Fire & Rescue Service CAA and Improvement Thank you for the invitation Introduction Refresh of Sharon’s session yesterday – Next 2 slides Peter Miles Fire and rescue services PIN 24 March 2009

CAA Fire & Rescue Service Framework Published 10 February Effective 1 April Reporting November 09 Outcomes message: Outcomes for local people in terms of an easy to understand snapshot of local life, local services and a sense of the value for money they are getting. Outcomes for Local public service providers in terms of a lighter touch when things are seen to be going well. Outcomes for local people and local public service providers in terms of improved local public services and improved quality of life.

Sector led operational assessment Fire framework CAA Organisational Assessment Managing Performance Use of Resources Governing the Business Finances Area Assessment Sector led operational assessment Triggered improvement support including service inspection Focus upon Managing performance

Other performance information Managing Performance Indicators BVPI’s NI’s Other performance information CLG stance on BVPI’s, they have gone, no need to collect / submit the data National indicators, 2 for Fire NI 33 Arson and 49 Number of primary fires and related fatalities and nonfatal casualties, also those in any LAA agreements ‘signed up’ too. Local performance information

Performance Information Data Quality ‘Spot Check’ tools: NI 33 and 49 Sickness Accidents and Injuries Local Indicators / performance management information IRS IRS – implementation and data ref ‘day job’ keenly anticipated Sickness / Accidents and injuries, 2 areas the AC will be looking at: Health and Safety of Firefigteres and other staff (i) Number of injuries and shifts lost to injury for firefighters and all staff (ii) Injuries occurring during operational incidents (iii) Near misses Days or shifts lost to sickness absence by whole time uniformed staff; days or shifts lost to sickness absence by all staff. (previously BVPI 12) Local Indicators – Update report by Nick Collins at CFOA Spring Conference local working taking, suite of 19 indicators outcomes and outputs – AC will look at any data used by services to deliver their role

Basis / Methodology Recommendations: Fire and rescue authorities Chief fire officers Central government The Audit Commission Methodology (see p 96 of the report) Data analysis (national and local), Review of documents/ policies etc (national and local) Case studies, Interviews CFOs, Members, Staff and focus groups – what was happening / out there

Fire and rescue authorities should: • challenge themselves and their CFOs to improve efficiency as well as performance; • lead their communities by taking hard decisions affecting staffing levels and deployment in the interests of efficiency; • ensure that they have the right information to justify those decisions; • defend decisions publicly once they have been made; • challenge their CFOs to improve the diversity of their workforce; • define their objectives for RMBs, and participate beyond where required to in RMBs only where there is a good business case for doing so; and • provide leadership on equality and diversity issues, supporting and encouraging effective culture change within the fire service.

Chief fire officers should: aim to meet or beat government savings targets by improving operational efficiency; • continue to use those savings to invest in CFS; • identify the benefits of initiatives for the wider community and invest in them in proportion to their value; • adopt good ideas for improving efficiency from other fire services, or adapt them to their own circumstances; • systematically explore the available options for working with neighbouring fire services and pursue those that deliver the biggest efficiency savings; • improve strategic planning and performance management of partnership working; • improve the ability of managers at all levels to manage change; and • provide leadership on equality and diversity issues, taking a lead in challenging behaviour that does not promote equality and diversity. LGA conference - response: Briefings by CFO’s Treating as a set of questions Challenge – we are not cash rich, what can we do

Has the audience accessed the tool? Continued usefulness will be time limited Access via http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/firechallenge/

Range of savings across fire services Figure 7

Representation – minority ethnic groups Figure 35

Representation – female operational staff Figure 36 Paragraph 123 outlines the very real challenge of meeting the Equality and diversity targets

Sickness performance Figure 37

Thank you p-miles@audit-commission.gov.uk