Archived decisions
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Human Resources Committee Item 6 1 February 2008 Establishment Report of the Chief Officer |
Contact: Geoff Howsego - Director of Human Resources 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 November 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 in September 2007. This report identifies any further variations across all employee groups within the time period 1 October 2007 to 30 November 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 Human Resources 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 November 2007 | |||||||
4.1 |
The tables below reflect the authorised establishment figures as at 30 November 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 with effect from (wef) 1 April 2006. | ||||||||
Wholetime Establishment | ||||||||
Role |
Scope Of Role |
Authorised Establishment (Head Count) |
Externally/ Other Funded posts (Head Count) |
Actual Establishment (Head Count) | ||||
Directors |
3 |
0 |
3 | |||||
Assistant Chief Officers |
2 |
1 |
3 | |||||
Area Managers |
B |
2 |
0 |
2 | ||||
A |
4 |
0 |
4 | |||||
Group Managers |
B |
8 |
5 |
11 | ||||
A |
21 |
1 |
23 | |||||
Station Managers |
B |
35 |
4 |
35 | ||||
A |
9 |
6 |
17 | |||||
Watch Managers |
B |
94* |
5 |
84 | ||||
A |
15** |
4 |
33 | |||||
Crew Managers |
102*** |
7 |
109 | |||||
Firefighters |
489**** |
4 |
498 - includes 13 current trainees on the initial training course | |||||
Total |
784 |
37 |
822 ( 1 FTE over establishment) | |||||
* Temporary Assistant Chief Officers (T/ACO) Area Manager arrangements | ||||||||
Please note the total establishment figure has increased by 13 FTE since the last report . The following is a summary of the changes that have occurred to make up this figure: Directors - No change in number of posts since the last report. | ||||||||
Assistant Chief Officers - The arrangement to cover the vacancy of Director Human Resources (HR) and Training has been extended to 3 December 2007 to enable the completion of handover arrangements with the new postholder. | ||||||||
Area Managers `B' & `A' - No change in number of posts since the last report. Group Manager 'B' & `A'- No change in the number of posts since the last report. Station Manager `B' & `A' - No change in the number of posts since the last report. | ||||||||
Watch Manager `B' - Increase of 9 FTE since the last report | ||||||||
4 Watch Manager `A' (WM `A') posts based at Gosport were re-evaluated as Watch Manager B (WM'B') | ||||||||
3 Additional WM'B' posts added to Winchester Station wef 1 October 2007 to enable the change from day to continuous crewing arrangements to be implemented as per the IRMP objective. | ||||||||
2 Business Education Instructors WM'B' that were previously funded from income have been added to the establishment. Post numbers: 40009169 &40009170 | ||||||||
Position number 40008690 Fire Safety Officer (North Group) WM'B' role currently funding Station Manager (Development ) Youth Engagement Officer Role until 28 Feb 2008, position number 50089494 to cover long term sickness of Green Book postholder. | ||||||||
Position Number 40009025 Home Fire Safety Visit Co-ordinator temporary position of WM'B' created until 31.12.2007 | ||||||||
Position 50090916, South East (SE) Region Water Rescue Project Secondment, created as Watch Manager'B' for a six month period with effect from 3 December 2007. | ||||||||
**Watch Manager 'A' - Decrease of 4 FTE since the last report. 4 Watch Manager `A' posts based at Gosport were re-evaluated as WM'B' | ||||||||
***Crew Managers - Increase of 2 FTE since the last report. Increase of 1 crew manager at Winchester wef 1 October 2007 to support day to continuous crewing changes. | ||||||||
Firefighter post for Fire Brigades Union (FBU) duties has been amended to a crew manager position. Base location originally Andover now Cosham Fire Station. | ||||||||
****Firefighters(FF) - Increase of 6 FTE since the last report. | ||||||||
Firefighter post for FBU duties deleted from Andover establishment. Redbridge Fire Station - number of firefighters reduced from 48 to 32 wef 1.10.2007 ( -16) resulting from change of 1 appliance to Retained Duty System (RDS) crewing. Winchester Fire Station - number of firefighters increased to 36 from 13 ( +23) wef 1.10.2007 to facilitate change from day to continuous crewing. | ||||||||
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 37 posts that receive external or other funding, an increase of 1 FTE 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 October 2007 to 30 November 2007. | ||||||||
Post Title/Area |
Funding Source |
Start/End Date | ||||||
Position number 40008690 Fire Safety Officer (North Group) WM'B' role currently funding Station Manager (Development ) Youth Engagement Officer Role until 28 Feb 2008, position number 50089494 to cover long term sickness of Green Book postholder. |
22.10.2007 To 28.2.2008 | |||||||
SE Region Water Rescue Project Secondment 50050916 |
South East Fire Improvement Partnership (SEFIP) funded for six months wef 6.12.2007 |
6.12.2007 to 5.6 2008 | ||||||
Total |
1 additional post added (1 FTE) |
|||||||
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 3 December 2007 |
3 December 2007 | ||||||||
Assistant Fire Resilience Co-ordinator Group manager 50018784 |
A new regional post has been created which is not a Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) specific temporary role, although the successful candidate is substantively a Station Manager in Hampshire. This is a Regional appointment funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). Arrangement extended. |
31 December 2007 | ||||||||
Command Strategy and Specialist Response Group Manager `B' 40007623 |
Funded from training income for 2007/8 |
31 March 2009 | ||||||||
Risk Intelligence Manager Group Manager 'A' 50082229 |
Internal funding |
31 August 2008 | ||||||||
