Fsc-Hotline-Newsletter-July.Pdf
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HOTLINE ISSUE 2 JULY 2016 FIRE SERVICE COLLEGE NEWSLETTER initiative was recently acknowledged in the As part of this restructure, Managing Home Secretary’s speech on Fire Reform. Director Martin Thomas left the College Welcome in June and we thank him for his energy, In ‘Meeting of minds’ (pg 7) we explain vision and commitment over the past Welcome to the how the new College Working Group, 18 months. We welcome Darren Bance second edition of established in collaboration with CFOA, who this month joins us as our new MD. Hotline, keeping you will better leverage sector expertise and Darren has significant experience across up to date on the facilitate customer input into new product both public and private sectors, having latest developments development. In ‘Continuous improvement’ worked previously with Capita for six years taking place at the (pg 6), we demonstrate how we are on a number of contracts with the Home Fire Service College. responding to customer feedback via a Office, Metropolitan Police and Transport for range of new measures and programmes. London. Capita remains firmly committed In line with recent Home Office to the College and will continue to work announcements and the clear, growing To accelerate some of our newest initiatives closely with us as we further review our interest and political will to introduce reforms we have reviewed our organisational organisational structure to ensure that, across fire and the wider emergency structure. Looking specifically at how going forward, the College continues to services sector, the College is working hard we can optimise our position within serve you well. The UKFRS and wider to deliver new initiatives to support our the Capita Group, the decision has emergency services remain customers of customers on this journey of transformation. been made to move the College into primary importance and we will continue Driven by the push for greater collaboration the Learning Services division. to further develop our strategic vision to within the fire sector, and the need to be your first choice provider of learning identify opportunities and synergies with the This will enable us to access additional and development services. To find out police, we understand the importance of capabilities to accelerate and expand more, please don’t hesitate to contact me evolving to ensure that our training remains our offering to you, including fully at: [email protected] relevant in today’s changing climate. managed learning programmes, apprenticeship schemes, and Bernie Higgins Over the last year, great momentum has innovative digital learning solutions. Director of Training, Fire Service College been building and we are now seeing numerous new initiatives come to fruition. Our article ‘Safety in numbers’ (pg 8) outlines our strategic vision to drive efficiencies and savings across the UK Fire & Rescue Service. The outcome of the recent EU referendum has created a high level of economic uncertainty, an impact of which may be a further reduction in public spending. Our strategic vision to move towards a Managed Services proposition is designed to promote collaboration, whilst offering best value for money. We are proud to play an important part in the UKFRS R&D function by hosting the RDTI Hub at the College – the first of our Shared Services. This exciting and ground-breaking 2 5 6 8 At your Service Commitment Continuous improvement Safety in numbers Rolling out our to Reform Our new initiatives to Optimising capabilities tried-and-tested FFDP Mike Penning MP improve the customer despite budgetary recruitment programme shares his views experience pressures At your Service Our new tried-and-tested Firefighter Development recruitment and training programme is to be rolled out UK-wide to deliver qualified firefighters direct to your Service. Building on the success of our #Born Implemented across a range of relevant • Current Retained Duty System model Ready on-call Firefighter Foundation social media channels – reviewed and = 10 weeks of 3 day weekends Development Programme (FFDP) adapted daily to ensure optimal engagement recruitment and training initiative, – the recruitment aspect will target specific • Current Wholetime model launched in 2015, the College is now audiences, based on identified criteria = 8 weeks of 5 days rolling the campaign out nationwide including ethnic group, location, age and for Wholetime and Retained (On- gender as well as interests such as fitness. You can also select other content call) firefighters. The College will An interactive call to action will drive potential (e.g. Water Responder, Safe Working work with FRSs across the UK recruits to the website, for a smooth, at Height) to add to an FFDP course, to attract and assess potential timely and seamless application process. enabling training to be tailored to recruits, and train and deliver your specific needs and delivered qualified firefighters in a targeted, The campaign will use a proven over a timeframe to suit you. efficient and cost-effective way. methodology piloted last year, when the College worked with Oxfordshire, Devon To join a webinar to find out more about Each participating FRS will have a dedicated & Somerset and Lincolnshire FRSs. how the programme could work for presence on a special recruitment website, This campaign attracted 8,000 potential you, or to discuss your particular needs, where candidates can apply. Initial candidates to the dedicated website, contact [email protected] screening will ask a number of agreed exceeding target response rates by 48%. questions enabling the FRS to address their particular needs, such as postcode, Assessment days will enable applicants to Over 8,000 potential making it possible, with particular reference find out more about the role of a firefighter, to on-call recruits, to identify how close the UKFRS and the FFDP, while they candidates visited the they live to a particular fire station. will also carry out the National Firefighter dedicated website, Selection Tests, gym-based fitness testing, The campaign has been designed to be and (if required) English and Maths tests. exceeding target highly flexible to optimise engagement response rates by 48% across different communities, helping The College solution combines Attraction, FRSs to address issues of diversity within Selection and Training as a single product their Services. Through developing highly for a single fee. In line with all College The campaign generated targeted communication tools, routes products, the FFDP follows a modularised and messages that appeal to defined model, giving you the opportunity to more applicants for the populations within an area – translated decide the place, time and pace of participating FRSs in six into the appropriate language as delivery – for Retained Firefighters this weeks than each would necessary – the campaign aims to create can allow for consolidation of skills a community of interested people. as they progress through training: normally attract in a year 2 HOTLINE ISSUE 2 JULY 2016 FFDP Attraction | Selection | Training Attraction & Selection Training • Tried-and-tested, intelligence-led, • Subject Matter Expert instructors with a proven multi-dimensional and highly targeted track record in delivering quality training online advertising campaign • Newly updated, modularised, intensive training • Assessment against National Standards informs accredited with SFJ(A) to deliver firefighters candidate identification and selection ready to go ‘on the run’ immediately • On-line processing saves HR • On-site world class facilities enable exposure and recruitment costs to unrivalled breadth of live scenarios • Partnership approach allows Services to be fully • Option to work alongside your own instructors involved and make the important ‘hire’ decisions removes the need for conversion courses • Value-for-money proposal removes • Purpose-built Fire Station offers an authentic the uncertainty of total costs learning environment, nurturing team bonding Dave Etheridge Chief Fire Officer, Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service Trainees from Oxfordshire and Devon & Somerset FRSs took part in a joint firefighter development programme at the College - the first of its kind, with firefighters and recruit firefighters from across the UK coming together to use College facilities, which are arguably the best in the world. The recruits thoroughly enjoyed their training and it’s great that they had the opportunity to work alongside firefighters from other organisations. The experience they gained from the incident ground scenarios certainly provided a training event that will benefit them and they’ll come back to Service competent, confident and able to make a difference to the communities that we serve. It’s been great to see young trainees at the beginning of their journey. Councillor Mark Healey Chairman, Devon & Somerset Fire Authority Blue Light services are working more closely together, with the role of firefighters now also including that of Community Safety Officer. This training event brought individuals together by providing the opportunity to work as a team – this is essential, as teambuilding is one of the most important aspects of being a firefighter. Having a transient workforce, who have been trained at the College and can work efficiently and swiftly together is crucial and that’s what the recruits gained from this, as well as building camaraderie and friendship for the future, to enable them to work together and go into