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. The workstreams were managed effectively through both the Strategic and Tactical Boards and contributed towards improving outcomes, providing better value for money, reducing demand, and reducing inequalities within communities.

Leadership Development

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS), Lancashire Police (LanCon), and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) continued to seek efficiencies and foster professional relationships across Blue Light Services.

Over the last 12 months, each Service had hosted a Leadership Event, covering three shared themes identified using insights from each organisation. The first session, hosted by LFRS, saw 60 attendees from all three Services. The session, titled “Nourish to Flourish,” focused on self-care for effective leadership. The second session addressed media handling for Blue Light leaders. The final leadership event was held by LanCon and focussed on generational differences.

The group was exploring an ‘Outside-In’ Leadership program and the creation of a cross-coaching network for shared learning, potentially including a coaching exchange initiative.

County Councillor S Asghar rejoined the meeting at 10:37.

Health and Wellbeing

A new collaborative group was formed earlier this year, bringing together Health and Wellbeing leads from all three Services. The group’s goal was to understand and align the health and wellbeing offerings across Blue Light organisations, exploring joint opportunities to support staff.

The group’s initial step was to share policies and procedures for best practice and learning. NWAS had delivered menopause awareness sessions, and LFRS had developed a workshop to raise awareness of suicide from a responder’s perspective elements of which could be shared across all services.

Estates and Co-location

The estates and co-location initiative between LFRS, NWAS, and LanCon aimed to identify opportunities for shared sites, enhance collaboration and value for money. Successful co-location at Lancaster, St Annes, Darwen, Preston, and other Fire Stations had improved operational efficiency and fostered stronger inter-service relationships, ultimately benefiting Lancashire communities.

An updated Blue Light Collaboration Project Initiation Document had provided direction for the Estates and Co-location sub-group, which was exploring further collaboration. Quarterly meetings between Heads of Estates from LFRS, NWAS, and LanCon had shown that benefits extended beyond site sharing. The project’s objectives, principles, and expected benefits had been updated. The group was also considering system knowledge exchange, shared procurement specifications, and joint supplier frameworks.

Community First Responder (CFR)

A cost-benefit analysis by the New Economy showed that Emergency Medical Response (EMR) yielded a return of £4.41 for every £1 invested. In areas with EMR co-responding, firefighters were dispatched alongside ambulance services for suspected cardiac arrests, with the first to arrive providing life-saving care. This parallel response increased the likelihood of timely intervention and supported ambulance crews in advanced clinical work.

While this model had been successful in parts of the UK, the South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust was phasing out fire EMR in favour of strengthening its volunteer Community First Responder (CFR) scheme, a decision met with disappointment by FRS’ involved in EMR.

In Lancashire, the CFR workstream enabled LFRS staff volunteers to respond to life-threatening emergencies from their workplace. Since 2023, over 200 incidents had been attended, with LFRS staff providing life-saving interventions before ambulance arrival.

The operational model had three phases:

Phase 1: Green book staff respond voluntarily while on duty.

Phase 2: Flexi Duty Officers (FDOs) respond while on duty.

Phase 3: On Call staff respond within their communities. This phase was being developed with NWAS and stations had been identified in the communities where NWAS required most support.

The DCFO explained that collaboration with unions was ongoing and it was hopeful that national agreement would be reached in relation to CFR’s.

The DCFO explained two additional workstreams had been developed that would be considered in the future, relating to recruitment and retention, including sharing the cost of recruitment fayres and sharing best practice and fleet, including the potential development of shared fleet maintenance resources.

Resolved: That the Planning Committee noted the report.