Group Manager `B' Internal secondment for Regional Central Centre (RCC) and Firelink projects. 50038764 |
Group Manager seconded to this project to address the `operational' issues that are outside the remit of the existing Group Fire Control Officer (GFCO). 53K provided by the DCLG under the New Burdens Budget for this financial year. |
2 May 2008 | ||||||||
Group Manager `B' HR Support Manager (1 posts) 40007628 |
As part of Middle Management Review (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. Arrangement extended to August 2008 |
August 2008 | ||||||||
Special Projects and Specialist Response Station Manager `B' 50038707 |
Funded from training income for 2007/8 |
31 March 2009 | ||||||||
CFPIG Station Manager 'B' 50081642 |
Crown Premises inspection group. 1 year secondment. |
11 June 2008 | ||||||||
Station Manager (1 x `B' and 1 x Group Manager `A' posts) secondment to Communities and Local Government (CLG) 50005760 50015869 |
(CLG) 50005760 - Request received and approved from CLG to increase this secondment arrangement to Group Manager `A' (GM'A') salary rates wef September 2006 |
31 March 2008 | ||||||||
Station Manager `B' Arson Task Force Officer 50038337 |
Pump priming funding has been received from Hampshire County Council (HCC) to establish an Arson Task Force, in partnership with Hampshire Constabulary, to tackle arson across the county. Funding continuing until 31 March 2008 |
31 March 2008 | ||||||||
Temporary New Dimensions Regional Project Officer Station Manager 'B' 50051523 |
Station Manager `B' post. DCLG funded. Arrangement extended to 31 December 2007. |
31 December 2007 | ||||||||
Station Manager `A' Fire Safety Engineer 50036178 |
AFD Reduction Strategy. Internal secondment. Will eventually become green book post. |
31 March 2008 | ||||||||
Station Manager `A' Business Education Unit Manager (non grey book specific role) 40009030 |
Business Education income Arrangement extended to 31 March 2008 |
31 March 2008 | ||||||||
Station Manager `B' Urban Search And Rescue 50024782 |
DCLG |
Reviewed annually | ||||||||
Station Manager `A'- Secondment Maritime Coastal Agency (MCA) Liaison 50024789 |
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 |
PO's meeting of 23/3/06 agreed to second 2 x Watch Manager 'B' to Service Headquarters (SHQ) Training Centre to develop Command Training. |
31 March 2008 | ||||||||
Firelink/Firecontrol project support officer Watch Manager 'A' 50082228 |
Externally Funded by CLG from project programme for 1 year. Review annually. |
31 August 2008 | ||||||||
Rural Safety Officer Watch Manager A 50043050 |
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 a neutral Arrangement extended to 31 March 2008 |
31 March 2008 | ||||||||
Watch Manager (3 posts) Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) 50016815 50024781 50024783 |
DCLG |
Reviewed annually | ||||||||
Watch Manager (2 posts) Business Education Training 40009169 40009170 |
Business Education income |
31 March 2008 | ||||||||
Watch Manager Safety Compliance Officer 50039927 |
Temporary position for two years. |
23 January 2008 | ||||||||
Youth Interaction Officer Crew Manager 50081784 |
Funded from pump priming grant initially for 2 years from Southampton City Council. |
31 August 2009 | ||||||||
Community Link Officer (Crew Manager) 50042275 |
One year temporary arrangement, funded by Portsmouth City Council. |
31 December 2007 | ||||||||
Crew Manager (3 posts) Urban Search And Rescue 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 | ||||||||
LIFE Project Instructors 1 Firefighter Posts 50074560 |
1 Post at present. |
31 March 2008 | ||||||||
FF (3 posts) Urban Search And Rescue 50036968 53336967 50028370 |
Communities and Local Government (CLG) |
Reviewed annually | ||||||||
Total |
36 FTE 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: 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 the CLG as per their requirements, it is reviewed annually with no end date given. Funding has just been confirmed for the period 2008 - 2011. | ||||||||||
Retained Duty System ( RDS) Establishment - Represented as 24 hour cover units (See Note 1 Below) Grey Book | ||||||||||
Role |
Authorised Establishment (FTE) |
Actual Establishment FTE |
||||||||
Watch Manager A |
49 |
63.75 |
||||||||
Crew Manager |
112 |
94.25 |
||||||||
Ff |
487 |
443.75 |
||||||||
Total |
648* |
601.75 (46.25 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 FTE. Actual establishment figures includes 4 x Animal Rescue specialists that also undertake retained duties. * The overall actual establishment has decreased from 605.25 FTE to 601.75 FTE, although overall 46.25 FTE under establishment. The movement of employees from Service Housing at Winchester and Havant to alternative home locations has resulted in some changes to the ability of Wholetime Duty System (WDS) employees to also provide RDS cover. In addition the move of workshop personnel from Winnal to Eastleigh will impact on the RDS day cover at Winchester. Group managers have initiated recruitment activities to address these shortfalls on their respective stations. Please note that the national Firefighter Selection Tests have been implemented for RDS recruitment wef 1 October 2007, as per national guidance. The impact of these arrangements will be monitored closely. | ||||||||||
Externally Funded Team Funded by CLG - Urban Search and Rescue Team United Kingdom (UK) Team - On Retained USAR Contracts) Grey Book | ||||||||||
Authorised Establishment (Head Count) |
Externally/Other Funded (Head Count) |
Actual Establishment (Head Count) | ||||||||
0 |
33 |
30 | ||||||||
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. | ||||||||||
6 |
Financial Implications |
All posts are being funded by the existing budget arrangements, which where advised includes external/other funding. | |
7 |
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. | |
8 |
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 | |
/HFRA/HR Committee 1.2.08 Establishment LH.8.12.07