1	6
		A	0		0	0
	Group Managers	B	12		5	20
		A	19		2	13
	Station Managers	B	33		7	40
		A	9		8	14
	Watch Managers	B	83		7	87.5
		A	22**		2	25
	Crew Managers		104***		6	99
	Firefighters		483****		3	491 + 14 Trainees from 14 May 2007
	Total		772		42	815.50 (1.5 headcount over establishment including the May 07 Trainees)

	* T/ACO/ Area Manager arrangements
	Please note the total establishment figure remains unchanged since the last report . The following is a summary of the changes that have occurred to make up this figure: Area Managers - establishment reduced by 2 full time equivalents (FTE). This change is part of the planned restructuring arrangements for Service Delivery that have previously been outlined to the committee. * T/ACO - The arrangement to cover the vacancy of Director HR and Training has been extended to October 2007 to enable the completion of the current recruitment activities for this position, although the committee should note the actual temporary postholder has changed. Additional temporary appointments have been made to facilitate the planned restructuring of Service Delivery and have been funded by the reduction in the Area Manager B posts of 2 FTE. The posts created are T/ACO Response and T/ACO Community Safety.
	**Watch Manager `A' - Establishment increased from 19 to 30 FTE. With effect from 2 April 2007 Andover Fire Station changed from a Day Crewed to Continuously Crewed station. Consequently the number of Watch Managers increased from 1 to 4 FTE (Increase of 3)
	***Crew Managers - Establishment has increased from 95 to 105 FTE (9 posts). With effect from 2 April 2007 Andover Fire Station changed from a Day Crewed to Continuously Crewed station. Consequently the number of Crew Managers increased from 3 to 8 FTE (Increase of 5 FTE). The CFS trial based at Waterlooville station has been deemed as a successful arrangement and the two posts have been added to the establishment. (Increase of 2 FTE) A new post was created in the Southampton Group for a community Liaison Crew Manager to support the IRMP 2007/8 changes in the Redbridge area. (Increase of 1 FTE) With effect from 1 April 2007 the post of Crew Manager Driver Training, which had previously been over establishment, has been added to the establishment, it is funded by the removal of the Green Book manager position.
	****Firefighters - Establishment has decreased since the last report from 487 to 483 FTE. (Decrease of 4 Posts) In line with IRMP recommendations and the change of duty system at Andover station the crewing levels at Eastleigh Station have been reduced by 3 members per watch (decrease of 12 FTE). Staff from this station were redeployed to Andover to fill the need of increased levels of crewing from 9 to 25 FTE (increase of 16 FTE) Redbridge and St Mary's station has reduced by 1 member per watch to fall in to line with the crewing arrangements at Southsea station. (Decrease of 8 FTE) All the movements above result in an overall decrease of 4 FTE from the establishment. A small trainee firefighters course will commence on 14 May 2007 consisting of 14 FTE. This is reflected in the total number of firefighters actually employed in order to offset our predicted leavers during the duration of the course. Due to predicted retirements, leavers and other staff movements during the course of the year we anticipate that this number will be back to the established level by the end of 2007.

	*** 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.
	****Based on the headcount figures above for this period we have a total of 45 posts that receive external or other funding, no increase over the previously reported numbers. The following is a summary of these posts and the changes during this period.
	Externally/Other Funded Posts Breakdown (Grey Book)

	The following details new posts that are to be externally or alternatively funded, the funding source and end date. These changes have occurred during the period 1 March 2007 to 30 April 2007.

	Post Title/Area			Funding Source			Start/End Date
	LIFE Project Instructors 2 Firefighter Posts 50074560 50074561			In order to deliver the outstanding LIFE courses within HFRS it has been agreed at POs that 2 firefighters will be seconded full time to undertake these duties. Each of the firefighters will continue to be funded through their existing budgetary codes, so will not be backfilled.			12 Months Wef 1.4.2007
	Crew Manager Central and Support services 50074784			Post established to set up procedures for the Personnel Reserve arrangements. Funded from Green Book.			26.3.2007 to 26.9.2007

	Total			1 FTE, 1 additional Full Time Equivalent


The following is a summary of all other existing Externally/Other Funded (Grey Book) arrangements that are in place:

