CFRS Update - 25.08.2023
Firefighters' Pension Scheme - Age Discrimination Retrospective Remedy
In 2015, new laws introduced a new scheme for firefighters - the Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015 (FPS 2015). These laws included protections which meant that some members of the legacy schemes (FPS 1992 and FPS 2006) didn't join FPS 2015 either straight away or at all, depending on their age. After a legal challenge, the courts determined that these protections were age discriminatory and following consultation, the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 came into force on 1 April 2022 to remedy the discrimination.
Following further consultation, the Firefighters’ Pensions (Remediable Service) Regulations 2023 were laid and will come into force on 1 October 2023 to allow for retrospective remedy which covers the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022.
Next steps
As we approach October, both Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and LPPA our pension administrators, are preparing to implement processes and systems to ensure that remedy can be implemented as quickly as reasonably practicable.
On 1 October 2023 your pension for the remedy period will be ‘rolled back’ to your legacy scheme. This will be either the 1992 or 2006 Scheme. You do not need to do anything; this will be done automatically. This is just the first stage of the retrospective remedy process, and we will be working to the national timetable. Due to the complexities of the project, this work will take time to implement.
Over the next 3-4 weeks, anyone who is in scope for remedy will receive a letter which will provide you with additional information. If you believe you are in scope (i.e were in pensionable service on or before 31 March 2012 and have pensionable service between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022) and you do not receive a letter, please contact us at firepensions@cumbriafire.gov.uk.
If you are considering retiring within the next 6 months, it would be beneficial to both you and us if you could notify your manager with at least 90 days’ notice in addition to your normal contractual notice period. This should allow us enough time to provide you with the information on your pension choices and benefits.
Further information on Age Discrimination Retrospective Remedy can be found Age discrimination remedy (fpsregs.org)
Sandra Sedgwick, Senior Advisor - Pensions
Sickness Absence Management Stages
The sickness absence management stages in iTrent have recently been amended to more accurately reflect the stages in relation to the relevant absence procedures for fire service employees. Any stages already recorded against previous absences will remain in Trent however the stages in Trent for sickness absence are now:
Fire 01 – Support Meeting
Fire 02 – Absence Management Meeting
Fire 03 – Stage 1 Improvement Notice Issued
Fire 04 – Stage 1 Review
Fire 05 – Stage 2 Improvement Notice Issued
Fire 06 – Stage 2 Review
Fire 07 – Stage 3 Dismissal
Fire 08 – Stage 3 Other Outcome
If you have any queries in relation to which option to use when recording a sickness absence stage, please contact the HR Team hr@cumbriafire.gov.uk
Helen Clark, HR Manager
Fire & Rescue Authorities – DBS Checks.
Amnesty Period and further Q&A Sessions
Following the inclusion of Fire and Rescue Authorities in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions), all fire and rescue authority employee and volunteer roles are required to have a Standard DBS Check. Depending on activities undertaken, the frequency of those activities, and a risk assessment undertaken by CFRS, there may be some discretion for employees to be eligible for Enhanced levels of DBS checks (with or without Barred List checks)
The decision has been made to have an ‘Amnesty Period’ between Monday 28th August and Monday 25th September 2023, where all employees can confidentially disclose any information or convictions they are aware may come up on the check applicable to their role - either a Standard DBS Check, Enhanced DBS Check, or Enhanced with Barred List Check.
Letter to all employees
All staff will shortly be receiving a letter with information regarding the ‘Amnesty Period’ and next steps.
Form for disclosure during Amnesty Period
This form must be completed by all staff, operational and corporate. This can be completed on personal external devices. Please ensure you include your full name as shown or your identification documents as this is key information for the checking process.
Please click here to be taken to the confidential form or scan the QR code below.
The information shared on this form will be held solely by the HR Team and employees will only be contacted if there is information we need to discuss with you directly.
There is also a paper form, saved on the DBS SharePoint, ready to be printed and handed to any staff who would prefer to complete this way.
Link to SharePoint: https://cumbria.sharepoint.com/sites/Fire-HumanResources/HR%20Team/Forms/AllItems.aspx
If you are completing a paper form, please post it to:
FAO: HR Team
People and Talent Service
Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters
Kemplay Bank
Penrith CA10 2FA
You can also scan your paper copy and email it to: HR@cumbriafire.gov.uk – Please put ‘CONFIDENTIAL’ in the email title.
FAQs
Please refer to the linked FAQs to understand what information you need to give, including detail on unspent convictions and cautions, spent convictions and cautions, and what will show up on the relevant level of DBS check.
Link to FAQs: FAQs.docx
Q&A Sessions
We are holding the below Q&A sessions. To join one of the Q&A sessions, please click the Microsoft Teams links below at the time of the session.
