Leicestershire Fire and Rescue requires improvement

Inspectors have ruled that Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) requires improvement in four key areas.

Some parts of the service had even “deteriorated” since the previous inspection, officials have revealed.

The report, conducted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), looked over 11 areas of LFRS’s effectiveness and efficiency as well as how well it looks after its people. It found that the service was “good” in six areas – that’s the second highest grading possible and “adequate” in one area.

However, there were four parts of the service – best use of resources; future affordability; promoting values and culture; and promoting fairness and diversity – that were ranked as “requires improvement” – the second lowest grading. HMICFRS said some of these areas remained unchanged since the previous inspection carried out in 2022, while others had “deteriorated”, particularly those in relation to “how the service looks after its people”.

In its report, HMICFRS said it heard examples of senior leaders not acknowledging issues being raised by support staff, and several examples of poor behaviour demonstrated by leaders. Staff lacked confidence in the fairness of bullying, harassment and discrimination processes, and said that they didn’t report concerns due to a fear of repercussions, it added.

HMICFRS said that senior leaders were not providing effective strategic oversight or commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). Inspectors ruled this must become a higher priority for the service, and the 999 service should make sure it provides strategic commitment, visibility and leadership to support EDI throughout the organisation.

Despite some concerns, the inspectorate said that LFRS is well-prepared for responding to major and multi-agency incidents, is meeting its revised response times and has improved its overall approach in effectiveness. It noted it had developed a dashboard displaying the key performance targets for prevention and protection, which “helps staff understand their responsibilities and supports actions on the service’s community risk management plan”.

Inspectors also recognised the work the service had done with Leicestershire Youth and Justice Service on a road safety intervention programme to divert young offenders away from the criminal justice system, noting the initiatives as “innovative practice.”

What were the inspector’s principal findings?

The service has improved its overall approach in effectiveness by developing a dashboard that displays the key performance targets for prevention and protection, which helps staff understand their responsibilities and supports community risk management plan (CRMP) actions; reviewing its response standard and meeting its response times; and increasing its enforcement activity, with three prosecutions in progress.

There are issues with the budget management arrangements as well as a lack of transparent reporting of financial information and risks to the fire and rescue authority (FRA).

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) aren’t a high enough priority, and senior leaders aren’t providing effective strategic oversight or commitment in this area.

Staff told us that not all senior leaders acted as role models or showed that they were committed to the service’s values through their behaviours.

Staff lack confidence in the fairness of bullying, harassment and discrimination processes, and they told us that they didn’t report concerns due to a fear of repercussions.

The service needs to improve communication between staff and senior managers and create a safer environment for staff to be confident in providing feedback and challenge.

Lee Freeman, from HMICFRS, said: “I am satisfied with some aspects of the performance of Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service in keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks, but there are areas in which the service still needs to improve. For example, the service should make sure there are appropriate strategic oversight arrangements in place to manage financial risks.

“I recognise that there have been some areas where improvements have been made. But I am disappointed to see that, since our 2022 inspection, the service hasn’t made the overall progress we expected. For example, some areas remain unchanged, and others have deteriorated, particularly in relation to how the service looks after its people.

“In view of these findings, I have been in regular contact with the chief fire officer, as I don’t underestimate how much improvement is needed. I will keep in close contact with the service to monitor its progress in addressing the areas for improvement.”

What have LFRS said in response?

Chief Fire Officer of LFRS Callum Faint said: “I am pleased that the inspection team has recognised our strong and consistent performance in delivering prevention, protection and response activities for our community as ‘good’. It is important to us that their report recognises that the safety of our local communities is paramount.

“However, the report also fairly identifies some aspects of our performance where we need to improve. We recognise and accept the need for better strategic oversight in managing financial risks and improving transparency in reporting financial information. Additionally, we must prioritise equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and ensure that senior leaders act as positive role models and always demonstrate commitment to our service values.

“Since the inspection we have already made several significant improvements in the areas identified, and I am confident that this will be recognised in our next inspection. We will ensure this will be achieved without losing our primary focus on all the key public safety areas identified as ‘good’.

“I feel that it should be noted that Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service is one of the lowest funded Fire and Rescue Services in the country, and that despite receiving some gradings that are lower than we would wish, our Service is still above the national average, especially in terms of what our local communities can expect from us.

“We will continue to monitor our progress and engage with HMICFRS to ensure that we continue to provide the best possible service to the people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, ensuring that our communities are as safe as they can be.”