Post Title/Name/Area/ Position Number	Funding Source	End Date
Temporary Assistant Chief Officer 50036721	Covering Director of HR and Training vacancy. Arrangement amended and extended to October 2007	October 2007
Area Manager Regional Secondment South East HR Partnership 50036966	SE HR Partnership Arrangement amended, post will discontinue wef 31 May 2007	31 May 2007
Assistant Fire Resilience Co-ordinator Station manager 50054726	DCLG fully funded. Initially a six month secondment for which an HFRS employee has been selected.	30 June 2007
Group Manager `B' internal secondment to HR. 50022533	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.	31 March 2007
Group Manager `B' Internal secondment for RCC and Firelink projects. 50038764	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 2008
Group Manager ` B' internal secondment shift pattern project 50032439	Internally funded from modernisation reserve	31 March 2007
Group Manager `B' HR Support Managers (2 posts) 40007627/40007628	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.	April 2007and May 2007
Group Manager `A' Temporary Fire Safety Engineer Enforcement 50037593	Temporary arrangement to cover the recent retirements of 2 x Group Manager `B'. Funded from vacancies. Arrangement extended until 31 July 2007	Extended to 31 July 2007
Group Manager `A' TFS Project Officer 50051683	Arrangement completed. Temporary post deleted.	31 March 2007
Regional Fire and Resilience Co-ordinator T/Group Manager 50018784	A new regional post has been created which is not an HFRS specific temporary role, although the successful candidate is substantively a Station Manager in Hampshire. This is a Regional appointment funded by the DCLG. Arrangement Extended.
Station Manager (1 x `B' and 1 x Group Manager `A' posts) secondment to DCLG 50005760 50015869	DCLG 50005760 - Request received and approved from DCLG to increase this secondment arrangement to GM'A' salary rates wef September 2006	30 June 2007 23 February 2007
Station Manager `B' Arson Task Force Officer 50038337	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.	31 August 2007
Temporary New Dimensions Regional Project Officer SM'B' 50051523	Station Manager `B' post. DCLG funded. Arrangement extended to 31 July 2007.	31 July 2007
Temporary IRMP Project Manager SM `A' 50054471	Arrangement completed. Temporary post deleted.	16 October 2006 to 31 March 2007
Central Services Manager SM'A' 50053186	Post approved and funded from MMR efficiency savings: SMT 4 Sept 2006, POs 14.9.2006 This post will ultimately be a green book position but is initially being established as a Station Manager `A' position.	15 January 2007
Senior Group Training Instructor (SM'A') 50047415	Trial arrangement funded by a vacant WM'B' position that has been held open in the training centre for a period of 4 months, which will fund the difference in pay rates. Cost aneutral. No additional increase in establishment levels.	31 March 2007
Station Manager `A' Fire Safety Engineer 50036178	AFD Reduction Strategy. Internal secondment. Will eventually become a green book post.	31 July 2007
Station Manager `A' MIRG Officer 50038707	Funded by keeping alternative CFS post for a CFS Group Support Manager vacant.	31 March 2007
Station Manager `A' secondment partnership support Southampton City Council 50028611	Southampton City Council Arrangement completed, post deleted.
Station Manager `B' training co-ordination and audit (non grey book specific role) 40009028	Funding from NVQ income	Review 31 March 2007
Station Manager `A' Business Education Unit Manager (non grey book specific role) 40009030	Business Education income	31 March 2007
Station Manager `B' USAR 50024782	DCLG	Reviewed annually
Station Manager `B' secondment HCC Partnership Liaison Officer 50014036	Hampshire County Council (HCC) Funding extended to 31 October 2007	Funding extended to 31 October 2007
Station Manager `A'- Secondment MCA Liaison 50024789	Maritime Coastal Agency (MCA) Request approved to extend secondment until 31 March 2008	31 March 2008
Watch Manager `B' (2 posts) Internal secondment for Command Training (non establishment posts) 50037406/50037407	POs meeting of 23/3/06 agreed to second 2 x WM'B' to SHQ Training Centre to develop Command Training.	31 March 2007
Rural Safety Officer Watch Manager A 50043050	Details of the funding arrangements for this post have previously been reported, but this post has now been amended from a Crew Manager to Watch Manager `A' position. This is an experimental temporary post which will be funded by sponsorship, partnership agreements, grants and income generation for an initial period of 1 year. Costs to be aneutral	31 August 2007
Watch Manager (3 posts) USAR 50016815 50024781 50024783	DCLG	Reviewed annually
Watch Manager (2 posts) Business Education Training 40009169 40009170	Business Education income	31 March 2007
Watch Manager Safety Compliance Officer 50039927	Temporary position for two years.	23 January 2008
Central Services Crew Manager	Crew Manager (General Duties Assistant) approved as central services restructure. To be filled initially by a crew manager for 6 months. Included under new posts.
Community Link Officer (Crew Manager) 50042275	One year temporary arrangement, funded by Portsmouth City Council.	31 August 2007
Crew Manager (3 posts) USAR 50016806 50028368 50028369	DCLG	Reviewed annually
Crew Manager Communications Facilitator 50021744	Funded from Modernisation budget until 31.3.07 then to be reviewed. Arrangement extended for a further 12 months.	End 31 March 2008
Crew Manager (x2) CFS Waterlooville 50042923 50042924	Posts established as a permanent position wef 1 April 2007.	1 April 07
FF (3 posts) USAR 50036968 53336967 50028370	ODPM	Reviewed annually
Total	41 headcount

