Investigation finds West Midlands Fire Service is performing well but must make greater progress
This finding follows an inspection into the service's effectiveness and efficiency, and how well it looks after its staff
Last updated 18th Jun 2025
An inspection into the West Midlands Fire Service has found that it is performing well in some areas, but must make greater progress.
The report describes findings on the service's effectiveness and efficiency, and how well it looks after its staff.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has graded the performance of West Midlands Fire Service across 11 areas.
It found the service was ‘good’ in four areas, ‘adequate’ in four areas and ‘requires improvement’ in three areas.
HMICFRS said that the service has a dynamic risk-based inspection programme in place, which is well informed by its data available, helping it to make sure fire safety staff carry out audits on the highest-risk premises.
Inspectors also found that the service consistently meets its five-minute response standard, providing a fast response to the public.
The service is also prepared to respond to major and multi-agency incidents and works well with other services during emergencies.
The service has a supportive culture amongst staff and good welfare provisions in place, however, they must make sure staff at all levels are demonstrating the service’s values and behaviours.
Despite progress made, HMICFRS found some areas required improvements such as, the service needs to have a consistent approach to its risk-critical training to make sure its staff and the public are safe.
The current processes for organisational learning aren’t effective and need to be improved and it must also improve its workforce planning.
Inspectors also said that the service doesn’t manage staff performance and development effectively.
It must make sure it has processes in place to manage and develop talent in the organisation and increase learning and development to meet the needs of staff.
The service has faced challenges with understanding its financial position, and it needs to make improvements.
For example, it needs to make sure there is appropriate scrutiny, challenge and forecasting in place, to make sure the public gets value for money and is sustainable in the future.
His Majesty’s Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Lee Freeman said: “I am pleased with the performance of West Midlands Fire Service and the positive and constructive way in which staff worked with us.
“I recognise the service was facing a turbulent time and difficult challenges during our inspection, with unforeseen changes in key leadership positions and media speculation on the service and its governance.
“Our inspectors continued to apply the same methodology as we use for all our inspections.
“I am satisfied with some aspects of the performance of the service in keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks.
"However, it hasn’t made enough progress since our 2022 inspection, and we have seen some areas deteriorate.
“It must improve in some areas to provide a consistently good service, for example, it needs to make sure its financial assumptions and plans are robust and scrutinised, so they support a sustainable future.
“There are already plans in place to improve these areas and we look forward to seeing how this work progresses.”
In response, Chief Fire Officer for West Midlands Fire Service, Simon Tuhill said: “While the findings of this inspection capture a snapshot in time, they provide a valuable opportunity for reflection and continued improvement.
“I'm delighted to see so many of our strengths recognised – such as our effective use of data to understand risk, our protection work, and the fact there is a positive working culture throughout the service, with staff feeling listened to and empowered to tackle poor behaviour if they see it.
“Likewise, we were recognised as being ‘good’ in responding to fires and emergencies, as well as how we deal with major incidents and work with partners.
"Pleasingly, our response times, for how quickly we get fire engines to incidents, have been praised as ‘fast’.
“I also recognise the need to improve in areas which have been identified, such as workforce planning, a greater diversity within the service and how we manage our budgets.
"We are already working hard to address these through our current plans and will build on this with a new action plan.
“I am proud of our staff, whose resilience and commitment through a demanding year never wavered.
"Our service delivery remains strong, and this report provides a great foundation as we continue to serve our communities and each other.”
Councillor Cathryn Bayton, Chair of West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “We welcome the findings of this latest inspection and remain fully committed to supporting the service in delivering continuous improvement.
“Our communities rightly expect a first-class fire and rescue service. I am confident that, with our governance and scrutiny, the hard-working staff across WMFS will continue to meet, and strive to exceed, those expectations.”