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 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

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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 Development recruitment and training programme is to be rolled out UK-wide to deliver qualified 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 . 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 different areas of the community together.

www.fireservicecollege.ac.uk 3 Integrating blue light leadership Move closer to meet modern day challenges By Maggie Harte OBE

Maggie retired from full time working in the UK Fire and Rescue Service in 2012 after 36 years. During that time she held several senior training and HR posts, including Development Manager at and Director of Operations at the Fire Service College. Maggie has been involved with the ELP since 2010. In 2009 she was awarded an OBE for her work with the Fire and Rescue Service.

In her plans for reforming the April the first in a series of meetings As the ninth cohort completes this Fire and Rescue Service, former between the College of Policing, CFOA, year’s programme we have issued Home Secretary Theresa May has the Association of Ambulance Chief the invitation to apply for ELP 2017. stated the desire to bring fire and Executives and the wider Health Service A big thank you to the Fire Service police services closer together. took place in London to consider College for the support they continue And so those of us working in how senior leadership programmes to offer in hosting the programme. this field would be well advised could be blended. The group began Seminars will take place at the College to start looking for opportunities the process of looking at existing over 19 contact days throughout the to voluntarily blend activities. leadership strategies, approaches to year, delivered by Warwick Business core progression and the role of the School (WBS). Designed to provide a In truth, the whole issue of blending various training institutions involved. means of identifying and adopting the leadership development has been on the most appropriate leadership strategies radar for some time. The Cross Sector Whilst it may take some time to look to cope with real problems facing Leadership Exchange, now a Public at a fully integrated approach, it was the public services today, successful Interest Company, started life five years immediately obvious that the ELP and completion of all five modules and ago when senior staff from the Chief Fire SCC have many mutual objectives. Both associated assignments will lead Officers’ Association (CFOA), College services are going through substantial to the award of a Post Graduate of Policing and the NHS realised the change and continue to be challenged Certificate in Strategic Leadership. potential for economies of scale and by the changing world around them (for real learning. Since then a series of short instance, terrorism and climate change). programmes and seminars on matters Both seek to produce leaders who can Access is via a one-day assessment of mutual interest has been held for be successful in operational command gateway at the College on either leaders from each of these sectors and and business management and who 31 October or 1/2 November. from other public bodies and charities. can inspire and develop people and For more information, go to organisations. Both continue to strive for www.fireservicecollege.ac.uk/elp However there is more to be done. diversity. As we start to look ahead to from late July until early At present the Police Service Senior 2017, priority will be given to exploring September or contact me at Command Course (SCC) and the Fire how at least one module from each could [email protected] Service Executive Leadership Programme be merged and it is hoped that this could (ELP) are run separately. However, in form part of next year’s programme. The interoperability challenge

‘The Challenge for Effective Multi-Agency made via the Joint Emergency Services responsibility for provision of services, Training and the Role of Innovation’ is Interoperability Programme (JESIP) in together create a need to drive forward a theme addressed by the College at a recent years to promote more effective innovation across the sector. number of prestigious industry events this interoperability at strategic and tactical levels, The development of shared year, including Ambition 2016 at London improvements are still required at ground service capabilities and Olympia and The Congress on Fire and level. Different time pressures and operating shared best practice will Emergency Resilience in the Face of environments of today’s Blue Light and reduce some of the Terrorism at London’s Caledonian Club. other Category 1 emergency responders current duplication necessitate disparate approaches to and promote greater Bernie Higgins, Director of Training, training, making the roll-out of multi-agency efficiency – ultimately discussed how emergency services can training programmes problematic. providing more joined- respond safely and effectively to mass up and effective casualty events without a firm foundation The need to consistently demonstrate prevention and in multi-agency training and greater cross excellence against a shared backdrop response to 21st sector collaboration and innovation. of a constantly evolving society, a wide century issues Whilst significant advances have been range of budgetary pressures and mutual and threats.

