His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has published its report into Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (D&SFRS)
The report finds raises concerns that senior management of the service are failing to promote positive values and culture, and fairness and diversity.
52% of respondents to a survey by the inspectorate felt senior leaders consistently modelled and maintained the service values, compared to 91% of colleagues.
16% of respondents felt bullied or harassed at work in the last 12 months, and the report notes that “the primary reason for not reporting the bullying or harassment was concerns it would make the situation worse.”
The inspectorate was also “disappointed to find that the [service’s] equality diversity and inclusion team didn’t have sufficient staff resources.
Alex Smith, Fire Brigades Union brigade chair for Devon and Somerset said:
When the bells go down, our firefighters are called to action and we respond. Meanwhile, the senior management of Devon and Somerset fire service are putting their fingers in their ears and ignoring the call to action.
As the inspectorate’s report highlights, senior leaders continue to model poor behaviour while failing to support firefighters who have experienced harassment, discrimination or bullying at work.
Instead of taking action to improve the service, management have focused their attention on attacking the terms and conditions of the workforce. This has come to their detriment.
Rather than resource fire safety visits to improve public safety, as the report calls for, they are choosing to threaten to reduce retained firefighters’ pay and change the shift patterns of wholetime staff.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service senior management must stop attacking the terms and conditions of their workforce and start actioning cultural change at the top.”
