Fire & Rescue Inspection
FRS 2018-19 CoC Recommendations: West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
Published 19 June 2019
Cause of Concern recommendations tracked by HMICFRS for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (2018-19)
9
Recommendations
9
Completed
National — applies to all forces
Recommendations (9)
| # | Recommendation | Directed at | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Cause of concern: West Sussex FRS’s staff sometimes act in ways that go against its core values. This is leading to bullying in the workplace. Recommendation: The service should clearly and effectively communicate its core values to staff. This should include acceptable behaviour statements. | West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service | Completed |
| F2 | Cause of concern: Prevention activity doesn't always align with risks identified in the IRMP. Home fire safety checks aren't being done in a timely manner and there is a large backlog of high-risk cases. Recommendation: The service should ensure it carries out home fire safety checks in a timely manner. | West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service | Completed |
| F3 | Cause of concern: West Sussex FRS doesn't have a clear strategy for using its risk-based inspection programme to identify the highest risk premises. The database it uses to manage premises information is unreliable and not always accurate. The service can't carry out the number of audits of high-risk premises that it commits to as part of its programme. Recommendation: The service should ensure it conducts the number and frequency of highrisk premises audits that it sets out in its inspection programme. | West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service | Completed |
| F4 | Cause of concern: Prevention activity doesn't always align with risks identified in the IRMP. Home fire safety checks aren't being done in a timely manner and there is a large backlog of high-risk cases. Recommendation: The service should ensure it targets its home fire safety check activity at people most at risk. | West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service | Completed |
| F5 | Cause of concern: West Sussex FRS doesn't have a clear strategy for using its risk-based inspection programme to identify the highest risk premises. The database it uses to manage premises information is unreliable and not always accurate. The service can't carry out the number of audits of high-risk premises that it commits to as part of its programme. Recommendation: The service should ensure that effective and robust systems are in place to manage its protection activities. | West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service | Completed |
| F6 | Cause of concern: West Sussex FRS doesn’t engage with or seek feedback from staff to understand their needs. We found this to especially be the case with some under-represented groups. When staff raise issues and concerns, the service doesn’t respond quickly enough. Recommendation: The service should ensure that it effectively engages with its staff, including minority groups | West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service | Completed |
| F7 | Cause of concern: West Sussex FRS doesn't have a clear strategy for using its risk-based inspection programme to identify the highest risk premises. The database it uses to manage premises information is unreliable and not always accurate. The service can't carry out the number of audits of high-risk premises that it commits to as part of its programme. Recommendation: The service should ensure that its risk-based inspection programme targets it highest risk premises. | West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service | Completed |
| F8 | Cause of concern: West Sussex FRS’s staff sometimes act in ways that go against its core values. This is leading to bullying in the workplace. Recommendation: The service should ensure that staff act in line with its values and are trained to identify and deal with non-compliance. | West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service | Completed |
| F9 | Cause of concern: West Sussex FRS doesn’t engage with or seek feedback from staff to understand their needs. We found this to especially be the case with some under-represented groups. When staff raise issues and concerns, the service doesn’t respond quickly enough. Recommendation: The service should improve communications between staff and senior managers, so concerns are responded to in a timely and appropriate way. | West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service | Completed |