4 HOTLINE ISSUE 2 JULY 2016 Commitment to Reform By The Rt Hon Mike Penning MP, Minister for Policing, Fire and Criminal Justice and Victims (jointly with the Ministry of Justice)

In May, the Home Secretary outlined A rigorous and independent inspection the Government’s programme of regime will be established, replacing reform for the fire and rescue service the current system of peer review. which will improve accountability, To encourage greater collaboration drive efficiencies and collaboration, between the emergency services so that bring independent scrutiny and it becomes the norm, the Policing and increase transparency to the public. Crime Bill puts a statutory duty on all the emergency services to collaborate The service should be proud of whenever it is in the interests of their Mike Penning MP the remarkable job it has done in efficiency or their effectiveness to do so Mike Penning was appointed contributing to making our communities which will enable the emergency services Minister of State at the Home safer. However, I believe it requires to deliver savings whilst improving the Office and Minister of State at further reform to improve the whole service to the public. We will publish the Ministry of Justice on 15 range of services provided to the comparative procurement data from July 2014, with responsibility public and to preserve the sustained every fire and rescue authority in for Policing, Fire and Criminal falls in fire incidents and deaths we to encourage services to pool their Justice and Victims. He took have seen in recent decades. purchasing power and buy collectively. over ministerial responsibility for fire policy earlier this year, Over the next four years, we intend to We are also committed to increasing after it transferred to the Home work with fire and rescue services to collaboration within the service itself. The Office from DCLG. Prior to this, deliver a package of ambitious reforms. recent agreement between the Chief he held ministerial posts at Fire Officers’ Association, Fire Industry the Department for Work and We will bring greater accountability Association and the Fire Service College Pensions, the Northern Ireland to the work of local fire and rescue to form a new research and development Office, and the Department for services by giving Police and Crime partnership is one example and shows Transport. After leaving school, Commissioners the ability to take on what collaboration can be done. I hope this Mike joined the British army and responsibility for the fire and rescue partnership is embraced by the service. served in the Grenadier Guards. service where a local case is made. He then worked as a firefighter By making these changes, the fire for Essex County Fire and Rescue and rescue service will become more Service, before joining his family accountable, more effective and more business. He later worked as professional than ever before, building a political journalist, before on the great strides in prevention and becoming elected as the MP for collaboration that fire and rescue services Hemel Hempstead in 2005. have already made. I, and colleagues in the Home Office, look forward to working with you to make this happen.

The recent agreement between the Chief Fire Officers Association, Fire Industry Association and the Fire Service College to form a new research and development partnership is one example and shows what collaboration can be done.

www.fireservicecollege.ac.uk 5 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

KPIs have been introduced for different Continuous areas across the College and these will be monitored and reviewed to enable us to identify any concerns as soon as possible. We will then take the necessary action or put suitable improvement measures in place to ensure that this area or process is made more robust. The College is dedicated to a culture Quality Review Process of continuous improvement and we Compliance Review are constantly striving to improve the We take all feedback very seriously customer experience that we provide. and have recently launched a new and These reviews confirm compliance rigorous course review process. All to our training-related and wider We aim to exceed your expectations and courses will be audited on an annual quality assurance processes, will always welcome your feedback about basis to ensure that content remains helping to ensure they are effective all aspects of our service – from our training up to date with current National and efficient. This includes the materials and instructors through to your Operational Guidance and is delivered Quality Review Process above, experience of our on-site accommodation, via the latest learning and development in addition to processes for the catering and other facilities. Whilst the latest techniques. In this way learners can observation of teaching and learning, figures show that 95% of our learners judged feel confident that they are instructed standardisation, assessment, course their overall learning experience to be “good” in the very latest knowledge and best reporting and delegate feedback. or “excellent”, we recognise that there is practice. New Product Management An ongoing schedule of actions always room for improvement. To this end positions have also recently been ensures that all issues, including we have recently launched a number of created with responsibility for the those identified by delegates, are new programmes and initiatives to ensure development of our product strategy followed up. Any concerns are that we continue to live up to the high to ensure that our training courses are prioritised and acted upon where standards that both you, and we, expect. always recognised as ‘best in class’. appropriate.

