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Minister Launches Key Project March 2008 MINISTER LAUNCHES KEY PROJECT ecretary of State for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears visited Sthe Service recently to officially launch a unique information-sharing project which will provide better services for vulnerable elderly people. The Service has worked in partnership with numerous agencies including the NHS, Cheshire County Council Social Services, Cheshire, Halton and Warrington Information Consortium and Business Insight and IT providers IBM and Esprit to set up a system and protocol for sharing information about vulnerable people. The system ensures the risks facing vulnerable residents are reduced and that people are given easy access to all the support and advice they need. In launching the initiative. Hazel Blears, said: initiatives will allow us to “This is an excellent example of the Fire and target those in most need and Rescue Service spotting an issue and doing to continue reducing house something about it. fires, damage to property, fire “You are thoroughly respected and trusted in deaths and injuries.” the communities you serve and as a result of your During her visit the drive and determination and the commitment of Minister spent an hour key partners, vulnerable elderly people in Cheshire meeting staff from across the can now benefit from many more services.” Service and was also Councillor Tony Hooton, Chair of the Fire introduced to 92-year-old Authority added: “My thanks go to our partners Mrs. Marjorie Clayton of who have worked with us to accomplish a truly Poynton who received a whole package of support services as a result unique achievement. This project and other of information received during a Home Safety Assessment. I N Chester’s Reporters Caroline’s look a in the hot marathon S likes p7 seat p11 bid p20 I D E PLUS... Red routes hit the headlines – page 13 1 Service sets the standard he Service has achieved Level 3 of the Equality Standard for Local Government – Tone of the first authorities in the country to do so through an independent assessment. Following an intensive review of the Service, the external assessor praised the organisation for its progress in embedding equality and diversity across the organisation. To achieve the Standard an in depth self- assessment report had to be prepared and submitted and this was then checked by the external validator who also spent two days interviewing staff from across the Service as well as some key partners. The report concluded: “The three elements of the assessment: the self assessment document, the Case studies such as the Service’s text messaging for deaf supporting evidence and the interviews provided a residents were highlighted in the self assessment document consistent view of CFRS’s achievements …… In particular it should be noted that during interviews staff were both comprehensive action plan to help the organisation’s new enthusiastic and well-informed about improving the way in target of achieving Level 4 of the Standard by July 2009 and they deliver services and employ staff.” Level 5 in 2010. Deputy Chief Fire Officer Kathryn Foreman said: “I am delighted that we have achieved Level 3 and that we were Equality training for able to do so within our challenging deadline of December 31, 2007. “The achievement is down to hard work and members of staff commitment by people throughout the Service, including November saw the delivery of the first Equality and our Authority Members, but I would like to say a particular Diversity Course run at Service Headquarters in Winsford. thank you to Erin Fulton our Equality and Diversity Officer In total three courses have been completed and each for leading us through the process.” Watch or Department will be covered over the next twelve months to include over 300 members of staff. The assessment judged the Service against the following Over the summer LDC’s Jon Caulfield attended a two day themes: course in Sheffield provided by the ADDRESS project • Leadership and Corporate Communications (Achieving and Delivering, Diversity Results within the • Consultation, Community Development and Scrutiny Emergency Services Sector) which was funded by CFOA and • Service Delivery and Customer Care all Fire and Rescue Services nationally will receive the input. • Employment and Training The course is designed to educate both operational and support staff on all aspects of Equality and Diversity, including The Service’s Equality Task Group is now drawing up a discrimination, racism, ageism, and harassment. Tax rise held at 2.8% ire Authority Members have or 3p per week extra. Members said it such as building safety and voted to keep the Council Tax had been possible to keep the increase rescues from road traffic collisions Fincrease needed to fund the down thanks to a combination of strong • Extra community safety Service in 2008 – 09 down to 2.8%. financial management in recent years, advocates to work with £550,000 of efficiencies and savings, businesses in identifying risks in At the meeting on February 13, together with a good grant settlement their premises Members set the organisation’s budget from the Government. • Better information to frontline staff for 2008-09 at £40.7m and fixed the when responding to emergencies Council Tax level at the equivalent of New developments to be funded by in key commercial premises £62.71 a year for a Band D home. the 2008-09 budget include: • Better protective clothing and The increase is equivalent to just • New posts to provide training equipment for firefighters £1.71 a year more for a Band D home – expertise for firefighters in areas 2 in my view. The news that we have been externally It’s not just about making our recruitment assessed as being at Level 3 of the Equality more open and accessible, it includes our safety Standard for Local Government is a work out in the community and our approach to tremendous achievement for our whole some of the emergency incidents we respond organisation. to. We took the challenging decision to put From the assessor’s report it is clear that he ourselves through an independent, external was impressed with the level of enthusiasm and assessment of our progress rather than opt for support shown by staff in every one of the the less rigorous self assessment route which interviews he carried out. some of our fellow Services have done. Our challenge is to continue our progress Doing so put us under a lot more pressure, and achieve the next levels in the Standard. but I am convinced it has helped to ensure that True success, however, will be when everyone everyone in our Service is really clear about the automatically considers the equality impacts of Steve critical importance of equality and diversity in their work without having to go through a formal McGuirk everything we do. process. Eagle-eyed Liz comes to the rescue hester’s Community Fire Protection Admin Manager Liz CParry was taking telephone call explaining to a business owner about the requirements under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order when she saw what she believed to be steam issuing from the side of the George Street Centre opposite the Fire Station. Liz said, “I knew there were building works in the area, so I kept an eye on it, but continued with my call. After about 15 seconds, the ‘steam’ became thicker and I thought this didn’t seem right.” She alerted Station Admin Manager Catherine Wilson who spoke to WM Rodaway and the White Watch crews carrying out training on the drill yard. operational crews and TANNOY true team work here at Chester Fire Station.” Liz continued, “I dialled 999 on the office mobile and was connected to Control and told them about the smoke and the Area Manager for location.” Community Risk Reduction Protection A member of White Watch put out a Tannoy message for a John Redmond said “I running call for all on-duty crews and the bells went down. would like to Less than a minute later, they were on their way to the scene congratulate Liz for her where they found the blaze in the main hall. speed in alerting the “Support staff at the front of the station had a great view emergency crews to this fire. Thankfully on this occasion there of the crews working hard to bring the blaze under control. At was no-one inside but there easily could have been as we its height two appliances from Chester, two from Ellesmere were aware that the building is used by people sleeping rough Port and an aerial appliance were in attendance. - so well done Liz.” “It all happened so quickly - within about a minute - but it The cause of the incident is currently under investigation. was a fantastic example of support staff working with 3 White watch enlist local MP atch Manager Chris saying “What a great incentive to stay Rodaway enlisted the help safe, get free advice and fit free Wof local Labour MP smoke alarms. This initiative has high Christine Russell in delivering Home targets but the crew of White Watch Safety Assessments to the Chester Chester insist they are very achievable community. and that I fully support all the hard work that Cheshire Fire and Rescue The MP was very eager to learn Service does in looking after the about what information is given to safety of all our communities,” she members of the public and assisted in said. fitting smoke alarms. Local resident Ray Kelly was a little surprised to see Mr Kelly was very happy with the Christine on his door step and must service that was provided and have thought a snap election had although a supporter of another been called and door step canvassing political party, he was more than had begun! But he did allow staff happy to allow Christine into his access when they explained that they home.
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