Archived decisions
Appendix 2
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority
11 February 2009
Draft corporate objectives 2009 to 2011
01 Develop `intelligence-led' delivery of services
What and Why?
Working with our partners we want to develop further our knowledge and understanding of the risks in our communities. This will help us to better target our resources and deliver higher quality services to make life safer. Also, we want to maximise the benefits of enhanced risk information from the new Regional Control Centre from 2011.
How and When?
We will increase capacity and capability in our Community Risk Intelligence Team. Through improved practices and systems, we will ensure the timely exchange of risk-intelligence data and information with our partners.
This will be a multi-phased project starting in April 2009. Phase 1 will maximise the benefits of integrating internal data sets and systems - including the gathering of local knowledge from staff who work in our communities. Phase 2 will enhance our capability to analyse the data. Phase 3 will seek to improve the sharing of data and information with our `Local Area Agreement' partners.
[Contributing to our priorities for: people, property, environment, community, resources]
02 Develop new response standards for different types of risk
What and Why?
As part of our preparation for the new regional control centre, we will review and establish new `speed of response' standards for getting the most appropriate resources to different types of incident. We want to ensure that our policies and practices align with other fire and rescue services in the South East Region. We will take into account any changes in vehicle and equipment specifications being developed in objective 03.
How and When?
We will review our current response standards for the various risks and types of incident that have been identified in the regional control centre project. We will start the project in April 2009 and make recommendations in July 2009.
[Contributing to our priorities for: people, property, environment, community, resources]
03 Develop response vehicles to better meet our risks
What and Why?
We will critically review the specifications of our current response vehicles to identify where improved designs, or alternative types of vehicles, could lead to improved operational effectiveness and efficiency in dealing with incidents.
How and When?
This review will complement objective 02 dealing with response standards. It will incorporate our existing emergency vehicle projects and working groups. This is on-going research and development, but the aim will be to make some initial recommendations in October 2009.
[Contributing to our priorities for: people, property, environment, community, resources]
04 Develop efficient and flexible crewing
What and Why?
We will review crewing arrangements on fire stations to identify more flexible and efficient ways of deploying our personnel. In doing so, we will continue to ensure that an effective emergency response is maintained.
Our current arrangements do not make best use of our staff. We want to improve this by providing more flexible ways of working which will create a better work-life balance. This review will not result in staff cuts at this stage, but it will deliver efficiency gains.
How and When?
Implementation will be in three stages.
Stage 1 will extend the existing `personnel reserve' to cover `24/7' from 1 June 2009.
Stage 2 involves reducing the number of firefighter posts on specific watches through the redeployment of firefighters to other roles. Any shortfalls in crewing numbers will be met from the 24/7 personnel reserve and, in the longer term, from a `staffing bank'. This stage will start in October 2009.
Stage 3 will research and develop an annual approach to shift planning. This will provide flexibility for station-based staff, while ensuring that the quality of our services is not compromised. Implementation is anticipated in April 2010.
[Contributing to our priorities for: people, property, environment, community, resources]
05 Develop the core skills of our firefighters
What and Why?
The risks our firefighters face change over time - and so do the technologies and methods to deal with them. It is therefore essential that we continue to review and develop the core skills of our firefighters so that they can be both safe and highly proficient.
How and When?
A multidisciplinary project team (involving firefighters) will review the effectiveness of current competency-based training methods for developing firefighters' core skills. Initial recommendations will be presented by October 2009
[Contributing to our priorities for: people, property, environment, community, resources]
06 Review the delivery of our services in the area covered by Bishops Waltham, Botley, Droxford and Wickham Fire Stations
What and Why?
We want to engage and work with these local communities to identify and develop innovative ways of improving the way we deliver our services. We want to examine how we might better use our resources - and those of our partners and other agencies - to promote community safety messages and respond effectively to emergency incidents.
We will use the outcomes of this review as a template for engaging with other rural communities.
How and When?
The project team(s) will include representatives from our various key partners, local community-based organisations, and our staff. They will be tasked with identifying new ways of working to improve community safety. The review will commence in April 2009 and will be completed by April 2010.
[Contributing to our priorities for: people, property, environment, community, resources]
07 Develop a community resilience strategy
What and Why?
Fire and rescue services have a legal duty and vital role to play in responding to local and major emergencies. We will work with community-based groups and other organisations to develop various `self help' local plans and initiatives. By working together in the community we can reduce risks and make a positive and effective response if and when major emergencies occur.
How and When?
During 2009/10 we will review and develop emergency plans and contingency arrangements in conjunction with Local and Regional Resilience forums to ensure that they take account of current and emerging risks to our local communities.
[Contributing to our priorities for: people, property, community, resources]
Secretarial/WP/W/C/HFRA 2009 2009 02 11 HFRA Service Plan Appx 2 Objectives DH/JMW/02/02/09