RTC Instructor training “I felt the trauma input UPDATED instructor courses With major developments in car was very good and this safety over the last five years, FRSs focused the course on We will shortly be relaunching a often face far greater challenges and number of our instructor courses complexities in extricating casualties the casualty, which would incorporating a number of safely from vehicles. Ensuring that be needed if attending improvements driven by the latest our Road Traffic Collision Instructor National Operational Guidance course continues to meet learner a road traffic collision” and customer feedback: requirements, we quickly responded to recent suggestions resulting in a number • Breathing Apparatus Instructor (BAI) of new improvements, including: • Fire Behaviour Training Instructor (FBTI) • Modern, authentic, collision-damaged • Road Traffic Collision vehicles used in all scene-planning Instructor (RTCI) to provide realistic scenarios • Tactical Ventilation Instructor (TVI)

• Trained role players serve as casualties Following an extensive review of to add a sense of realism, as well as course objectives, duration, mode the opportunity for casualty feedback of delivery and opportunities to practise, the revised courses have • New purpose-built arena provides been designed to ensure that they relative comfort, ensuring continue to meet our customers’ learners can give their full requirements and remain relevant to attention to the task at hand the incidents that today’s firefighters and emergency crews need to The new course ran for the first time in be able to respond to safely and May and received extremely positive effectively. The new courses will be feedback. Further updates will be available from September – keep implemented later this year as we continue an eye on our website or follow us to evolve our suite of Instructor courses. on Twitter for further updates.

6 HOTLINE ISSUE 2 JULY 2016 the current and future requirements of measure and improve standards of Meeting of minds customers and advice on new product performance, the group provides clear development, focusing in particular on guidance on College training products College Engagement Forum training, national resilience, assurance, to ensure they remain current, relevant shared services and research & and meet the evolving needs of the The newly formed College Engagement development. It also advises and assists UKFRS. It also seeks to leverage sector Forum includes representatives from the College in disseminating information expertise to help in the development the Home Office, Local Government to the fire sector as well as new of new products. The Group is open Association and the Chief Fire Officers’ customer areas. to all UKFRS staff with relevant skills Association (CFOA), together with and experience and who have been independent members, and is designed Fire Service College Working Group nominated by their Brigade Manager. To to provide a communication platform for find out more, contact Bernie Higgins, the exchange of strategic ideas between Established by the College with support Director of Training at the College on the College and its principal UK users from CFOA, the Fire Service College [email protected] or and advisers. As an enabler for two-way Working Group aims to optimise the Dave Curry, Chief Fire Officer, Hampshire dialogue, the forum offers guidance on customer experience. With a remit to FRS on [email protected]

New partnership helping fire and rescue services share knowledge and research

The College, CFOA and the Fire Building and maintaining collaborative The announcement of better joint Industry Association have recently relationships across the wider emergency working coincided with the former come together to form a new research services sector is a critical success Home Secretary’s speech about Fire and development partnership. A joint factor in this initiative. CFOA has a Reform on 24 May where Theresa Memorandum of Understanding clearly network of contacts in the academic May outlined her agenda to bring demonstrates each organisation’s research field, as well as the National ‘radical transformation to the Service’, commitment to collaborate around Operational Guidance Programme and including prioritising accountability the future evaluation of Fire and the recently established Procurement and transparency across the sector. Rescue Service operational Hub, all of which will be key relationships equipment. The partnership will for UKFRS research and development. see joint research and evaluation, making it easier for Services to share This collaboration will also help information and choose the most manufacturers and suppliers to effective operational equipment. engage with FRSs at a much earlier stage – meaning fire professionals will Many FRSs currently need to have more input into how products undertake separate evaluation of are designed. This will help to reduce operational equipment, resulting in development times, minimise costs and replication of costs for public sector, will result in equipment being produced manufacturers and suppliers. The and put into use more quickly. Research, Development, Technology Supporting innovation and Innovation (RDTI) Hub, located at Minister for Policing, Fire, Criminal the College, will provide the venue for Justice and Victims, Mike Penning, said: In June, the RDTI Hub played host to this unified activity going forward. “I’m delighted to see this research and further user trials for the revolutionary development partnership come together. fire extinguishing media from Firescape, The Hub is part of the wider UKFRS R&D Initiatives such as this demonstrate which had impressive results first time Function led by CFOA and supported the kind of collaborative working the around. A number of fire and rescue by FRSs. This national collaborative government wants to see embedded services from both the UK and overseas approach will not only enable Services across the fire and rescue service, sharing took part, evaluating how best to to access evaluations and information expertise and knowledge and supporting utilise this innovative product, which about operational equipment, but also services to be more efficient and effective. extinguishes a number of different fire to share knowledge and learning more I hope this initiative is embraced by all fire scenarios with superior speed and effectively, conduct academic research and rescue services and I look forward greatly improved performance, as well and, as a result, reduce replication. to seeing the results of their work.” as enhancing firefighter safety.