Note 1: End dates may be reviewed depending on funding/Project/Task need. Any that have changed during this period have been highlighted with Bold text. 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.

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

Role

Authorised

Establishment (FTE)

Actual Establishment (FTE)

Watch Manager A

47*

57.75

Crew Manager

114*

96.25

479*

442

Total

640*

596 (44 Full Time Equivalent 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 FTE. Actual establishment figures includes 4 x Animal Rescue specialists that also undertake retained duties.

* The establishment levels have been increased by a total of 12 posts:- 1 x watch manager `A', 2 Crew managers and 9 firefighters to implement the IRMP recommendations and establish an RDS crew at St Mary's station. Recruitment for these positions commenced in March 2007.

* The overall actual establishment has decreased from 602 FTE to 596 FTE, although overall 44 FTE under establishment. The movement of employees between locations has resulted in some changes to the ability of WDS employees to also provide RDS cover. Group managers have initiated recruitment activities to address these shortfalls on their respective stations.

Externally Funded Team

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

Authorised

Establishment (Head Count)

Externally/Other Funded

(Head Count)

Actual Establishment

(Head Count)

Note 1: As recorded under the wholetime establishment externally/other funded posts, 10 posts also have one of the above 33 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 (Grey Book)

Authorised Establishment

FTE

Externally/

Other Funded

Actual

Establishment

FTE

41.2*

4.8

40.5

* This figure excludes 1 Full Time Equivalent for the post of Database Co-ordinator (CCC) that is included under the green book establishment.

The following is a summary of all existing Externally/Other Funded (Control Room) secondment arrangements that are in place:

Post Title/Reference Code

Funding Source

Start/End Dates

Firelink/Firecontrol

Project Manager

50005131

50074959

The funding source is DCLG New Burdens. The post is covered by the secondment of a Control Senior Control Operator, for 1 year.

The former postholder GFCO Control has been seconded for 12 Months to the DCLG.

January 2007 to December 20072007 to 7 Jan 2008

Secondment to DCLG Fire Control Design Team

500540079

Whilst this individual will remain on our establishment profile, funding for this position will be reimbursed by the DCLG. Additional temporary appointment will be made to backfill this Control Room vacancy.

8 Jan 2007 to 7 Jan 2008

Secondment to DCLG Fire Control Design Team

50054080

8 Jan 2007 to 7 Jan 2008

FBU full time Trade Union Official

50074598

80% of funding from FBU. Position to be filled by HFRS Senior Control Operator seconded to this position. 4 year arrangement.

1 Feb 2007 to 31 Jan 2011

Total

4.80 FTE

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

Authorised

Establishment

(FTE)

Externally/Other Funded

Actual Establishment Full time Equivalent (FTE)

IST

(Head Count)

Other

255.14

15.27

255.33 (15.08 FTE under establishment)*

303.14*

15.27**

293.33

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 the figures above.

