The Scottish Government

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Part-Time Firefighters

CHAPTER ONE: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

1.1 This report presents the findings of a programme of research on the integration of part-time firefighters into the mainstream Fire Service.

Background

1.2 This is the second of two research projects commissioned by the Scottish Executive into part-time firefighters and their integration in the mainstream Fire Service. The previous study ², published by the Office of the Chief Researcher, was designed to inform Scottish Ministers and other interested parties of the expectations and issues arising from part-time staff and their managers in Scotland. It highlighted a number of areas for further investigation, particularly in the fields of management, family life, and recruitment and training. More specifically the issues highlighted included:

• Management - brigades could consider the provision of training specifically in regards to the management of a volunteer force and be more aware of the different types of rural and Retained firefighters. Procedures whereby rural and Retained firefighters contribute to brigade decision-making should be developed.
• Family commitment - brigades could give increased recognition to the support given to firefighters by their families and to the disruption caused as a result of operational duties. This could take the form of encouraging family involvement in station open days or brigade contributions to Christmas or other special events.
• Recruitment - candidates could meet the staff at the unit they wish to join and have a 2-3 week assessment period at the beginning of their appointment. Many rural and Retained units would welcome the opportunity to be more involved in the selection process for new recruits. For all applicants, more information regarding the selection process was welcome.
• Training was generally viewed positively in terms of its quality, depth and value, but there were concerns about the lack of time devoted to training each week. Training that was provided by the Scottish Fire Service Training School and by the brigades' own central training facilities was viewed very positively. However, a key finding was that there was seen to be a lack of training in team building and maintenance skills for Leading Firefighters, Sub Officers and station officers. Among other recommendations, the authors advocated joint training sessions between different types of firefighters.

1.3 There has been much Ministerial discussion regarding the role of Scotland's Fire Service and in May 2002, the Scottish Parliament committed to reform and modernise the service. ³ The debate reiterated the key role of the Fire Service in making communities, and people living within these communities, feel safer. Six key drivers for change were outlined -:

1.4 Central to this debate is a shift from heavy involvement in fire fighting towards fire prevention, through education and enforcement activities. In addition, in certain locations across Scotland, there is a heavy reliance on part-time non career firefighters and Ministers are keen to ensure that any changes are inclusive to all sectors of the Fire Service.

1.5 As one element of its modernisation agenda, The Scottish Executive Justice Department (SEJD) commissioned a second stage of research to identify practical and effective mechanisms through which part-time firefighters can become more effectively integrated within the structures of local authority fire brigades in Scotland. The Scottish Executive believe that part-time firefighters have a very important role in protecting the public and wish to see how they might be further integrated into the mainstream Fire Service to further release their potential.

Objectives of the Research

1.6 The aims of the broad research programme are to build upon the previous research and:

1. Identify the relationships between the functions required to be delivered by part-time firefighters
2. Identify and examine the barriers and problems that are likely to be encountered in implementing strategic change in the part-time sector and explore ways in which these barriers and problems can be overcome
3 .Advise on possible solutions and provide recommendations which will focus on the move towards fire prevention

1.7 The research methodology comprised three key elements:

1 A collation and review of the current literature relating to part-time firefighters in the UK and abroad.

The key findings of the literature review have been incorporated into the body of this report.

2 A series of interviews with individuals in key stakeholder organisations in the Fire Service e.g. senior fire officers, key union officials, local authority officials with a Fire Service remit etc.

A total of 18 in-depth interviews were conducted among individuals within key stakeholder organisations.

3 Both these elements of this study fed into a final series of group discussions, mini-group discussions and in-depth interviews, undertaken with whole-time and part-time firefighters, and in-depth interviews with senior officers involved in training and management throughout the Fire Service in Scotland.

The locations of the group discussions and in-depth interviews were chosen to incorporate a brigade with significant numbers of both whole-time and part-time firefighters, a brigade where part-time staff form a small element within the total force and a brigade where part-time firefighters represent a significant part of the total fire service in that area.

Three focus groups were conducted with whole-time firefighters across three different Fire Brigades.

Five focus groups and two mini-focus groups were held in order to cover all types of part-time firefighter, male and female firefighters and different geographical regions. Firefighters were recruited from a number of fire stations within each Brigade's area, to extend the sample frame as widely as possible. The structure of these is shown in the chart below.

1.8 Finally, in this stage of the research, a total of twelve in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted among senior and managerial staff who are involved in training, management and recruitment of firefighters. These discussions were held with senior personnel at both a divisional and district level.

1.9 Once the research was completed, a workshop was held at the Scottish Fire Service Training School in Gullane in order to discuss initial findings of the research. Attendees at this workshop were from a variety of organisations including the Scottish fire brigades, local councils, trade unions, stakeholder organisations and those with an interest in the role of the retained, auxiliary and volunteer firefighter.

1.10 Verbatim quotations have been used throughout this report to illustrate key points being made. Where quotations are used, they represent a consensus view across the sample.

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