Surrey Fire and Rescue Service Inspection Cause of Concern Actions 2024
His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) independently assesses and reports on the effectiveness and efficiency of fire and rescue services throughout the United Kingdom and publishes their findings, conclusions and recommendations.
In Spring of 2023, HMICFRS undertook a third full inspection of Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), and in September 2023, we received our inspection report which can be found on the HMICFRS website.
The inspection considered eleven questions under three main headings of Effectiveness, Efficiency and People and SFRS were graded as follows:
Effectiveness – the operational service provided to the public (including prevention, protection, and Response):
- Understanding the risk of fire and other emergencies, graded as Adequate
- Preventing fires and other risks, graded as Requires Improvement
- Protecting the public through fire regulation, graded as Requires Improvement
- Responding to fire and other emergencies, graded as Requires Improvement
- Responding to major and multi-agency accidents, graded as Requires Improvement
Efficiency – the efficiency of the service (how well it provides value for money, allocates resources to match risk, and collaborates with other emergency services);
- Making best use of resources, graded as Requires Improvement
- Making the fire and rescue service affordable now and in the future, graded as Adequate
People – how well the service looks after its people (how well it promotes its values and culture, trains its staff and ensures they have the necessary skills, ensures fairness and diversity for the workforce, and develops leadership and service capability):
- Promoting the right values and culture, graded as Good
- Getting the right people with the right skills, graded as Adequate
- Ensuring fairness and promoting diversity, graded as Requires Improvement
- Managing performance and developing leaders, graded as Requires Improvement
The report identified 24 Areas for Improvement (AFIs) and the Service has developed an Inspection Improvement Plan (IIP) to address each recommendation. This is a comprehensive document which shows in detail the actions we are taking to address all the AFIs identified by the HMICFRS.
The IIP was developed with the Service Leadership Team and was shared for feedback with all Leaders within our wider workforce. The IIP is updated on a quarterly basis and progress presented to our Service Leadership Team, our Portfolio Holder and our HMICFRS Service Liaison Lead for updates and questions.
Surrey Fire and Rescue is committed to ensuring that we provide efficient and effective services for our communities. We will show progress against this plan to our communities and to our Members of the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee who are in place to challenge and scrutinise progress and to ensure our continued improvement in all areas.
Please take the time to read the IIP.
