1. Standards in the Fire & Rescue Service
Karl Smith

2. Accountability and Transparency
Fire Reform agenda…
‘…a comprehensive set of professional standards’
Theresa May (May 2016)
Efficiency
and Collaboration
Accountability and Transparency
Workforce Reform
‘…framework of standards for the service'
Brandon Lewis (Feb 2017)
Outcomes required by Govt
Driving forward the fire reform agenda
A step-change in efficiency and collaboration
Strengthen transparency and accountability to the communities we serve by:
establishing measurable, evidence based common standards
reinforcing the importance of a diverse and flexible workforce

3. Fire Service Inspectorate National Fire Chiefs Council
Delivering Reform
Professional Standards Body

4. What could it mean to services?
Enhance the professionalism of the service
Create structure and organisation around standards already in place
Address gaps and provide an essential pathway for professional career development
Ensure standards are sustainable, measurable, evidence-based and undergo independent scrutiny
Provide greater transparency and public assurance
On slide – words from Minister letter
Alternatives modified from CoP aims:
Better support those working in the fire & rescue services
Support senior management teams to ensure services are operating effectively, efficiently

5. Project Structure/Governance
Project Board
Project Executive
Project Team
Stakeholders
Consultees

6. Project Team Chris Bigland Senior Responsible Officer Joy Flanagan
Deputy Senior Responsible Officer
Karl Smith
Project Support
Steve Buchanan-Lee
Project Officer
(NOS & Qualifications)
Home Office Project Consultee / Support
Voluntary / Commissioned Support

7. Project Objectives

8. The PSB Project Team will:
Identify and collate existing standards
Recommend a scrutiny and approval mechanism for new and existing standards
Explore and recommend models for how the body will operate, be funded and staffed
Consult and engage with stakeholders throughout the project
Produce a business case by September 2017*

9. The PSB Project Team will not:
Develop or amend any standards
This will be a role for the newly established body post September
Establish the professional standards body
Create a work plan for the body
Appoint or recruit staff

10. Who’s in? Government (Legislation / Policy)
Fire & Rescue Services (Public)
Governance (LGA, PCC’s Mayors…)
Fire & Rescue Services (Private)
Suppliers (Products, Services)

11. Who’s in? Government (Legislation / Policy)
Fire & Rescue Services (Public)
Governance (LGA, PCC’s Mayors…)
Fire & Rescue Services (Private)
Suppliers (Products, Services)

12. Draft Project Stages & Milestones
March
April
May
June
July
August
Sept
Project Board
Fire Reform Board
Planning
Project Docs complete
Literature Review
Standard Setting Review
Operating Model Review
Complete business case
Business Case Development
Stakeholder survey
Workshops , conferences, visits
Stakeholder consultation
Key
Governance
Project stages
Stakeholder Engagement

13. Literature Review

14. Business Areas for a typical FRS
Corporate planning and governance
Finance department & services
Learning and Development, Training
Performance and Data
Technical Services
Health and Safety
Fleet Management
FRS
Legal Services
Human Resources
Protection –
Fire Safety
Prevention - Community Safety
Business Administration
Operational Response
Communications & Media
Emergency Planning/LRF
Information & Communication Technology
Estate and asset management

15. Learning & Development /Human Resources
Standards landscape
Leadership
NVQs
ILM
ELP
BA/BSc
MA/ MSc
Practitioner 
Supervisory
Middle Manager
Specialist
Strategic Manager
Health & Safety
IOSH
Working Safely
IOSH Managing Safely
NEBOSH Cert
Diploma Occ H&S
NEBOSH Diploma/Degree
Practitioner 
Supervisory
Middle Manager
Specialist
Strategic Manager
Finance PQ
IPFM
Audit
Counter Fraud
Financial Reporting
Practitioner 
Supervisory
Middle Manager
Specialist
Strategic Manager
Learning & Development /Human Resources
Foundation
Intermediate
Advanced
Practitioner
Supervisory
Middle Manager
Specialist 
Strategic Manager

16. Engagement activity All UK Fire and Rescue Services
Industry Associations
Other sector support

17. Understanding the standard setting process Creation, evolution and abolition

18. Basic standards setting process stages & actions
Proposal for standard
New
Revision of existing
Evidence of requirement?
Categorise , Verify & Approve Progress
Is it required?
What does it relate to?
Decision making
Research & Development
Consult and gather information
Drafting
Consultation
Consider feedback
Revise
Finalise
Approve, publish & adoption
In sector & independent
Mandatory or advisory
Maintain
Review cycles
Owner

19. A standard methodology for standards…
Health
Education
College of Policing
Fire…

20. Current process for FRS NOS (Prevention, Protection & Operational)
Provide feedback to sector No
Approval for progression
Collation of requests for new / review of existing NOS
Annual submission for whole sector reviewed
FRS SECTOR
Occupational Committee
NOS & Quals Group
Yes
Annual plan agreed & progress tracked
NOS development commissioned to Skills for FRS
NOS delivered
Skills for FRS
Occupational Committee

21. A process for the Fire & Rescue Services

22. What could the PSB process look like?
Proposal for standard
Categorise , Verify & Approve Progress
Research & Development ? ? ?
Consultation
Approve, publish & adoption
Maintain ? ? ?

23. No need to reinvent the wheel?
NFCC
National Occupational Committee
IFE
Central Programme Office
NOS & Quals Group
BSI
NFCC Coordination Committees
Devolved Administrations
College of Policing
Operational Guidance Strategy Board
Home Office
Skills for Fire & Rescue
Local Government Association
Assoc of Police & Crime Commissioners
National Operational Guidance Programme
Academic Organisations (R&D, Qualifications)
Other emergency services?
Civil Contingencies Secretariat

24. Some names in the frame? Approval / Decision Making Advice / Scrutiny
Research & Development
Project Mgt, Admin, Communications
NFCC & Coordination Committees
Operational Guidance Strategy Board (NOG)
National Occupational Committee
LGA
PCCs
Devolved Administrations
Home Office
College of Policing
National Occupational Committee
NOS & Quals Group
IFE
BSI
College of Policing
Skills for FRS
Academia
Other Emergency Services
Other Government Departments (Cabinet Office)
FRS Subject Matter Advisors / Experts
NOL
College of Policing R&D team
Academia
Skills for FRS
NOGP
BSI
IFE
Wider Sector
Central Programme Office
NFCC Secretariat
College of Policing
Skills for FRS
IFE

25. Some names in the frame? Approval / Decision Making Advice / Scrutiny
Research & Development
Project Mgt, Admin, Communications
NFCC & Coordination Committees
Operational Guidance Strategy Board (NOG)
National Occupational Committee
LGA
PCCs
Devolved Administrations
Home Office
College of Policing
National Occupational Committee
NOS & Quals Group
IFE
BSI
College of Policing
Skills for FRS
Academia
Other Emergency Services
Other Government Departments (Cabinet Office)
FRS Subject Matter Advisors / Experts
NOL
College of Policing R&D team
Academia
Skills for FRS
NOGP
BSI
IFE
Wider Sector
Central Programme Office
NFCC Secretariat
College of Policing
Skills for FRS
IFE

26. The other big questions….
Virtual or physical?
Part of another organisation?
College of Policing?
College of Fire?
NFCC?
Conglomerate?
Then….
How should this be funded?

27. In summary…
Standards landscape is being collated to provide the Inspectorate with a baseline of standards currently in use within the sector
Standards body models are being developed
Funding and management options will be developed once the models are set
The final business case will be agreed in draft for consultation in August.