For Managers
These sessions will be an opportunity to ask the HR team any queries managers have about the process, about checks, and how to support and discuss DBS with staff.
For All Staff
The below dates have been scheduled for the All-Staff Sessions, and links will be sent in future Weekly Updates.
Thursday 7th September – 12:00pm – 12:45pm
Thursday 7th September – 19:00pm – 19:45pm
Monday 11th September – 12:00pm – 12:45pm
Monday 11th September - 19:00pm – 19:45pm
If you have any queries, please contact the HR team on HR@cumbriafire.gov.uk
Ollie Wright – Resourcing, Talent and Wellbeing Lead
Regional WFS event 29th September,
Carlisle East Fire Station
Cumbria WFS are excited to open the booking for a place on the WFS Regional Event.
We have talks from our very own Group Manager Angela Opie and the record-breaking long distance fell runner Sabrina Verjee and a number of practical development sessions in SRT, Incident Command, RTC and ALP.
There will also be the chance to have a go at the Firefighter Challenge, which will be running all day lead by multi–Firefighter Challenge winner Chrissy Downer and members of Cheshire Firefighter Challenge team.
Along with workshops in Menopause – The Facts, lead by Dr Cath Munro, a GP and currently one of only 2 British Menopause Society-accredited menopause specialists in the whole of Lancashire and South Cumbria, and Growth Mindset- the chance to develop a greater understanding of the difference between a growth and fixed mindset.
Book your place to join Cumbria WFS as they host this inclusive, all genders learning experience and discover a unique space to inspire, network, and unlock your potential. This training and development event is open to all staff, operational, functional and wider corporate colleagues. To book your place and find out more information follow the link below.
https://wfscumbria2023.eventbrite.co.uk/
Places are limited, but if you would like to volunteer on the day and assist in the workshops, or have any further questions, please contact WFS@cumbriafire.gov.uk
Women in Fire Service, Cumbria
Carlisle East Open Day - 19.08.2023
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On the 19th of August Carlisle East Fire station opened its doors for their Annual Open day.
The day involved the crews speaking and mingling with the public, explaining our role, sharing Fire Safety messages, and demonstrating all the equipment we use.
It also involved a Breathing apparatus demonstration in the morning where we used our aerial appliance to rescue a distressed “Welephant” from a burning building.
In the afternoon a Road Traffic collision extrication was demonstrated.
To support the Open day, we asked along the local ice cream van and burger van to help with refreshments as people looked around.
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The main part of this article is to express my sincere thanks to all the people who made this such a successful day.
This includes Temp Watch Manager Carl Pearson and his Blue Watch team who organised and planned the day.
FF Natasha Turner who really smashed it out the park by sourcing some fantastic prizes for our Charity raffle draw, which included the lease of a Caterham sports car for the weekend, Pioneer hampers, meal vouchers for local restaurants and Nerf guns to name but a few.
FF Kim Berry and her father for constructing a mini fire house for the younger children to simulate extinguishing a house fire with our appliance hose reels.
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Crew Manager Stuart Forrester for promoting the event on social media and streaming it live over the day , which really drew in the crowds.
Watch manager Carl Pearson, Crew Manager Jackson Kidd, Crew Manager Stuart Forrester, FF Charlie Jarvis, FF Lauren Hollies, FF Richie Hinson who all used their own time by volunteering to help to promote their station and role.
To the fantastic Fire cadets who really are a credit to the Service.
And to FF Dale Donald, who tirelessly set up and literally ran the junior Fire fighter selection test area for the duration of the day without stopping!
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Making sure every child really got the National Firefighter selection test experience.
Overall, the day was a resounding success and raised at last count an amazing £1939 for the Firefighters Charity.
What I took away from the day and what really stood out for me was the dedication and enthusiasm that was generated from the Firefighters across both Carlisle East and West stations and for that I thank you all.
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Ant Rooney, Station Manager
Fire and rescue service staff encouraged to apply for The Fleur Lombard Bursary
The Fleur Lombard Bursary aims to advance the education of junior members of the fire and rescue service, by the grant of bursaries to enable them to travel and study fire and rescue service related issues at other fire and rescue services elsewhere in the UK, Europe or worldwide.
If you’re interested in finding out more about an issue affecting your fire and rescue service or want to improve your understanding of fire and rescue service issues, you may be interested in applying for the bursary.
Members of fire and rescue service staff, up to and including Watch Manager or equivalent corporate staff, from any UK fire and rescue service are invited to apply for the funding to support a research trip.
