Meeting to be held on 6 February 2023.
Blue Light Collaboration Board Update
Contact for further information: DCFO Steve Healey
Tel: 01772 866802
Executive Summary
This is an update regarding Blue Light Collaboration Board progress since the last report in November 2022. Recommendation
Planning Committee is requested to note and endorse the update
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Information
Information was provided in the previous update, in terms of what initial projects had been identified and agreed by the Blue Light Collaboration Board. This paper provides information about the progress regarding the development and delivery of these items. Each of the initial five projects are detailed below.
Missing Persons
Following a review of the mobilisation data, it was identified that the opportunities to provide Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) support to these incidents had reduced. Therefore, the main project objective is to improve the existing collaborative approach to the identification of the location of missing persons. Learning has been identified from the original process and improvements have been made. LFRS support for the Missing from Home Manager training for Lancashire Constabulary staff will be continued in terms of LFRS assets available. Furthermore, Lancashire Constabulary have provided training to control staff to raise awareness.
The initial plan includes a small number of LFRS personnel from the USAR team and Drone team to undertake the Missing from Home Manager course. This will develop knowledge and understanding regarding aspects of planning and undertaking a search. Additional crews in LFRS have been identified as specialist teams and will receive a bespoke training programme which is currently being mapped out. These teams will develop an increased knowledge of managing a missing person within the context of potential crime scene management. All LFRS assets will remain available regardless of the additional skills imparted to the specialist teams.
Estates and Co-location
This is a longer-term work stream with interdependencies, as there are several internal projects within Lancashire Constabulary to review current building stock. This includes Lancashire Constabulary headquarters, and various police stations. Property Leads from all three agencies are in contact with each other, and plans were being developed to organise a monthly catch-up meeting. This will ensure that each Blue Light Service was sighted to internal findings and provided with awareness in terms of future opportunities.
First Responder
A phased approached was agreed in terms of volunteers signing up to the scheme. Phase 1 is being rolled out to non-operational LFRS staff, such as Community Fire Safety. Subsequently, phase 2 will consider the roll out to operational staff.
Progress on phase 1 has resulted in the successful on boarding of one non-operational member of LFRS, who is responding to category 1 incidents. The NWAS reporting system has been modified to include LFRS staff, so we are able to analyse data and monitor the mobilisations. There are 4 additional volunteers identified, and they will undertake training shortly. Once the 5 initial volunteers have been operating for 3 months, the data will be analysed, and regular welfare checks will be completed. The findings will be used to inform plans for phase 2.
In terms of technology, an NWAS application is used to mobilise First Responders and there is an option for them to accept or decline the request forwarded to them. This data will also be used to report on the overall number of calls and responses received.
Further discussion will take place with Lancashire Constabulary to review if there are any suitable non-operational roles that could be added as First Responders. It was noted that operational staff did attend cardiac arrests alongside NWAS and that collaboration to this effect was already taking place.
Leadership Development
Initial scoping has been completed, in terms of what each organisation currently delivers for leadership development. The project is being delivered in two phases. Phase 1 covers some short-term objectives, seeking to maximise existing courses and events, and provide opportunities for staff from all three organisations to utilise places on these courses. An example of this is the ‘Inside Out’ programme, which is offered by Lancashire Constabulary. A benefit will be improved efficiency, through utilisation of unfilled places. Additionally, it will provide a platform for discussing ideas and sharing learning, as many of the leadership challenges are cross cutting in all three organisations.
Phase 2 will scope opportunities to collaborate on specific elements of supervisory and middle manager leadership programmes. This will lead to some efficiencies, as well as a platform to share ideas.
Command Units
The aim of this project is to establish and deliver additional collaborative uses of the command units in LFRS in line with Joint Emergency Service Interoperability Programme principles. The key objectives are to improve operational effectiveness and in line with LFRS’ mission; ‘Making Lancashire Safer’.
The next meeting of The Strategic group will be February 13th, 2023.
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Equality and Diversity Implications
N/a
Human Resource Implications
N/a
Business Risk Implications
Reputational risk if there is limited evidence regarding the duty to collaborate, as a result of the Policing and Crime Act 2017.
Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985
List of background papers
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Date:
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Reason for inclusion in Part 2 if appropriate: N/a