Agenda item

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO) advised that the report updated on progress of the ongoing workstreams that were being progressed under the Blue Light Collaboration Board (BLCB). The workstreams were being managed effectively through both the Strategic and Tactical Boards and were contributing towards improving outcomes, providing better value for money, reducing demand, and reducing inequalities within communities.

Leadership Development

Collaboration between Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS), Lancashire Police (LanCon) and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) had continued to explore efficiencies and build professional working relationships across the Blue Light Services. The potential for a collaborative coaching and mentoring network had also been identified, leading to shared learning on a more regular basis and improved on-the-ground relationships when working together.

It was agreed for each Service to host a Leadership Event, and through intelligence from each organisation, three common themes were identified. The first session, ‘Nourish to Flourish’, focused on well-being and self-care and was hosted by LFRS. This aimed to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of staff, which would have positive effects for each organisation. Several efficiencies were enabled for the session, by using LFRS’s Leadership and Development Centre and the cost for the guest speaker was shared between all three services.

The Services were planning the next session which would be hosted by NWAS in February 2025, where the focus for this event would be on ‘Media’.

The final session would be hosted by LanCon in Spring 2025. The group were considering an interesting area around ‘Generational Differences’.

Missing From Home

This collaboration between LFRS and LanCon focussed on supporting high-risk missing person searches. The partnership led to the development of a Standard Operating Procedure and training for front-line personnel. LFRS assets, such as drones and search dogs, had proved effective in locating missing persons and improving public perception whilst maximising effectiveness and the potential for successful outcomes to the people of Lancashire.

Empowering trained resources from LFRS to respond to such incidents with partner agencies ensured that missing persons were located earlier, using the best available technology such as LFRS drones. Furthermore, the use of LFRS trained dogs enhanced the canine capabilities for other fire specific deployments both within the UK (through Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) and other requests) and oversees (International Search and Rescue (ISAR) deployments). Real life incident exposure for the dogs was invaluable and without which, their ability to develop would become limited. Where required, LFRS recovered costs under the nationally agreed National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) / National Resilience recharge protocol and locally agreed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

LFRS received around 200 drone requests each year from LanCon, with most requests for missing persons searches.

Estates and Co-location

The co-location of estates between LFRS, NWAS, and LanCon aimed to identify opportunities for site sharing to improve collaboration and value for money. Successful site-sharing arrangements at Lancaster, St Annes, Darwen, Preston and Lytham Fire Stations had resulted in efficiencies and shared facilities. The shared working arrangements had also built positive relationships and a greater understanding of the differing roles across the Blue Light community. In an operational context this would no doubt have improved outcomes for the people of Lancashire.

The revised Blue Light Collaboration Project Initiation document had provided the Estates and co-location sub-group leads with a renewed focus for potential areas of collaboration. The quarterly Estates sub-group meetings between Heads of Estates Departments at LFRS, NWAS and LanCon had identified that the potential benefits were greater than just co-location. The project objective, principles and benefits had been redefined and in-scope works updated. Examples of areas of collaborative working, in addition to site sharing, were knowledge sharing in relation to systems, sharing of procurement specification documents, along with supplier framework procurement and opportunities.

The DCFO explained that there may be further opportunities for collaboration as part of the Preston area review.

Community First Responder

UK Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) had been providing Emergency Medical Response (EMR) services to the public in recent years. According to a cost-benefit analysis conducted by the New Economy, the benefits of EMR far outweighed the initial investment required. The analysis estimated an overall financial return on investment of £4.41 per £1 invested.

The Community First Responder (CFR) workstream involved LFRS staff volunteers responding to life threatening emergencies in their communities from the workplace and administering life-saving interventions in the initial vital minutes before NWAS colleagues arrived, including patients that were unresponsive/ collapsed, not breathing, cardiac arrests, seizures, strokes, and choking. In providing additional CFRs in areas that saw extended response times from NWAS, LFRS had improved outcomes for Lancashire communities. This had been achieved by ensuring a quicker response to those people requiring help with a medical emergency – and LFRS staff had delivered lifesaving interventions whilst awaiting the arrival of ambulance colleagues, with around 200 incidents attended since 2023. The DCFO confirmed that there were 5 non-operational staff and 8 officer CFR’s.

Going forward, with the assistance of a heat map from NWAS, which identified areas within Lancashire that were proving difficult to recruit CFRs through the current traditional model, would enable LFRS to target local On-Call Firefighters who were interested in volunteering for the scheme.

Evaluation

Through evaluation LFRS had considered the value and benefits of several workstreams and had considered how the BLCB contributes to LFRS’ aim of “Making Lancashire Safer”.

Two new Blue Light Collaboration Workstreams were being established – ‘Wellbeing (Mental Health and Welfare)’, and ‘Recruitment Initiatives’.

County Councillor J Shedwick remarked that he had seen first-hand the collaboration between blue light services with a medical break in and a missing person. He then asked a question about the LFRS drone being utilised to support LanCon and recharging for this. The DCFO confirmed that the number of requests for drone usage had increased, and the MOU had been reviewed to ensure that the LFRS drone was only being utilised when needed and that recharges were sought where appropriate. The DCFO also confirmed that the MOU reflected that should LFRS cause damage in good faith the cost would lie with the appropriate blue light service rather than LFRS.

In response to a question from County Councillor N Hennessy in relation to estates and co-location, the DCFO confirmed that co-location had been successful at Lancaster, St Annes, Darwen, Preston and Lytham Fire Stations. The Director of Corporate Services (DoCS) added that he was unsure when the most recent colocation agreement was implemented but he would confirm this outside of the meeting. The DCFO confirmed that under the Policing and Crime Act 2017 Police, Fire and Rescue Service (FRS), and Ambulance Service were required to collaborate, therefore co-location would be considered in the future and as part of the Preston area review.

County Councillor N Hennessy asked a further question in relation to LanCon acting as CFRs, the DCFO confirmed that some police officers were trained to act as CFR’s and carried defibrillators. He advised that he would confirm how LanCon manage this and provide an update to members. The DCFO further advised that within LFRS 7% of firefighter time was spent responding to primary incidents, it was therefore important to ensure that LFRS continued to collaborate with other services and provide support whenever possible.

County Councillor N Hennessy asked a further question in relation to consultation with trade unions in relation to CFR, the DCFO confirmed that all trade unions had been consulted, some unions fully supported CFRs and all unions saw the value. The DCFO emphasised that CFR roles were not mandated and were on a voluntary basis with LFRS working to support anyone who wished to be involved. It was agreed that County Councillor N Hennessy and the DCFO would discuss this further outside of the meeting.

Resolved: That the Planning Committee noted the report.