www.fireservicecollege.ac.uk 7 Safety in numbers

As fire and rescue services face evidence gathered from a number of fire expensive training facilities, perhaps within continued pressure on budgets, and rescue services suggests that this a few miles of an adjacent service, then the need for closer collaboration is may significantly underestimate, as not that money can’t be spent on front-line coming under increasing scrutiny. all follow the same accounting practices. crews. If National Operational Guidance We explain how the College is For example, large numbers of internal changes and three services each employ evolving its approach to help you training staff may come under operations teams to design new courseware to to continue to protect the public budgets, or expensive training centres reflect it, is that a sensible use of scarce and firefighters alike, whilst under county council property budgets. resources? Or two adjacent services each making the numbers work. Further training-related costs will also invest in new, but incompatible, IT for be concealed in supporting functions recording maintenance of competence, Clear, Comprehensive and Consistent. such as HR, procurement, IT, finance preventing easy transfer of firefighter Only by applying these principles and admin. Projections based on more records? As budgets reduce, it is essential more rigorously to routine analyses of detailed examination of ALL training- to understand where real costs lie, so training costs across the UK Fire and related costs therefore produce a much that objective decisions can be made to Rescue Service can we fully understand higher estimate of closer to £160m maximise public and firefighter safety. the true impact on budget – and – nearly three times reported spend. implications for operational capabilities. In her speech on 24 May, the Home Developing and maintaining in-house Secretary praised the great work done The measure that is most commonly training capability can also impact by the UKFRS in recent years but used, and reported, is to look solely at on optimal service delivery as scarce also highlighted the need for closer the total sum spent on courses with resources are diverted away from collaboration. Whilst the need to move external training providers. Whilst simple their primary purpose of protecting towards shared services is recognised and easy to manage, this approach fails communities and keeping crews safe. If a across most services and many to take account of many ‘hidden’ costs. manager is taken away from normal duties ‘alignment’ programmes are already to act as an instructor for instance, what underway, more is needed to drive down In 2015 CIPFA reported £60m spent is the impact on safety, or service cost of costs whilst maintaining standards. At collectively on training across all of the backfilling from elsewhere? Similarly, if part the College we are in a unique position UKFRS1. However, closer analysis of of a fixed budget is spent on maintaining to be able to support you through these challenges as our strategic vision unfolds.

Fire and Rescue Service Fire Service College • Volume discounts COSTS CAPABILITIES In the immediate term, and working with you to develop a closer understanding

Shared Open Programme of your training needs over the next few EXTERNAL COSTS planning (price + availability) years, we can develop a customised programme to meet your training

Product requirements – offered at discounted Increased Commitment efficiencies rates. Through economies of scale based (multi-year) INTERNAL COSTS on higher volumes, either through multi- year agreements or through aggregating Product Training Needs Analysis Training Better Locations Kit / course Commitment demand with other services, we can staff prices develop’t (multi-year) offer training that’s competitively priced, at a time and place to suit you.

SUPPORTING FUNCTIONS SUPPORTING FUNCTIONS • Shared services Learning Resource This will see closer collaboration HR Finance Management Product IP management System across specific functions. For example, why maintain multiple learning Admin IT management systems when we have one at the College, managed by our Procurement L&D FULLY MANAGED SERVICE staff that can be used for all?

Broader cost reductions The journey from open programme towards shared service capabilities and eventually a fully managed service Ref 1. Chartered Institute of Public Finance and will enable cost savings to be made across a wide range of internal processes and supporting functions Accountancy (CIPFA) – Statistical Information Service, 2015

8 HOTLINE ISSUE 2 JULY 2016 Training standards Working in partnership The UKFRS is widely regarded as the best in the world. However, Oxfordshire FRS of exercises, providing crews with with the exception of National In one of the first partnerships effective and varied breathing Resilience capabilities, there is little of its kind, Oxfordshire FRS has apparatus training. Delivered by or no standardisation of training. recently entered into a multi-year Oxfordshire FRS’s trainers, whole commitment with the College to time and on-call firefighters will As a consequence, services spend provide the venue for its heat and have the opportunity to train valuable time and money developing smoke training. The wide range of together in diverse scenarios their own training courses, the rigs across our incident ground will and develop their knowledge outcome of which is a significant provide the backdrop to a variety through fire behaviour training. disparity in content and approach. This duplication of effort is not only a sub-optimal use of resources, it also makes effective intraoperability much more difficult to achieve.

The Chief Fire Officers’ Association has embarked on a project to develop a comprehensive set of professional standards, building on the excellent work of the National Operational Guidance Programme. This has been given further impetus by the former Home Secretary Theresa May in her recent speech on Reform, which highlighted the need for greater collaboration, not only between fire and rescue services, but also between the FRS and the wider emergency services. She also spoke of the requirement to create a means of inspecting fire and rescue services against recognised standards.

We believe that this work must lead to a single set of training standards, removing the duplication in training course development and also ensuring that fire and rescue services can work together more effectively across the full range of capabilities.

Why spend time developing multiple For example, in taking over The College has a key role to play training products when we can have management of your instructors and, to this end, we are in discussions one course, to one national standard, and training centres, trainers can be with the British Standards Institute to that can be used by all? Shared service rationalised, especially those with ensure that this work can be linked to a capabilities are currently either available or specialist skillsets, and more effectively recognised standard. Although there are in development across the following areas: deployed when and where needed. British Standards that cover a range of Duplicated training centres can be fire related subjects, there is currently no • Recruitment streamlined, making more efficient use British body that brings together such • Learning management system / of remaining facilities and freeing up a wide range of standards under one competency management system capital where no longer required. umbrella organisation. The ultimate aim • Single product Intellectual Property (IP) is to develop a standard to equal that of • Collaborative research and the National Fire Protection Association development / procurement in the United States. Look out for further To find out more about any updates in future editions of Hotline. • Fully managed service of these services, please email As part of our future strategic goal, [email protected] a full managed service would see or call 01608 812984. the College effectively managing all of those individual functions that we offer through shared services.

www.fireservicecollege.ac.uk 9 Training assurance How Buckinghamshire FRS and the College are working in partnership to improve local training delivery standards

By Paul Holland, Head of Projects and delivered is of an appropriate standard, The partnership is now in its Transformation, Buckinghamshire FRS and develops and supports managers second year and we are extremely who do not achieve this standard. pleased with how it is working. Since May 2015 Buckinghamshire FRS has been working with the The partnership agreement creates College to develop an FRS training a robust and affordable quality assurance programme, delivered assurance and validation framework through a mutually beneficial for training, providing the Service with strategic partnership agreement, assurance as to the competence of signed by both organisations. operational employees, in the form of internal quality assurance of training. We selected the College for its Our trainers work to the College’s unique range of onsite operational Quality Assurance Framework for training facilities, which supported our Instructional Delivery (QAFID), a need to expose our crews to more standard we have developed together. realistic scenarios, to better prepare them for their operational role. It also The College externally quality assures our addresses the issue of reduced incident instructors by assessing them on campus, numbers, and crews not gaining the whilst delivering training exercises to our exposure to incidents that provides crews. As well as the external assurance the confidence and competence provided by these exercises they also required to deliver our service. include a BA assessment (heat and smoke in line with national BA guidance) and a We have de-centralised our operational Level 1 Incident Command assessment, training, pushing more responsibility all completed over six exercises onto local managers to deliver daily within a 12-hour period. Exercises are training sessions to our firefighters. scenario-based, ranging from fires in This has reduced the size and cost of buildings to Road Traffic Collision and our central training department, and other special service type incidents. changed the focus from delivery to We select the scenarios, based on quality assurance. Area Trainers now mandatory training requirements observe training sessions delivered by and operational intelligence local managers to ensure that training gathered from incident audits.

that crews across the country are ready Needs Analysis provided by each Remaining and prepared should the need arise. Service is as accurate as possible. Course content is continually reviewed and updated in line with latest policy. Look out for this year’s course resilient dates, which will be published In order to offer best value for money before the end of the summer. We UK National Resilience for the public purse, it is important that recognise that releasing crews to attend training - 2016 courses are full and all Home Office training can be problematic so we will funded places are taken advantage also be looking to deliver more courses In 2015 the College was awarded of. Unfortunately, maximising fill rates locally, in line with our distributed delivery the contract to deliver National has been an ongoing issue and we model. Check our website regularly for Resilience (NR) training to the UKFRS. are working closely with capability more information to enable your Service We have been working tirelessly advisors from the National Resilience to take up your funded places - let’s since this time to deliver the best Assurance Team to address this, to work together to ensure that the UK’s quality training possible, ensuring make sure that the next NR Training NR capability remains world-class.

