Ever Forward - Issue 7

I hope you all had a good Christmas and managed to find time to spend with family and friends. 

Thank you to everyone who worked over the Christmas and New Year period, making sure our control room, fire stations and key functions were operational and able to respond to the people of Gloucestershire.  

This week we welcomed our new Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO) Nathaniel Hooton to GFRS. He brings with him over 22 years of experience in Fire and Rescue Services. Some of you may have met him already, but I am sure over the next weeks and months many of you will get to meet him and can speak to him not only about his Fire and Rescue experiences but also his time surfing beaches all across the world!  

By the middle of the year, we expect to have identified suppliers who will deliver almost £3 million worth of new fire appliances and equipment in 2024, making sure crews have what is needed to respond to emergencies and protect communities across the county. 

We recently wrote to some colleagues regarding potential industrial action to establish if Fire Brigade Union (FBU) members plan to take action once the ballot is complete on 30 January. This is to ensure we know who will be available to respond in an emergency and ensure we can fulfil our statutory duty. 

I want to emphasise the pay dispute is national and is not a local dispute. Whether or not you participate in the ballot is very much an individual decision and whichever way you choose to vote (or if you decide not to vote) this does not commit you to taking part, or not taking part, in any subsequent industrial action. 

I understand that the thought of potential industrial action can cause some colleagues anxiety, stress and /or worry. Support is available through your line manager; it is also available 24/7 365 days a year through the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). You can access EAP on 0800 030 5182.  

We have much positive work to look ahead to in 2023. The Senior Leadership Team (SLT) will be visiting stations at the end of January to explore the future people centred vision. We want this to be your vision so want to encourage everyone, where possible, to ensure they attend one of the roadshow sessions so that we can exchange ideas and gain your thoughts and feelings.   

We all know there will be challenges to face, but I am really looking forward to what is shaping up to be an exciting year. 

Visit the new Process Map Home Page on Staffhub. Use the link from the Central Library tab or click here. 

We are aiming to publish all Team’s processes, to support business continuity and knowledge of the Service. Please contact Megan Toomer / Emma Perkin for further information.  

Planning, Performance and Insight  

Would you like to: 

• Be part of a network of staff working together to improve our culture? 
• Have opportunities to demonstrate and develop your skills in influencing, persuading and leadership? 
• Be actively involved in consultation on key corporate strategies? 
• Have an impact on the way we do things? 

We are at an important and crucial stage of our cultural journey within Community Safety, and we are looking for individuals at all levels across GFRS, Trading Standards and Coroners, to join us in sharing your views. 

Our employee voice group works within the values and behaviours of Gloucestershire County Council.    

The following key principles apply: 

• Leadership – the group is led by Director of Community Safety, CFO Mark Preece.  
• Trust and openness – There is honesty in our communication, even when messages may not be palatable. This is the basis for building trust, which gives you as an employee the confidence to voice your views. 
• Open communication style – Our conversations are open, two-way and focus on finding solutions.  

So, what is expected of me as an EVG member? 

We would expect you to: 

• Encourage views from your colleagues (either directly or virtually) prior to the meeting and to convey these during the discussions at the group meetings. 
• Ensure following the meeting that you effectively feedback the discussion to your colleagues. 

We feel it’s important that: 

• All staff in the group are represented in a fair and balanced way. 
• All individuals have the opportunity to be involved in, engaged with, and listened to, in relation to service development. 
• Everyone can contribute their ideas for resolving issues raised by either staff or leadership and provide recommendations for ways to support the wellbeing of staff. 
• All present and consider, issues raised by staff and where appropriate involve themselves in project teams to respond to requests for work from Senior Leadership. 
• Our ways of working and our Terms of Reference are reviewed annually. 

So…how do I join? 

If you would like to join, please speak to your supervisory manager first and gain their consent.  Following this please email catherine.lane@gloucestershire.gov.uk confirming your interest to join. 

Organisational Development Team  

Staff Engagement 

SLT will be visiting all teams, towards the end of January, to explore the workforce charter and our future people centred vision. SLT are excited to introduce this to you all and discuss how everyone can be involved in developing it.   

Dates will be sent out soon, so please save the date as we want this to be developed by staff for staff.  

Learning and Development Team