Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service - Consultation on proposed service delivery model
Feedback updated 31 Jul 2024
We asked
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service (WFRS) consulted on a proposed future service delivery model (Model 2a) as part of its Resourcing to Risk approach. Resourcing to Risk aims to have the right resource, in the right place and at the right time, to keep people safe in their homes, their workplace, their environment and when they are travelling through Warwickshire.
You said
There was a total of 1279 respondents to the survey.
The consultation feedback themes were concerns over:
- Increase in response times or distances.
- Coverage or capacity to attend incidents.
- Danger, threat to life and safety
- Disparities between day and night-time cover, especially at night
- Impact of increased housing/population on capacity.
Further reflections were provided on:
- Urban and rural differences
- Disparities between north and south cover
Staffing/shift patterns, including suggestions to keep On-Call, keep On-Call at certain stations or improve the current On-Call system.
Please see the link to the Cabinet papers below which include detailed feedback.
We did
As a result of feedback from the public consultation, an alternative operating model, “Model A” was developed and adopted by Cabinet at their meeting in July 2024.
The new model will be implemented in 2025.
Click on this link to view the Cabinet decision and related reports outlining Model A and consultation feedback.
Results updated 18 Jul 2024
From 11 December 2023 to 10 March 2024, we invited views and feedback on the Resourcing to Risk proposal. We are grateful to everyone who completed the survey and took the time to join us at one of the information sessions that were held around Warwickshire at the start of 2024.
As part of the consultation, we received 1,300 survey responses and we have also heard the views of staff, partners, and representative bodies. This feedback has been comprehensively reviewed and analysed and a new proposal will be discussed at the Resources and Fire and Rescue Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on Wednesday 26 June before going to WCC’s Cabinet meeting for a decision on Tuesday 16 July. Links to both meetings are provided below.
Click here to view the papers for the Cabinet meeting on 16 July, which include the analysis of consultation feedback.
Please click on this link for an update following the Cabinet decision.
Links:
Overview
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service (WFRS) carries out fire and rescue functions on behalf of the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Authority, Warwickshire County Council (WCC).
WFRS is consulting on a proposed change to its service delivery model as part of its Resourcing to Risk approach. Resourcing to Risk aims to have the right resource, in the right place and at the right time, to keep people safe in their homes, their workplace, their environment and when they are travelling through Warwickshire.
The Service wants to hear views and feedback on this proposal, which aims to optimise the distribution of fire appliances, firefighters and supporting resources so that they better align to risk and demand.
The model proposed by WFRS does NOT plan to close fire stations in Warwickshire.
This consultation summarises the reasons for the Resourcing to Risk proposal and the benefits we think the proposed approach offers in improving how we keep Warwickshire’s communities and people safe.
You might not be familiar with all of the terminology used in these documents, as some is specific to the Fire and Rescue Service and not widely used or understood by all. Please refer to our Glossary Document (opens in a new window) which explains key terms.
This video explains more about this consultation.
You can also listen to CFO Ben Brook and Assistant CFO Sally Waldron discuss the need for change on this Let's Talk Warwickshire podcast.
What are the key changes and why are they needed?
Click here for information on why we are making this proposal
The Fire and Rescue National Framework for England states that each Fire Authority is required to produce a Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) which includes an assessment of all foreseeable fire-related risks, demonstrates how Prevention, Protection and Response (PPR) activities can best be used to prevent fire and other incidents and mitigate the impact of risks. Please see the Prevention, Protection and Response Strategy 2022-2027 included in the supporting documents (at the bottom of this page).
The resulting Community Risk Management Plan and risk analysis have been independently evaluated and externally validated. This has demonstrated that the locations of fire stations in Warwickshire generally match risk areas. However, the analysis has also identified four key issues that WFRS needs to address to ensure that the delivery of its statutory duties is carried out in an effective and sustainable way:
- Locations where appliances are based need to match risk and activity levels.
- Performance targets for attendance times to incidents are not being met.
