1. Retained Duty System and the Fire & Rescue Service
Introduce self: CFO 10 years disappointed at lack of ‘Talent Liberation’
Explain Fife, Warwickshire, Lincolnshire, Fife and H&I . All have RDS.
I used to know many in England but age and time away so many new faces. CFOA chair and secretary in Scotland as well as being a director in old days and on the first sounding board.
I am currently leading on RDS issues in Scotland and
I do not profess to be an educator or a learning and development expert. I know that you are far more experienced in this field. THIS SESSION IS THEREFORE NOT ABOUT HOW TO DO ANYTHING WITH REGARDS L&D. WHAT I AIM TO PROVIDE IS AN INSIGHT IN TO MY OWN SITUATION, THE CHALLENGES I FACE AND HOW WE ARE WORKING TO ADDRESS THEM.
However I do have some knowledge, Moreton in Marsh for two years and Masters degree in training and development. So I am not ignorant of the detail just perhaps ignorant of the answers!
Why am I here? Good question. I actually only asked to attend as I am interested in the health and wellbeing of the Retained duty system (terminology I dislike immensely) and its future. However Darren invited me to speak, something I am more than happy to do. However whilst I will touch on learning and development and will speak briefly about some training matters I want to say here and now it will not be detail. Others are better versed on this matter and can provide detail. Indeed there a number of very good sessions coming up where we can all learn about best practice.
I very much want to speak about the context and environment in which RDS operate. I want to explain how Scotland are working together to improve the competence of our staff who operate duty systems other than wholetime.
Chief Fire Officer Brian A Murray

2. Highlands and Islands Fire & Rescue Service
Largest Geographical Area in UK
1500 Employees
1 Wholetime Station
95 Retained Stations
31 Community Response Units
A quick bit about my own Service.
This week I was in Shetland. I left on Tuesday morning and left on Sunday to travel direct to Moreton in between I visited 5 stations. Forgetting the flight to Shetland for one station I had more flights (30 mins) and for others it was ferries (1.5hr)
Discuss very briefly the upgrade situation. When joined 10 years ago 31 Retained 95 volunteer. HMI and Health and Safety Exec
Would not allow attendance without BA.
My staff offered to give up their rights in writing. No
Staff must be properly trained and equipped. We knew they could enter buildings on fire without Ba therefore no.
Think of the challenge of upgrading 61 stations. How do you get them equipped but even more difficult is how to get them competent?

3. Vehicles 149 Appliances 14 Special Appliances 43 Support Vehicles
Just to give you some feel for the scale of our organisation here is the current fleet size.
Today I need 40 new full size fire engines…..what are my chances of success in current economic climate?

4. Our Property 1 Wholetime Station 95 Retained Stations
31 Community Response Units
Headquarters
Control Room
Vehicle Workshops
2 Training Centres
The biggest challenge I have is that I also need 40 new fire stations….I do not want stand alone provision etc
Small stations…absolute minimum but still cost 500k this is my specialist subject and I could talk all day on it but I will spare you.
It is not a doom and gloom story because in the last ten years I have secured 30 new stations!
The only bit I ask that you take from this slide is the 2 training centres. Not really two.
One is carbonaceous and the other a gas facility about 100miles south of the other.

5. What is an RDS Firefighter ?
Can I ask the audience what is a Retained Firefighter?
Await answers
A few years ago there would have been a very simple answer to that question.
Today it is not so clear. I personally believe that there are many answers with none of them right or wrong.
Today everyone here is keen to find out how to train and develop a Firefighter on the Retained duty system. Some might say how to develop a retained firefighter. Some enlightened individuals may even say how to develop a firefighter.
Regardless of how you term it you are here to learn about developing staff on the RDS. If you are going to do that you need to know what and RDS person is. You and I may think we know but I know that within my own Service there are RDS firefighters who say that the systems we put in place are not geared up for them. They do not feel they are treated properly because training staff do not understand them So even if you think you know who you are dealing with it may be worth checking
I will therefore provide an overview of what is happening with RDS personnel in my own Service.

6. What is an RDS Firefighter ?
Continuum
Firefighters
Community safety
Extrication experts
Co responders

7. What is an RDS Firefighter ?
Trainers
Management supporters
Station Managers

8. Training challenges in H&I
New Firefighters
Need Training
Need Experience
Need support

9. Scotland Works Better Together
CFOA(S)
CFOA RDS
SFRAU
Scottish Government
Central Scotland
Dumfries & Galloway
Fife
Grampian
Highlands & Islands
Lothian & Borders
Tayside
Strathclyde

10. Scotland Works Better Together
Alternative RDS Duty Systems
Electronic Retained Availability System
Transferability
Co-Responder Scheme
RDS staff involvement other than Firefighters
RDS Employer Engagement
Training & Development
Performance Appraisals for RDS / Career Contribution
Community Engagement
Communication
Health & Fitness

11. Chief Fire Officer Brian A Murray
Any Questions?
Chief Fire Officer Brian A Murray