Please note the total establishment figure has increased by 1.12 FTE since the last report, to 303.14 from 302.02 FTE. The following is a summary of the changes that have occurred to make up this figure:

IST - Actual establishment has increased by 1 FTE to fill an existing vacancy.

Other - Junior Graphic Artist Post (1 FTE) and Training Publications and Media Posts (0.2 FTE) created (full details below). There have also been some minor alterations to the hours for one individual on a part time contract that slightly offsets this figure to a total change of 1.12

* We currently have 12 agency temps within HFRS. Two are undertaking short term project work, two are providing maternity cover, two are covering long term sickness, two are covering a long term career development opportunity and the remainder current vacancies for which we are actively recruiting.

**Externally/Other funded arrangements - the total number of arrangements in place is unchanged at 15.27 FTE, however some arrangements have ceased and been replaced by others. A full breakdown is given below.

Based on the headcount figures above for this period we have a total of 15.27 posts that receive external or other funding. The following is a summary of these posts and the changes during this period:

Externally/Other Funded Posts Breakdown (Green Book)

The following details new posts that are to be externally or alternatively funded, the funding source and the end date. These changes have occurred during the period 1 March 2007 to 30 April 2007.

Post Title/Area/Position Number

Funding Source

End Date

Marketing and Communications Executive

50074890 Funded from other vacancies in the section. 30.6.2007

Fund from branding review budget for a period of 6 months.

October 2007

Total

1 Full Time Equivalent

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

Post Title/Area/position number

Funding Source

End Date

Administrator (Information Services)

0.5 FTE

50054819

Funded from other vacancies in the section

30 June 2007

Fire Safety Officer - Business Education Unit. Temporary position to implement the HFRS strategy for the reduction of unwanted AFAs.

50039612

1 FTE

Funded from modernisation budget

31 March 2007

Community Safety Youth Support Officer (Portsmouth and Havant Group)

50051524

LPSA 1 Reward Grant for a 13 month period. Maximum £30k

December 2007

Community Safety Firesetter Intervention Practioner

(Southampton Group)

50051682

Southampton City Council and Hampshire Constabulary from Southampton Safer and Stronger Communities Fund. Temporary funding for 1 year

November 2007

Temporary Storekeeper

50054613

To cover long term sickness of Deputy Supplies Manager and the vacancy of Storekeeper for a three month period.

5 April 2007 for 6 months

Training Support Administrator - Driver Training

Scale D

50047277

Permanent position from 1 April 2007

1 April 2007

Urban Search and Rescue Administrator

50024890

DCLG

Reviewed annually

Arson Forum Data Inputter

50002512

LPSA

March 2007

GDA Home Fire Safety Visits

(2 FTE)

50012774

50028477

DCLG

March 2008

CFS Home Fire Safety Data Inputter

1 year temporary position

50037102

DCLG

1 May 2007

Schools Fire Safety Instructor

(0.77 FTE)

50018787

Children's Fire and Burns Trust

July 2008

Prince's Trust Delivery Partner Manager

50012085

Prince's Trust

Became permanent post wef 1 December 2006

Prince's Trust Co-ordinator

40009172

Prince's Trust

Became permanent post wef 1 December 2006

Prince's Trust Basic Skills Next Steps Facilitator

50032688

Prince's Trust

Additional Funding received to 1 December 2008

Communications Executive

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

50036720

Modernisation Budget

31 March 2007

Total

14.27 FTE

Green Book Variations to Establishment

Under the Chief Officer's delegated powers, the following variations have taken place to the establishment (excluding grading changes) in the period 1 March 2007 to 30 April 2007 and have not been previously reported to the Human Resources Committee:

Post

Action

Position Number

Junior Graphic Artist

Grade E

Post deleted to contribute to income shortfall in unit.

Vacant position

40009209

Training Publications and Media

Grade F

50074559

Funding provided from the business education budget to create this new full time position.

22k being deducted from position 40008665 trainer post which is vacant. Leaves 0.2 FTE Results in overall increase of fte of 0.20

April 2008

Total change 1.2 FTE

Financial Implications

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

Consultation

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

European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998

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/C/H/HFRA HR 15 6 07 Establishment

17 May 2007

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Green Book Variations to Establishment

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