- On-call fire appliance availability is reducing and raises challenges around sustainability.
- Some of WFRS’s shift systems are not nationally accepted and other shift systems are not sustainable into the future.
Although WFRS moves resources (fire appliances and staffing) around the county based on risk, the current arrangements do not completely align to the ‘Resourcing to Risk’ principle that is the cornerstone of our Community Risk Management Plan. Independent, external evaluation and validation by Operational Research in Health (ORH) have identified several challenges that need to be addressed. ORH are an independent body experienced in working with emergency services to optimise resource use and improve response. The challenges identified are:
- The resource WFRS has available does not match with activity levels. There are more fire appliances and resources available at night when activity levels are lowest, and fewer fire appliances and resources available in the day when activity levels are the highest (78% of all incidents occur between 8am and 10pm).
- Despite the commitment and hard work of on-call firefighters who serve their communities whilst also having other commitments such as full-time jobs, on-call availability has fallen from 90% to 35% since 2019 and the 12 fire appliances that are crewed by on-call firefighters are, on average, only available one-third of the time. This is a similar picture nationwide and we expect this trend to continue in the long-term, making the model unsustainable.
- Attendance time targets are not being met. The aim is to arrive at the most serious of incidents within 10 minutes. This is only achieved on 64% of occasions against a target of 75%, with an average attendance time of 10 minutes and 37 seconds.
- There is no guaranteed resilience for surge events. This includes extreme weather incidents such as flooding, wildfires or high demand e.g. multiple or large complicated incidents, as resource for such events relies on the on-call system.
Based on the analysis undertaken, WFRS produced four potential delivery model options (1,1a, 2 and 2a) which are explained within the WCC Cabinet report at the bottom of this webpage. They are all aimed at aligning risk, demand, and productivity levels with the effective positioning of resources. Each delivery model option would require a change to the current working patterns. As the professional advisor to the Fire Authority, the Chief Fire Officer believes that the proposed model (2a) provides significant improvements on current performance. Further information about the differences between the proposed models and why the Chief Fire Officer recommends proceeding with option 2a is set out in the Cabinet report which you can find at the bottom of this webpage.
Proposed Model
Click here for details of the proposed model
Fire appliances can only be available when there are a sufficient number of staff with the appropriate skills present to crew them. The proposed model will ensure we cover the highest demand with the correct number of appliances and staff, ensuring staff resource and appliance resource align to the higher risk times and locations.
In order to achieve this, the following ‘working 24-hour’ model is proposed:
- Day shift (0800 - 1800hrs)
- Night shift (1800 - 0800hrs)
- Evening shift (1800 - 2200hrs) – part time positions.
- Surge teams available for recall in the event of significant incidents or periods of high demand within specified time periods from receiving a call, e.g. guaranteed within 30 mins - 4hrs depending on requirements.
- Replaces our current day crewed plus working pattern, with a nationally agreed shift pattern.
The model will deliver the following number of available appliances across any 24-hour period.
- 12 pumps (fire appliances) are available between 0800 and 2200hrs.
- 8 pumps (fire appliances) are available between 2200 and 0800hrs.
- 8 additional pumps (fire appliances) are available for surge events at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Click on this link to view the FAQs on the WFRS webpage.
(This link will open in a new window).
Why your views matter
We want to ensure we have considered a range of views on the Resourcing to Risk proposal and understand how you feel it may impact you. What you tell us during this consultation will inform our future delivery approach and consider any unanticipated effects of the proposal.
This consultation is open to anyone who wishes to comment, including people who live and work in Warwickshire, our staff, people who use the service, professionals, our partners, providers, and other stakeholders.
Supporting Information
To help you consider your response we have provided links to a range of supporting information you may wish to refer to. We will also summarise key information for you in the consultation survey.
Presentation on the WFRS ‘Service Delivery Model’ proposal
This document provides an overview of the proposed model.
You can use the '+' button to zoom in and make this bigger.
