CFRS Weekly Update - 06/10/2023
Message from Brian Steadman, Deputy Chief Fire Officer
After an amazing 33 years working across both on-call and wholetime duty systems and in most departments, I have decided that the time is right for, my family, the Service and me to retire. As such I have given the Chief Fire Officer and the PFCC six months’ notice of my intent to retire in April next year.
As always, there is much work to do, and I intend to continue leading the teams to deliver the changes. I plan to complete as many station and watch visits as possible over the next six months to thank you for the support and friendship over my career.
Rick Ogden added:
Brian represents the very foundations of CFRS. He has seen huge change over the last 33 years and so it will be a massive loss both to the service and myself as the CFO.
I recognise that this news may cause some feelings of instability, but I am confident that we will grow a new dynamic and agile team to take the service to where we need to be, and I am looking to Brian to help shape and develop that team over the next six months.
Leadership Day
 Thank you to everyone who supported, attended and viewed our successful Leadership Day at The Roundthorn, Penrith, on Monday.
The theme of the event was ‘Relaunch’ and was held to mark our six-month anniversary of becoming a stand-alone service.
The day was launched by Chief Fire Officer Rick Ogden, who spoke of his pride at all that has been achieved over the past six months and outlined his priorities and vision for the period ahead. We then heard updates from across the service, including highlights of progress made and plans for the coming months.
To view all the presentations made on the day, click here.
** Full coverage of the Leadership Day will be included in the next edition of Status, including a summary of the Q&A held with Rick and the Senior Leadership Team and key updates from each service area.
Women in the Fire Service North West Regional Event
Our Carlisle East Fire Station proudly played host to the Women in the Fire Service North West regional event last Friday.
It is the first time Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service has hosted the event, and the feedback received from delegates – both in person and on social media afterwards – has been tremendous.
Following a launch by Rick Ogden and Jenny Nangle, the Regional Lead for WFS, the delegates enjoyed presentations from our Group Manager Angela Opie, who became Cumbria’s first female firefighter in 1996, and record-breaking fell-runner Sabrina Verjee.
The afternoon was then packed with discussions, demonstrations, workshops and drills.
Thank you to everyone who supported the event. Full coverage will be included in the next edition of Status
Uniform - New Polo Shirts
The second half of everyone’s Polo Shirt allocation has now been sent out from Stores.
If you have received an incorrect size, please utilise the link below to complete the electronic stores return form: [Polo Shirt Return Form]
We understand that there have been discussions about the quality of the Polo Shirt fabric. It's important to note that these Polo Shirts have been selected in accordance with the North West procurement standards, aligning with other services that have been successfully using Polo Shirts made from the same fabric for many years.
These Polo Shirts are constructed from high-wicking material designed to efficiently move moisture, such as sweat, away from the body, ensuring you stay dry and comfortable. The synthetic fibre is hydrophobic, with a capillary structure that repels water instead of absorbing it, effectively drawing moisture away from the skin. Furthermore, we have invested in higher-quality Polo Shirts that come with an anti-bacterial coating.
The decision to transition from the two-piece shirt and t-shirt combination to a single Polo Shirt was based on the feedback from the 2020 Uniform questionnaire. This change marks a modern and forward-looking step for CFRS.
Felicity Lynch, Station Manager
Out of hours emergency building defects
For any emergency building defects, including issues with appliance bay doors, the Out of Hours contact number is 0300 373 2753.
During office hours this is the property and maintenance helpdesk number however outside of office hours, which is between 17:00 and 09:00 (16:30 on Fridays), and over weekends, the number is transferred to the out of hours call centre which is answered by the contractor who will then pass the order to the relevant sub-contractor.
Some appliance bay doors may have stickers with the details of the old contractor. If possible to do so without causing any damage please remove these or cover them up to avoid any confusion.
Jo Richardson - Programme Lead (Transition)
CFRS Speak Up Service in partnership with Crimestoppers is now live
 As of 1 October 2023 CFRS partnership arrangement with Crimestoppers is now live!
As previously mentioned the service is available online or via telephone 24/7, 365 days of the year. Staff can chose to remain anonymous or to share their details if they feel comfortable.
Promotional information is due to be dispatched to stations for SM’s to make accessible to staff within the workplace. Should you have any queries please contact the HR Team HR@cumbriafire.gov.uk
Jemma Taylor - HR Manager
Silver Sunday
A range of engagement activities were carried out by our crews to mark Silver Sunday; a day created to help older people connect with their local communities.
Workington and Whitehaven crews both visited care homes on the day – Amathea and The Gables respectively – where they attended a coffee morning and delivered fire safety and heart start information to the staff and residents.
For more information on Silver Sunday, visit:
Silver Sunday | The National Day for Older People, 1st October 2023
Bucket Challenge
Colleagues from Egremont will be raising money for The Firefighters Charity this Saturday with their first Bucket Challenge.
The team and supporters will be passing a bucket of water along a nine-mile route all the way from Egremont to Whitehaven Harbour.
The challenge starts at Egremont Fire Station at 9.30am. For more information and to support the challenge, visit:
Egremont Fire Station is fundraising for The Fire Fighters Charity (justgiving.com)
** Whitehaven Fire Station’s car wash on Saturday, also in aid of The Firefighters Charity, raised a total of £542.21.
Firefighters’ Pension Schemes – 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 came into force this week on 1 October 2023 to allow for retrospective remedy which covers the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022.
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 was ‘rolled back’ to your legacy scheme. This will be either the 1992 or 2006 Scheme. You do not need to do anything; this has been done automatically.
Over the next few weeks, anyone who is in scope for remedy will receive a letter which will provide you with additional information. If believe you are in scope 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 us and you, 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 below:
Sandra Sedgwick - Senior Advisor - Pensions
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