Report of the Assistant Director Planning & Improvement.

The Fire Authority considered the report of the Assistant Director Planning & Improvement providing details of East Sussex Fire Rescue Service’s performance for the period April – March 2019/20.  Fourteen top level indicators had improved or met the target set in 2019/20 (70%) and six indicators declined. 

The Planning & Intelligence Manager (P&IM) introduced the report to Members and drew their attention to some particular key points, linked to the Service’s priority performance areas.  These included highlighting the reduction in accidental dwelling fires, in 2019/20 ESFRS had recorded the lowest number of these incidents ever at 453, this was an 11% reduction on the previous year.  Other key points in the report related to a decline in performance regarding overall sickness absence rates, there had been a slight increase in sickness absences, particularly relating to long-term sickness.  Members were informed that at the end of 2019/20 the number of inspections of high risk premises and business safety audits had increased by 28%.

Members felt that the report outlined some satisfactory performance figures.  There was some concern that the number of home safety visit figures was not as high as desired and that there would be an unavoidable impact in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Officers reassured members that this was being addressed and that there were ways of working in place for telephone home safety visits. 

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) responded to comments on the figures relating to the inspections of high risk premises by confirming to those present that the report demonstrated some positive figures in this area.  In terms of ESFRS’ preparedness the Service continues to have positive performance when compared to other comparable Fire & Rescue Services in terms of attendance times and confinement of fires to the room of origin.  ESFRS would continue to prioritise quality over quantity with regards to its home safety visits, the Service was attending more complex cases and these required additional personnel to ensure that we were giving our residents the best quality service.  Members passed on their thanks to staff for the number and quality of visits being carried out and their appreciation for how these had been adapted during the COVID-19 restrictions.

Members suggested the Service consider running a public communications campaign regarding the dangers of hoarding, in the same way it has done with regards to kitchen safety.  The ACFO explained that ESFRS had for some time been focussing on hoarding as an area of concern, as it had needed to make a number of interventions in the past. It is also important to be sensitive to the mental health challenges that may also be an underlying reason and generally there was a multi-agency approach to these cases.  The Chief Fire Officer (CFO) added that historically hoarding had been under reported  The CFO was proud of ESFRS Firefighters for their work on this issue  and for ensuring safeguarding referrals are made   The ACFO agreed to work with the prevention team to see what other work could be done on a communications campaign.

Members wanted some more detail regarding the sickness absence figures and asked whether there was mitigation in place to support staff.  The Assistant Director Safer Communities (ADSC) confirmed that the sickness figures over recent months had reduced, with the larger figures related to those staff on long term sickness, some of whom were experiencing delays in treatment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this was being monitored.  New programmes had been introduced as part of a renewed occupational health offer.  The ADSC informed the Authority that there was work underway with regards to streamlining the medical practitioner process and attention was being given to the subject of light duties work. 

Members asked whether in light of the impact of COVID-19 there was additional mental health support being given to staff.  The Chief Fire Officer gave reassurance to Members that staff wellbeing was a matter of significant focus at the moment.  Support staff were being monitored as some were experiencing more isolation due to working from home and many staff had been dealing with complex family health issues  ESFRS had been the only fire and rescue service to take part in the charity Mind’s workplace survey last year and subscribed to CALM (Campaign against living miserably).  During the COVID-19 pandemic staff had been surveyed about the impact that the situation was having on their mental health.  The Service had contracted specific psychological support and counselling services for staff, it was all confidential. The CFO reminded the Fire Authority of the additional £30k invested in the occupational health provision.  ESFRS has a supportive culture that ensures any issues are escalated very quickly and it also important to note that the majority of these issues were not connected with working life, but the service was not complacent and recognises the importance of good Occupational Health and managerial support. 

RESOLVED: The Fire Authority considered and noted:

  i.        the performance results and progress towards achieving the Service’s purpose and commitments; and

 ii.        the performance results and remedial actions that have been taken to address areas of under performance in the Fire Authority’s priority areas.