10 HOTLINE ISSUE 2 JULY 2016 The College is making its extensive Whether you are planning a small and unique facilities available to meeting, large exhibition, conference, new and wider audiences through teambuilding day or product launch, our re-branded and extended we can help you to deliver a truly events business, phoenixetc. unique and unforgettable event for your delegates at our inspirational With an extensive range of venue. We are with you every step Paul Holland meeting and recreational facilities, of the way to support you, from initial firefighter experience days, location contact through to delivery, providing Paul joined Buckinghamshire opportunities for film production a tailored event that meets your FRS in 1997and has served companies, and accommodation requirements. For more information in a number of operational for up to 400 delegates, we are able visit www.phoenixetc.co.uk or contact and specialist roles, including to host a wide range of events. [email protected] a secondment to the College as Head of Training Delivery. He is currently Head of Projects and Transformation at Buckinghamshire FRS, which includes leading on the delivery of key change programmes that support the Service’s Public Safety Plan. Paul is an active member of the Thames Valley Branch of the Institution of Fire Engineers and is also part of the Chief Fire Officers’ Association Quality Assurance Team.

phoenixetc takes its name from a stunning sculpture on display at the Fire Service College. A special fire-inspired commission by Robert Adams, it depicts a phoenix, the mythological bird that can be reborn from its own ashes. Because of its habit of flying far ahead and scanning the horizon, the phoenix is seen by some as representing our capacity for vision.

www.fireservicecollege.ac.uk 11 Going the extra mile

Oxfordshire’s fundraising a fantastic £100,000 for The Fire firefighters visited the College Fighters Charity and obviously to make in team kit created for their it to Land’s End safe and sound!” sponsored cycle ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End. The journey took 14 days, riding approximately 80 miles daily and As one of the main sponsors, the stopping at eight different FRSs College supported the kit’s production, – Scottish, Cumbria, Lancashire, designed by team member Clive Staffordshire, Oxfordshire, Dorset Smokey Paws Durbin. The team of 18, with 4 & Wiltshire, Devon & Somerset and The College is pleased to support support crew, set off on the 1,006 mile finally Cornwall. Members of Royal the work of Smokey Paws, the UK- journey led by CFO Dave Etheridge Berkshire and Buckingham & Milton based charity that aims to provide who commented: “Our aims were to Keynes FRSs were invited to join them pet-specific oxygen masks to the UK promote health and wellbeing, raise as they rode through their counties. FRS. The charity’s aim is to eventually ensure that all fire appliances across the country carry these masks – 285 sets have so far been sent out and the charity is working hard to increase this number. For more information, go to www.smokeypaws.co.uk

CERN firefighters train at the College Women in the Fire Service Ten firefighters from CERN, The Art Arnalich, CERN Fire Officer European Organization for Nuclear Watch Manager, said: “This has been The College was once again proud Research, that operates the largest an important opportunity for us to to host this year’s Women in the particle physics laboratory in the train on new and diverse scenarios. Fire Service (WFS) National Training world, recently trained at the College, We’ve really appreciated the and Development Weekend in immersing themselves in our incident flexibility of the College instructors June. This event is extremely ground scenarios. in accommodating our training important in supporting women requirements. A particular highlight to develop their careers within the Members of CERN’s Fire Service are has been an introduction to the FRS. 134 women from 30 Services drawn from 13 different countries. Simulation Suite and the Incident took part, providing a fantastic With practices and policies varying Command programme, which opportunity to network with between countries, an important part provides a really good understanding peers. The weekend was a great of training for the Service involves of how the role develops as you success and we looking forward learning CERN specific techniques. progress through the training levels.” to working with WFS to stage an even better event next year.

The Fire Service College

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