CFRS Weekly Update 14.07.23
Exercise Hightower – Civic Centre, Carlisle
Following the tragic events at Grenfell Tower in London in 2017, the Northwest region implemented the ‘NW Ops & Resilience Group – Grenfell’, with the aim of analysing and acting upon the recommendations following the incident. Although CFRS has not played a significant role in this group, it was recognised that the training and input surrounding these types of incidents required attention.
Although here in Cumbria, we don’t have any of the traditional high rise style buildings synonymous with a Metropolitan area, we still have several buildings across the county serving a variety of purpose groups that fall within the tall buildings criteria (buildings over 18m or 7 storeys). There are also plenty of premises across the county which would require implementation of a very similar approach procedurally to that of a tall building.
Exercise Hightower has been running since 2021 across all four watches at Carlisle East and Carlisle West and including crew from several of the neighbouring on-call stations to provide a ‘real-time’ evaluation of CFRS existing SOP 3.2 ‘Firefighting in Tall Buildings’. The exercises enabled crews to implement BA Stage 2 and Tactical Ventilation procedures in a realistic as possible setting at the Civic Centre, one of Carlisle’s Level 3 SSRI sites.
A massive thanks must go to all the attending crews, whose enthusiasm and commitment to the scenarios ensured that all four exercises provided some excellent evaluation and learning outcomes, which will be used to enhance the existing SOP and develop a table-top training package to be delivered across the service.
Lucy Stephenson and her team at Cumberland Council (then Carlisle City Council) were exceptional in their assistance with the exercises and provided some valuable and realistic injects for incident commanders, which we were extremely thankful for.
A huge thank you must also go to the team of personnel that enabled the exercises to be realised and without whom, the forthcoming developmental work would not be possible.
The training package and potential development of the SOP is expected to be presented to a stakeholder panel involving L&D and the Ops Assurance team to provide assurance prior to being delivered to crews.
The training will enhance the crews existing abilities to competently and confidently attend fires in tall buildings and implement the associated procedures.
The next series of tall buildings exercises at the Innovia factory in Wigton has already begun, and will continue following the training input, and will be delivered in the form of either practical or theoretical learning.
If anyone has any questions or interest in assisting in the development of the training package, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via email at tom.harding@cumbriafire.gov.uk.
Tom Harding, Watch Manager
|
Reminder to use Egress when sending sensitive emails
Please can we remind all CFRS employees that when sending an email containing sensitive information and/or attachments to external/personal email addresses that they need to be sent through the Egress encryption system. Since the transition from the council, it could be that Egress has been disabled on your account and if this is the case, you will need to raise a ticket with ICT to get it reinstated.
Guidance of how to and why we use Egress can be found following this link: Egress Switch Secure Email : Cumbria County Council (intouch.ccc)
Emily Grey, HR Assistant Advisor
Engagement Meeting for Operational Information
The Ops Planning team will be holding an engagement meeting to demonstrate the proposals to remove SOP’s and SI’s and replace with a new suite of documents contained within Product Packs.
We would like to inform you of these changes and gain your feedback on how the information will be presented and accessed on SharePoint and on the MDT’s.
We expect this change will be an improvement for operational crews and hope you can attend to help shape the end product into an easy to use and effective information system.
Meeting: Tuesday 25th July, 10.00 am.
Microsoft Teams meeting: Click here to join the meeting
Tony Paterson, Group Manager, Operational Planning
AFSA Awards 2023 - Submit your Nominations NOW
I am pleased to inform you that nominations for the AFSA Awards 2023 are now open.
The Awards are our opportunity to recognise the commitment of organisations to achieving diverse and inclusive workplaces and celebrate the teams and individuals who are really making a difference.
Click here for the flyer which details the various categories. Award entries should be submitted by midnight 16th of September 2023.
The AFSA Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of the fire and rescue service and other partners such as the NHS and others that have taken a lead in challenging discrimination and are working inclusively to tap into their talented workforce. Winners receive a trophy and those short listed a framed certificate, the opportunity to post their story on the AFSA website, celebrate achievements with other leading employers and be a part of the exclusive AFSA Awards Night Brochure.
