« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL INSPECTION OF STRATHCLYDE FIRE BRIGADE 2003
INTRODUCTION
1. The Principal Inspection of Strathclyde Fire Brigade was initially begun during August 2002. Shortly afterwards a pay dispute affecting the fire service on a national level commenced and the inspection process was suspended and subsequently concluded during September 2003. HM Inspectorate team comprised Dennis Davis, Allan Whitton, Mark Jones and Dave Boyle. Asif Haseeb from Audit Scotland (the Brigade's External Auditor) also reviewed arrangements. Firemaster Jeff Ord, with the support of the Brigade's senior managers, facilitated and was present during key stages of the Inspection.
2. Strathclyde are the last of the eight brigades in Scotland to be inspected using a refined Principal Inspection procedure. Although this was not a joint inspection with Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive, this function in part being reviewed by Assistant Inspectors Jones and Boyle, the method used was comprehensive and followed a detailed assessment criteria.
3. The inspection identified a number of areas where further improvement might be made. These included:
- Better data management linked into a strategic plan to provide an overview of the strategic direction being sought by the Brigade.
- Corrections being made to the Brigade's establishment to reflect staff seconded for training purposes.
- Information presented to the public via the Brigade's website being improved to show wide range of activities the Brigade has undertaken.
- An urgent need for the provision of a brigade-wide information technology infrastructure.
- Improvement in the number of experienced Inspecting Officers available to meet an increase in workload and redress decline in the number and efficiency of fire safety inspections being carried out.
4. Overall, it is assessed that the service provided is satisfactory and there is confidence that, in the general terms of the Fire Services Act 1947, the Brigade and Fire Authority are effectively discharging their duty.
5. This report highlights in bold text areas for further consideration to assist in the process of continuous improvement and those of good practice. The purpose of this approach is to enable the Firemaster and other Brigade managers the opportunity to review, together with members of the Fire Authority, the findings arising from the Inspection. Having reviewed the findings it is suggested that action is taken in a programmed and targeted way to ensure advancement of the Brigade, either through the structured service plan or a specific action plan.
6. By adopting this approach HM Fire Service Inspectorate believes sufficient time and, where required, resource can be allocated to secure the longer term progress required in some areas.
7. It should also be noted that highlighting matters for further consideration is not intended to suggest that only the need for improvement was identified during the inspection. On the contrary, since fire brigades are extensive and complex organisations, the focus for improvement commences from a position that satisfactory performance exists in all areas and that in some shows good practice.
8. Some of these good practice areas identified in Strathclyde Fire Brigade are:
- Technical developments identified in the field of mobile data communications.
- Fleet management which have shown positive results both for staff and the Authority.
- Notable initiatives in working with the community in community safety initiatives is especially notable.
- The introduction of a mobile real fire training unit, which has established the principle of taking training to the personnel in remote community fire stations.
- The Brigade had also established a Risk Management Unit which helped draw together at an Authority level those challenges which are arising on a fairly constant basis in all brigades.
« Previous | Contents | Next »