The bursary is aimed at self-directed study and applications should aim to demonstrate at least one or more of the following objectives:
· Reducing fires
· And/or reducing death and injury by fire
· And/or preventing damage to property and environment by fire
· And/or reducing the risk of death or injury to firefighters
· And offering career development stemming from the study
The bursary was set up in memory of Firefighter Fleur Lombard who was the first female firefighter to die on duty in peacetime Britain. She tragically died in 1996 tackling a fire in a supermarket in Staple Hill, Bristol. Fleur was posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal and Chief Fire Officer's Commendation in recognition of her bravery. Two of her colleagues who were with her that day were also awarded the George Medal and the Queen's Commendation for Bravery.
After Fleur's tragic death a trust fund was set up as a fitting tribute to her bravery, courage, dedication and professionalism. The bursary aims to keep Fleur’s values alive, helping others progress their careers in the fire and rescue service.
The Fleur Lombard Bursary Fund - Avon Fire & Rescue Service
Mohammed Dhalech, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager
Temporary Crew Manager Opportunity - Fire Protection
Fire Protection are looking to fill a Crew Manager role within the team. The candidate will be responsible for the coordination of Operational Business Engagements, deliver Fire Protection CPD and undertake Fire Safety project work. There will also be an expectation to undertake low – medium risk audits of commercial premises.
This exciting opportunity is suited to those who are looking to develop their careers in Fire Protection and gain invaluable experience in understanding the build environment.
Expressions of interest are invited from Crew Mangers and Firefighters with OIC skills who either hold or are currently working towards the SFJ Level 3 Diploma in Fire Safety.
If you wish to be considered for this 6 month temporary vacancy, please submit an expression of interest containing upto 400 words of why you feel you would be suited to the role to: no later than midnight on Friday 1st September 2023. If you have any questions regarding this role please contact either T/SM Brian Ing or Paul Hanby.
Brian Ing, Temporary Station Manager, Fire Protection
Royal Humane Society Commendation Award
Watch Manager, Dan Clements, received a Certificate of Commendation from the Royal Humane Society for performing life-saving CPR on a member of the public.
On 17th June 2022, Dan, who was off duty at the time, and witnessed Aivar Alksnis collapse on Mary Street, Longtown, just outside Dan’s place of work. Using his skills that he had acquired as an on-call firefighter, Dan administered CPR on Mr. Alksnis who had gone into cardiac arrest. Dan continued to provide CPR on his own for around 15 minutes before an ambulance from Carlisle arrived, taking Mr. Alksnis to Carlisle Hospital where he made a full recovery. The paramedics who attended the incident, stated that without Dan’s actions, Mr. Alksnis would not have survived.
The presentation to award Dan with the Certificate of Commendation took place on Tuesday 22 August at Longtown Fire Station and was awarded by Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Brian Steadman. The ceremony was attended by the Fire Crew based at Longtown, Group Manager Angela Opie, Station Manager Anthony Rooney, retired Watch Manager Kevin Byers and Dan’s wife, Karen.
Speaking on the award, Dan Clements, modestly stated: I was just on scene at the right time and used the skills I have to keep Mr Alksnis alive.
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Station Manager Ant Rooney nominated Dan for the award. Speaking on the award, he said: “I nominated Dan as he represents what it means to be an on-call Firefighter, how important their role and skills are and highlights that a firefighter is always on-call in their community.
“Dan exhibited courage and bravery by stepping in and using his skills to save a life, and I’m sure Aivar and his family are really grateful for his actions.
“We are all exceptionally proud of Dan for stepping up in a moment where he was needed, despite being off duty.
“I want to congratulate Dan for receiving this award and I am pleased that he has received recognition for his efforts.”
Ant Rooney, Station Manager
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Fire Fighters Charity - (Mixed Teams)
NETBALL TOURNAMENT
On Saturday 18th November 2023, CFRS will be hosting a mixed teams Fire Fighter’s Charity Netball Tournament in aid of the Fire Fighters Charity. The tournament will be held at the Queen Elizabeth Grammar school (QEGS) in Penrith followed by a social gathering in the Dog Beck, Penrith.
We are aiming for this to be a really fun day, and would like to encourage as many CFRS staff to come along and join in. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t played before as we will be delivering some coaching sessions to explain the basic rules and we may even be able to have a practice session before the main event.
You never know where this exciting opportunity may take you, look at our very own Cumbrian girl Helen Housby, a professional netball player and in the very recent World Cup won ‘World Cup Player of the tournament’.
To get you started here are some basic rules:
The Rules of Netball - EXPLAINED! - Bing video
Now Click on the link below to either register your interest to play or to come along and support the event:
Charity Netball Tournament - LIVE Link
If you would like to submit a team nomination (There are 7 members in a team) One person can complete the form but please complete the following questions:
Question 2 – Team name
Question 3 – Individual’s names in the team.
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Angela Opie, Station Manager
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