Lancashire Combined Fire Authority

Planning Committee

Meeting to be held on 3 February 2025

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) Update

Contact for further information – Steve Healey, Deputy Chief Fire Officer

Tel: 01772 866801

Executive Summary

This report provides an update on His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) activity.

Additionally, it provides information regarding Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s (LFRS) ongoing preparations for HMICFRS Round 3 inspection, the inspection process, and wider HMICFRS activity including misconduct, and values and culture within Fire and Rescue Services.

Recommendation

Planning Committee are requested to note and endorse the update.

Round 3 Overview

HMICFRS commenced Round 3 inspections in early 2023, the three pillars; effectiveness, efficiency, and people remain the same as Round 2. Likewise, the 11 diagnostics under each pillar which inspectors make graded judgements against.

LFRS inspection will start on 17 February 2025. The inspection team will work remotely for the first three weeks whilst they review service documentation and data. The inspection team will physically be in service for weeks 4 and 6 (w/c 10 and 24 March) conducting interviews, reality testing and further reviews, weeks 5, 7, and 8 are all remote, inspection activity will conclude early April. The strategic brief is the opportunity for our chief fire officer and executive board to brief the HMI, service liaison lead and inspection team, setting out an overview of performance and any successes or areas for improvement. The chair of the fire authority will also attend and following the brief they will be interviewed. This will take place on Friday 28 March.

On Monday 20 January, HMICFRS will issue LFRS with a document request and self-assessment which must be completed and returned prior to the official start date. HMICFRS will also issue three surveys; staff survey, human resources survey and a trade union survey.

Area Manager Tom Powell and Group Manager Emma Price have continued to hold weekly engagement meetings with Phil Innis our Service Liaison Lead (SLL). Phil is unable to complete our inspection due to leading Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) inspection; a handover process has commenced with our temporary SLL for this inspection, Vicky Lowry.

Vicky is new to HMICFRS, starting on the 6th January, Vicky is currently Head of Admin, Policy, and Strategy – Prevention and Protection at London Fire Brigade. Vicky will be supported by Spencer Rowland who is an SLL and has led Cheshire, West Yorkshire and Cleveland FRS inspections during round 3.

The Organisational Assurance Team within the Service Improvement Department continue to track progress against the service’s previous inspection, monitor national themes and prepare LFRS for our Round 3 inspection.

HMICFRS have now published 26 Round 3 inspection reports.

A summary of the gradings for all 26 FRSs inspected so far in Round 3 can be found below.

Effectiveness

Understanding the risk of fire and other emergencies

Preventing fires and other risks

Protecting the public through fire regulation

Responding to fires and other emergencies

Responding to major and multi-agency incidents

Efficiency

Making best use of resources

Making the fire and rescue service affordable now and in the future

People

Promoting the right values and culture

Getting the right people with the right skills

Ensuring fairness and promoting diversity

Managing performance and developing leaders

Beds.

Round 3:

Beds.

Round 2:

Cambs. Round 3:

Cambs.

Round 2:

Cheshire Round 3:

Cheshire Round 2:

Warwicks. Round 3:

Warwicks.

Round 2:

Cornwall Round 3:

Cornwall Round 2:

Surrey Round 3:

Surrey Round 2:

Bucks. Round 3:

Bucks. Round 2:

Merseyside Round 3:

Merseyside Round 2:

Key

Outstanding

Good

Adequate

Requires Improvement

Inadequate

Effectiveness

Understanding the risk of fire and other emergencies

Preventing fires and other risks

Protecting the public through fire regulation

Responding to fires and other emergencies

Responding to major and multi-agency incidents

Efficiency

Making best use of resources

Making the fire and rescue service affordable now and in the future

People

Promoting the right values and culture

Getting the right people with the right skills

Ensuring fairness and promoting diversity

Managing performance and developing leaders

Lincs.
Round 3

Lincs.
Round 2

Manchester.
Round 3:

Manchester.
Round 2:

Norfolk.
Round 3:

Norfolk.
Round 2:

Essex.
Round 3:

Essex.
Round 2:

Glos.
Round 3:

Glos.
Round 2:

West Yorks.
Round 3:

West Yorks.
Round 2:

Oxford.
Round 3:

Oxford.
Round 2:

Northampts.
Round 3:

Northampts.
Round 2:

Notts.
Round 3:

Notts.
Round 2:

Staffs.
Round 3:

Staffs.
Round 2:

Key

Outstanding

Good

Adequate

Requires Improvement

Inadequate

Effectiveness

Understanding the risk of fire and other emergencies

Preventing fires and other risks

Protecting the public through fire regulation

Responding to fires and other emergencies

Responding to major and multi-agency incidents

Efficiency

Making best use of resources

Making the fire and rescue service affordable now and in the future

People

Promoting the right values and culture

Getting the right people with the right skills

Ensuring fairness and promoting diversity

Managing performance and developing leaders

W. Sussex.
Round 3:

W. Sussex.
Round 2:

Avon

Round 3

Avon

Round 2

Her. & Worc. Round 3

Her. & Worc. Round 2

Northumb. Round 3

Northumb.

Round 2

Dorset & Wilts.
Round 3:

Dorset & Wilts.
Round 2:

Tyne & Wear.
Round 3:

Tyne & Wear.
Round 2:

London.
Round 3:

London.
Round 2:

Shropshire.
Round 3:

Shropshire.
Round 2:

Key

Outstanding

Good

Adequate

Requires Improvement

Inadequate

Positive Practice

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Positive Practice Portal provides details about interventions, which have been developed by one or more Fire and Rescue Service to address a particular need, concern or organisational change recognised by the NFCC or HMICFRS as an innovative or positive practice. These practices are in different functional areas and may include operational and non-operational responses, business practices and good ideas.

LFRS actively engages with the positive practice process and have made two further submissions since the previous report, taking the total submissions published on the portal to 11:

· ROV/Underwater Drone

· On Call Stations Work Hubs

· Safety during Hajj Campaign

· Climate Response - Partnership Working

· Climate Response - Innovation

· Composite Fencing

· NFCC BCP E-learning package

· SSRI Info Risk Based Calculator

· Public Space Protection Order

· New – Assurance monitoring system

· New – Risk Based Inspection Programme (RBIP)

A further 3 submissions are in progress:

· Organisational Development – Developing current and new leaders

· Management of PPE

· Responding to trauma and emotions / wellbeing programme

LFRS will continue to monitor positive practice submissions and attend future events, benchmarking our own progress against areas identified, and exploring potential areas for improvement.

HMICFRS Standards of behaviour: The handling of misconduct in fire and rescue services

HMICFRS published their Standards of behaviour: The handling of misconduct in fire and rescue services report in August. This followed the detailed inspection of 10 FRSs, as well as analysing data provided by all 44 FRSs in England about their grievance and discipline cases.

The service is continuing to make progress through the reports 15 recommendations which are virtually all completed.

Values and culture in Fire and Rescue Services

Values and culture in Fire and Rescue Services remains a focus for HMICFRS, LFRS continues to work proactively in terms of promoting its values and engendering an organisational culture where all employees can thrive.

The HMICFRS has asked FRS not to provide any written updates at this point, as they are introducing their interactive monitoring portal. LFRS is due to be onboarded on to the portal prior to our inspection, the Organisational Assurance Team have attended online briefing sessions in preparation for this change in reporting.

The role of the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group has been expanded to include culture, the Equality, Diversity, Inclusion Culture Board (EDICB) provide the governance and monitoring of the Service in relation to EDI and culture, annual reports are also submitted to the Fire Authority.

HMICFRS Chief and Chairs event

As previously reported, the latest HMICFRS Chief and Chairs event took place on 14 November, with the then CFO, Justin Johnston, ACFO Jon Charters and CC Nikki Hennessy attending.

Presentations and discussions focused on the following topics:

• Fire protection and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry

• Our 2025-27 inspection programme

• Staff misconduct

• Leadership and improving performance

HMICFRS Autumn Data Collection

The Autumn Data closed on Friday 22 November. LFRS submitted the return on time with no issues or queries received.

Business risk

The inspection will monitor LFRS’s direction of travel since 2022, it could cause reputational damage if it is perceived that we have not made reasonable progress.

Sustainability or Environmental Impact

None.

Equality and Diversity Implications

None.

Data Protection (GDPR)

None.

HR implications

None.

Financial implications

None.

Legal implications

None.

Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985

List of background papers

Paper:

Date:

Contact:

Reason for inclusion in Part 2 if appropriate: