Scrutiny & HM Inspectorate Role within Scotland Simon Routh-Jones QFSM HM Chief Inspector for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

Comparisons

The Scottish Fire & Rescue Service In 2005, the core functions, responsibilities and Fire Safety legislative provision of the Fire & Rescue Services transferred to Scottish Government - Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 In 2013, Eight Fire & Rescue Services became one National Service, with a further transformational programme planned

Scottish Fire and Rescue 4th Largest FRS in World 356 Fire Stations 7834 Employees (2017) 3 Operational Areas 16 Local Senior Officer Areas 32 Local Community Areas North Area West Area East Area

Challenges to the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service New Chief, Board and Chair Demographics Funding – Transformation Agenda – Year on Year Budgets & No Reserves – National Negotiations v Scottish Solution Size of Scotland RDS

Inspection Process In contrast to England and Wales, Scotland retained its formal inspectorate system, thus, maintained an independent Fire & Rescue Inspectorate Throughout the period England and Wales moved to the Chief Fire & Rescue Advisor and Peer Reviews and now HMICFRS, Scotland’s preference was to maintain a formal inspectorate structure and an annual risk assessed work programme of inspections

The Approach to Success Scottish Government FRS Policy Unit Scottish Fire & Rescue Service Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland

Role – Inspection, Advisor, Fire Safety Determinations HMFSI – Who we are Independent from Scottish Government and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Role – Inspection, Advisor, Fire Safety Determinations Core Team of 7 people (plus 2 Secondees) Team Make Up Chief H.M. Fire Service Inspector 3 x Assistant HMIs 1 x Inspection Officer/Department Manager 2 x Corporate Administration Staff 2 x SFRS Secondee Staff Specialist Staff (as required) & ‘Razor’ the dog

The Role of the Secondee Integral member of the Inspectorate Provide Service knowledge and Data Info for Reviews Provide specialist knowledge to functions within Service PLUS:- Assist those ‘South of the Border’!! Airson a h-uile luchd-obrach Déan nuashonrú ar do chuid taifead go léir agus glan an stáisiún - tabhair cuairt ar Chigireacht na Seirbhíse Dóiteáin

Role of the inspectorate Auditor or Inspectorate and a Critical Friend

HMFSI Guiding Principles Independent, Proportionate and risk-based inspections Statutory reporting requirements apply to our inspections Business Plan is a public document Different identified National Priorities

What HMFSI does Provide Independent Assurance & Advice Core Values – Integrity, Objectivity, and Fairness Working with Others Inspection regime Area Based Inspections Thematic Reviews Significant Incidents Incidents of Special Interest Operational Assurance Determination on Fire Safety Disputes Provide Support and Advice to N.I. Administration Report Publication http://www.gov.scot/about/public-bodies/HMFSI/Reports-Publications

Aligning our Work with others Bilateral Memorandum of Understandings:- Audit Scotland The Ombudsman Health & Safety Executive The Crown Office The Procurator Fiscal Services

Complementary scrutiny framework Proportionate and risk based best value audit and inspection activity covering: Outcomes Service performance Continuous improvement Partnership working Performance management Use of resources Governance and accountability Community planning Audit Scotland on behalf of the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Areas of shared interest Operational inspection, including: Policies and practices Operational guidance Firefighter Safety Staff learning and development Legislative fire safety enforcement Community safety engagement   Financial audit Value for money performance audit

Safe Firefighter Concept Command & Control Organisational Responsibilities Managing Incidents Command Training Operational Tactics Command structure Weight of Response The Inspection Criteria Health & Safety Operational Risk Information Fire safety Legislation Training Wholetime Retained Duty System (RDS) Officer Recruitment Safe Firefighter Concept Operational Assurance Community Safety Resources National assets Equipment Fleet PPE Property Shared Assets & Resources Resources Training Command & Control Accident Reporting Accident Reporting Vehicles Near Misses Individual Safe Firefighter Concept

Governance Health & Safety Partnership Working Use of Resources Service Performance SFRS Governance Performance Management Community Planning Individual Performance Management Organisational Learning Transformational Governance Procurement Organisational Governance & Accountability Environmental Protection

HM Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland Chief Inspector’s work plan Currently 3 Area Based inspections per year Six month follow-up on local inspections Identified Thematic Reviews from Local Area Inspections Current Thematic Work, e.g. Fleet, RDS Training, O.R.I. 2019 Programme – Organisational Learning – Command Role for Operational incidents Can be directed by Ministers or Self-Determined Specific Incidents of Significant interest Statutory publication process, laid in Parliament or publish on web pages

Strategic Priorities - Fire Framework 2016 Performance Measures Safety, Well-being & Prevention Response & Resilience - (Response) Response & Resilience - (Resilience) Partnership Service Transformation Modernising Response Unwanted Fire Signals Effective Governance & Performance People

The Scottish Model on Standards Due to differing standards across the 45 FRS within England, a new suite of professional standards is being developed to enable a consistent platform for HMICFRS to be measure against Within Scotland, there is a different approach to Standards due to there being: Single Fire and Recue Service Separate Legislation Separate National Framework Document – 2016 Different identified National Priorities

Standards Scotland has not committed to taking on the full range of professional standards being developed in England but is likely to adopt those that it deems to be of benefit to it whilst maintaining optimum Scottish decision making and flexibility

Scottish Standards will be developed from: National Framework for Scotland Priorities Assurance & Governance SFRS Performance Management Framework Transformational Agenda Culture & Ethics SFRS Strategic Plan Professional Standards where applicable

The Importance to be Externally Assessed

The Same but slightly Different

7 key Areas to assess evidence about the delivery of an FRS Peer Review 7 key Areas to assess evidence about the delivery of an FRS   Community Risk Management  Prevention Protection  Response  Health and Safety  Training and Development  Call Management and Incident Support

And Finally In conclusion, external inspection of an organisation is essential in order for that organisation to develop and flourish An organisation can easily see the ‘low hanging fruit’ to improve and rectify. It is when the more detailed and fundamental issues need to be reviewed that an independent eye is critical Should not take a defensive approach - when you look in a mirror you don’t always see and recognise what is reflecting back at you.

Questions Simon Routh-Jones QFSM http://www.gov.scot/about/public-bodies/HMFSI/Reports-Publications