If you prefer you can use the link at the bottom to view it in a new window / download.
Data and information about the current and proposed arrangements
This document provides data and information about the current arrangements and the arrangements under the proposed model to support understanding of why the changes are being proposed.
You can use the '+' button to zoom in and make this bigger.
If you prefer you can use the link at the bottom to view it in a new window / download.
Warwickshire local information
This document provides additional information on what is meant by Resourcing to Risk, with a focus on the impacts of the proposed service delivery model throughout Warwickshire.
You can use the '+' button to zoom in and make this bigger.
If you prefer you can use the link at the bottom to view it in a new window / download.
On-call availability information
This document provides data on the availability of on-call appliances to explain why it is proposed that the current on-call system be replaced by part-time evening shifts and surge teams.
You can use the '+' button to zoom in and make this bigger.
If you prefer you can use the link at the bottom to view it in a new window / download.
We have also provided links to the following related documents at the bottom of this webpage:
- Public Information Document
- Equalities Impact Assessment
- Glossary
- Cabinet Report – WFRS Resourcing to Risk Proposals
- WFRS Prevention, Protection and Response Strategy 2022 – 2027.
- HMICFRS Inspection Report 2022/2023
- Fire and Rescue National Framework for England
Information sessions
We are also holding a series of information sessions in each of Warwickshire’s five district and boroughs. Each session will start at 6.30pm and finish at 8.00pm, with the exception of Bedworth which will start at 7.30pm and finish at 9.00pm.
Places are limited according to each venue (these vary from 150 – 400), so if you’d like to join us, you MUST book a ticket. Tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, but if your chosen event is fully booked, you will have an opportunity to join a waiting list.
List of event dates and venues
| Location | Date | Venue | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stratford | 17 Jan 2024 | Stratford upon Avon School | Alcester Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 9DH |
| Kenilworth | 24 Jan 2024 | St John the Evangelist Church | 205 Warwick Rd, Kenilworth, CV8 1HY |
| Bedworth | 29 Jan 2024 |
Life Church, Bedworth |
17 Bulkington Rd, Bedworth, CV12 9DG |
| Atherstone | 8 Feb 2024 | The Memorial Hall | Long St, Atherstone, CV9 1AX |
| Henley-in Arden | 22 Feb 2024 | Henley-in-Arden School | Stratford Road, Henley-in-Arden, B95 6AF |
| Southam | 27 Feb 2024 | The Grange Hall | Coventry Road, Southam, CV47 1QA |
| Shipston on Stour | 5 March 2024 | The Townsend Hall | Sheep Street, Shipston on Stour, CV36 4AE |
Click on this link to book a ticket (Opens in a new window).
If you prefer you can also call 01926 410410 to book a ticket.
How to take part
We welcome all feedback in relation to this proposal and you can put forward your views in any of the following ways:
- Complete the online survey by clicking on the link in the green box below
- You can request a paper copy of the survey or an alternative format or language by telephone (01926 410410) or by email (wfrsr2r@warwickshire.gov.uk)
- Send your comments to us directly by email (wfrsr2r@warwickshire.gov.uk) or in writing to: Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, Service Headquarters, Warwick Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 5LH
Help and advice about the consultation.
If you have any queries or need any help or advice about the consultation, please email wfrsr2r@warwickshire.gov.uk or telephone Warwickshire County Council Customer Service Centre on 01926 410410.
Closing date
The consultation will close at midnight on Sunday 10th March 2024.
What happens next
This consultation has now closed. Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond.
WCC’s Cabinet has authorised the Chief Fire Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Fire and Rescue and Community Safety, to consider the feedback from this public consultation together with the views of staff, partners and representative bodies and to subsequently report back to Cabinet.
We expect that the final analysis and recommendations will be considered by Cabinet at the meeting in June 2024. This may be subject to change.
Areas
- All Areas
Audiences
- Anyone from any background
Interests
- Fire and rescue
- Consultations
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