Staffordshire fire service told to improve performance and staff behaviour

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service needs to improve after a new report finds its performance and the way it treats its workforce has deteriorated since 2019.

“I am satisfied with some aspects" said Her Majesty’s Inspector Wendy Williams.

"It is effective at keeping people safe and secure from fires, identifying risk and has good financial management and collaboration arrangements in place.

“Response standards and the availability of its fire engines have got worse and the service isn’t sure it has identified all its high-risk premises. The service also doesn’t use its workforce in the most efficient way."

The 2021/22 inspection report found that the service doesn’t always have enough fire engines available.

"The service has a plan which sets out how it will respond to incidents as fire engines become unavailable in certain circumstances such as prolonged periods of activity or industrial action.

It doesn't use its workforce in the most efficient way

"We were told the service is using this plan constantly and as a result, there is a risk that the service will not be able to get to some incidents quickly enough.

"In the year ending 31 March 2021, in 29 percent of all incidents a crew was moved to another station because there weren’t enough crews available in the area.

"This is significantly higher than the England rate of 7 percent and is the second highest rate of all services in England. This means that the service doesn’t have enough staff available to meet its response strategy."

A culture that doesn't align with its values

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue is also required to improve at looking after its people as inspectors say it isn't communicating effectively with staff on things that matter to them.

“There are some behaviours which are not in line with the service’s values." said Wendy Williams.

"This is having a detrimental effect on staff. In addition, the service isn’t sufficiently prioritising work to improve inclusion and diversity."

In the report, inspectors say they were told about examples of discriminatory and bullying behaviour which was reported but resulted in no action being taken.

Inspectors also said they heard language that was inappropriate or outdated being used and a level of complacency that meant negative behaviours can be overlooked.

“I expect to see progress made against these areas. We will continue to monitor the service in the meantime.”

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that the service:

is ‘good’ at effectively keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks;

‘requires improvement’ at efficiently keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks; and

‘requires improvement’ at looking after its people.

You can read the full report here.

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