The awards recognise the range of excellence we hear about daily, covering employers, teams and individuals. Whilst I know that some of you are modest about your achievements, please remember that other employers can learn from your work and it is important to shout about the great things you are doing, even in a challenging climate.
Please contact Mohammed cfrs.edi@cumbriafire.gov.uk for nominations.
Mohammed Dhalech, EDI Manager
|
Expression of Interest
Temporary On-call Support Crew Manager opportunity
The Service Delivery team are looking to appoint an On-call Support Crew Manager on an initial 3-month temporary basis based in Cumberland Basic Command Unit, predominantly supporting LC4, Bootle, Millom, Seascale, Egremont, Frizington and Whitehaven On-call.
This a fantastic opportunity and is a key role in making Cumbria’s communities safer through the planning, co-ordination and delivery of Service activities within the station area. The role involves supporting our On-call stations with Prevention and Protection activities, appliance availability and Learning and Development tasks.
Expressions of interest are invited from current Wholetime and On-call Crew Managers and competent Firefighters with a current OIC skill.
If you wish to be considered for this vacancy, please submit an expression of interest along with 400 words explaining why you feel you would be best suited for the role using the form link below. A selection process will be held to determine the most suitable applicant.
Please submit your expressions of interest to William.watson@cumbriafire.gov.uk no later than Friday 28th July 2023.
Please contact SM Willy Watson if you have any further questions or require any additional information.
Angela Opie, Group Manager
On-call firefighters: Have you heard about the Matthews second options exercise?
If you were employed as an on-call firefighter at any point between 7 April 2000 and 5 April 2006 you may be eligible to buy backdated membership of the 2006 Modified Fire Pension Scheme.
Does your Fire and Rescue Authority (FRA) know you are in scope? Complete the contact form and return by email to firepensions@cumbriafire.gov.uk or post to Fire Pensions, Cumbria Fire Service Headquarters, Carleton Avenue, Penrith, CA10 2FA.
More information including the contact form is available via this link.
Sandra Sedgwick, Senior Advisor, Pensions
Firefighter Pensions Schemes bulletin - out now
Colleagues should be aware that the new Firefighters’ Pensions Schemes Bulletin 70, FPS bulletin 70 June 2023 has been issued by the Firefighters Pension Scheme Advisory.
Sandra Sedgwick, Senior Advisor, Pensions
Celebrating 35 Years of Service
This week the People and Talent team celebrated Julie Coulthard reaching 35 years of service. Julie started in 1988 on reception at Fire HQ and has worked in numerous roles and departments since, from Payroll, to HR, to Central Crewing. Julie currently works in Service Delivery Support providing assistance in a number of areas to Service Delivery managers. Julie is vital part of the team with a wealth of knowledge and experience, and a well-known face across the Service. I hope you will join us in thanking and congratulating Julie on her dedication to Cumbria!
Takara Hanks, Senior HR Advisor
|
BW clip single gas detector (co)
The Toxi-Rae Co monitors have been superseded by a new CO detector. The yellow BW clip will now replace the Toxi-Rae on all operational vehicles, the BW clip has been trailed by CFRS for 12 months previously. The BW clip will come with a set of instructions, a data sheet, some quick reference cards and will be contained in a plastic container. The BW clip is designed to last 3 years and once started will not swich off. Technical services have 7 reserve BW clips currently available which will be sent to some stations this week (see below). The remaining 50 BW clips should be into CFRS in the first few weeks of Aug. As part of the changeover, L&D have made a LearnPro support tutorial for the BW-clip which must be viewed by all WM, CM and FF.
Information on the BW clip can be found within the Equipment notes and further manufacture information will be available via asset management on your station page.
The following stations will receive a reserve BW clip (ex-trial):
Reserve kit 1 - L&D
Reserve kit 2 - Kirkby Stephen
Reserve kit 3 - Alston
Reserve kit 4 - Silloth
Reserve kit 5 - Keswick
Reserve kit 6 - Coniston
Reserve kit 7 - Millom
All appliances will receive the new 3-year BW Clip as soon as possible once delivered.
Any old Toxie-Rae detectors must be returned to technical service or stores immediately.
Technical Services and Learning & Development
|
