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In this week's update:
This week a key milestone in the LGR transition planning work - as the first formal meeting of the new Cumbria LGR Programme Board was held on Tuesday 14th September. Attended by all the Chief Executive Officer’s – this meeting signifies the start of the programme.
You can read a further update about the meeting here.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact your Line Manager or any member of our SLT.
Brian Steadman, Deputy Chief Fire Officer
Service Support are welcoming expressions of interest from both Wholetime and On-call duty systems for the following positions:
2 x Firefighters within Service Support (Grey book, fixed term ending March 2022)
The role will involve supporting the Operational Planning team in the delivery/implementation of National Occupational Guidance (NOG), National / Joint Operational Learning (NOL & JOL) and support the migration to the new version of SharePoint.
Applicants should have excellent ICT skills and work well as part of a team in a dynamic and challenging environment, where flexibility and commitment will be a fundamental requirement. There will also be an expectation to provide operational cover when required. The role is predominately based at Penrith HQ.
You can download the job description here: Firefighter - Operational Planning
To register your interest, please submit an expression of interest (400 words max) by email to tony.paterson@cumbria.gov.uk by 3rd October 2021.
Following a shortlisting process, applicants may be expected to attend a professional discussion / interview. If you wish to discuss this opportunity further, then please contact myself.
Tony Paterson, Station Manager - Service Support
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There have been a few recent instances of injuries sustained as a result of work activities that have not been reported until more severe symptoms have developed at a later date. The Adverse Safety Event (ASE) procedure states that all accidents and injuries must be reported to the line manager/supervisor as soon as possible. There are benefits for the Service and individuals in ensuring that this happens.
ASE investigations are more difficult to undertake after time has passed. Memory fades and evidence becomes harder to gather and less reliable. Immediate evidence such as photographs of the scene and conditions will be impossible to obtain. All of this makes it harder for the Service to undertake an effective investigation and put appropriate measures in place to prevent the accident from recurring.
If you are injured at work an immediate referral for physio/Occ Health, if necessary, will be much more effective than leaving the injury to deteriorate. It is evident from recent injuries that they often can be more serious than first thought. And if they aren’t then there is nothing lost in making the report.
Supervisors and Managers must ensure that participants in training are asked immediately before the session that they are fit and well enough to take part. Similarly, all debriefs after training and operations must include the same question to all personnel.
Please don’t try and carry injuries thinking it will get better. It may not and may benefit from intervention. And the minor injury you have incurred might result in serious injuries to the next person suffering the same event. If the Service knows about it, prevention measures can be put in place.
Duncan Taylor, Health and Safety Manager
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National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Equality of Access to Services and Employment
As a public service focused on excellent service to our communities, we need to ensure equality of access of our services for every person and those in temporary residence or who are transiting or visiting Cumbria.
We know though our fire investigation and Operational Assurance processes that certain groups are more likely to have a fire and they include people who are living with Dementia, mobility issues, and mental health issues. There are however other groups who aren’t necessarily showing as being at higher risk of a fire, but they may not be accessing our services such as safe and well visits or reporting fires because of other barriers which may be language, perceived prejudice, and other societal factors.
Several groups have been identified as potentially being at greater risk of fire or are potentially not accessing services such as Safe and Well visits. The NFCC have produced a new suite of documents which you can access here: NFCC Equality of Access Papers
Find out more about Equal Access here and how you can get involved in EDI work across the Service.
The NFCC are pleased to announce our speaker for the next NFCC EDI Forum on 5th October with Religion & Beliefs as the theme is David Hampshire, Assistant Director Inter Faith Network for the UK.
The Workstream Leads will hold sessions at 16:00-16:30 for those of you who want to get involved in the work of the project. If you would like to attend, please use this form to book your place.
If you have any queries, please email me. I hope to see many of you there.
Mohammed Dhalech, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager
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Service Support Migration – Please be aware that the Service Support site on SharePoint 2013 will be migrated across to the new 365 Site from Monday 20th September.
Once the site has been successfully moved the files on the old site will no longer be available. Links from the old site will be updated to take you directly to the new area on 365 Site.
Completed Sites – People, Development & Assurance has now been completed. When you click on the People, Development & Assurance link on the departmental sites page it will now take you to the 365 SharePoint site.
If you have any queries relating to SharePoint Migration, please contact: fireservicesupport@cumbria.gov.uk.
Service Support
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Cumbria County Council employees are being invited to book their FREE flu jab online now as winter approaches.
All employees are eligible for the vaccine and with COVID-19 still around, it’s never been more important to get yours.
You can drop in to all sessions without booking if required, but an available vaccine cannot be guaranteed. So to avoid disappointment, book your slot as soon as possible.
Cumbria County Council
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It is with the deepest sympathy to inform you of the passing of two former Firefighters.
Peter Dixon (also known as 'Dixie')
Peter was a valuable member of the former Barrow Borough Fire Service based at Barrow who served from 1966 to 1996 and retired aged 54 as a Sub Officer after 30 years’ service. Peter also served his community for 8 years in Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service as a Retained Firefighter at Coniston but had to resign when the County Borders changed to Cumbria.
Peter suddenly passed away at the age of 78 in his home village of Coniston.
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and The Fire Fighters Charity would like to send our deepest sympathy to his wife Margaret, his wider family and his son Andrew Dixon who is also a serving Firefighter at Barrow.
Robert Airey
Robert Airey served for 25 years with Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, as part of the crew at Ambleside Fire Station. Robert's brother, Peter, also served as Chief Fire Officer during the same period. Sadly, Robert recently passed away at the age of 90.
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and The Fire Fighters Charity would like to send our deepest sympathy to Robert's family.
Paul Milburn, Station Manager / The Fire Fighters Charity Service Coordinator
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