Area Manager/Service Support

Toby May

01274 655806 | Toby.May01@westyorksfire.gov.uk

 

Employee Resourcing
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Employee Resources Team

The Employee Resources Station Manager is responsible for employee resources matters such as recruitment of grey book staff, promotions, transfers etc.  and the Employee Resource Team (ERT) and reports to the Group Manager Employee Resources.

The ERT is located at Headquarters, Birkenshaw and provides staffing services in support of the Operational Fire Stations and the Operations Department.

The ERT have a number of areas of responsibility:

  • To ensure provision of sufficient staff to maintain staffing and command on the Authority’s Fire Stations.
  • To ensure sufficient drivers are available to staff the Authority’s emergency vehicles across the organisation.
  • To ensure availability of sufficient staff with specialist skills, (e.g. Station References), to meet the Operational requirements of the Authority.
  • To ensure sufficient FDS officers, with the required skills and specialist references are available.
  • The administration of Fit Notes in liaison with Occupational Health and Human Resources
  • The audit and assurance of bookings and shift adjustments within the Gartan Roster System in accordance with the Staffing Policy and Leave Policy
  • The administration of Grey Book staff movements as a result of promotions and transfers.
  • To co-ordinate and administer Additional Responsibility Allowances

General Information

The team work between the hours of 7am and 8pm, 7 days a week. Two shifts cover these times, 07:00-15:00 and 12:00-20:00.

Group Manager/Employee Resources

Steve Holt

01274 655754 | Steve.Holt01@westyorksfire.gov.uk

 

Training and Development
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Training and Development forms an integral part of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. The main focus of the department is to ensure that training and development will be provided to encompass all roles from Firefighter (Control), Retained Duty System Firefighter to Brigade Manager, as well as Fire Protection, Fire Prevention and Fire and Rescue staff, to assist with the goal of “Making West Yorkshire Safer”.

Training and Development covers the following areas of responsibility:

Workforce Development

Provide externally verified and management development for all staff within the service, focusing on leadership skills.

  • Coaching/Mentoring
  • Personal Review and Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
  • Promotion processes
  • Psychometric tests and Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) examinations.

Training Delivery

The Training Delivery Department is responsible for a number of distinct functions relating to the development of our Operational staff:

  • Breathing Apparatus Training
  • Technical Rescue
  • Operational Development
  • Road Traffic Collision and Casualty Care
  • Driver Training

Training Support

The main focus of Training Support is to assist in the Maintenance of Competence of Fire and Rescue personnel throughout West Yorkshire and this is achieved by providing training, assessment and feedback to operational crews.

Areas covered range from breathing apparatus assessment; initial assessment of newly appointed trainees, water rescue and working at height training to Operational Command refresher training for experienced Crew and Watch Commanders.

Feedback from all these areas of training and assessment is then fed back into the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Operations department, to assist with the ambition of “Making West Yorkshire Safer”

Breathing Apparatus Training

Breathing Apparatus (BA) training is delivered by externally qualified West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Fire Behaviour Instructors, with a programme of courses designed to provide the continuous competence of all Operational staff. This involves the use of live carbonaceous tactical fire training in line with National Fire Service Circulars, Fire Service Manual Volume 4, Guidance and Compliance Framework for Compartment Fire Behaviour Training. Delivered within the Multi Purpose Fire Training Centre and fully adheres to the Safe System of Work Policy.

  • Tactical Fire Fighting (Live Fire)
  • Operational crew based assessment
  • Initial BA Training (Trainees)
  • Operational Instructor BA courses
  • Supervisory tactical BA operations

Technical Rescue

The Technical Rescue Department provides Operational training to assist Fire Crews to perform rescues from various types of water courses including flooding and rapid water rescues. Training from height by means of high level rope rescue equipment.

  • Swift water rescue instruction
  • Operational flood training
  • Rescue from height
  • Rescue from unsafe structures

Road Traffic Collisions and Casualty Care

Provide road traffic collision and casualty care training within all levels of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. Utilise purpose built training facilities and externally qualified Instructors. Develop all personnel to meet National Occupational Standards and fulfil safety critical requirements. Areas covered include;

  • Crew based assessments
  • Instructor courses
  • Development courses

Driver Training

Provide Driver training to West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service employees to Driving Standards Agency (DSA) standards and Response training to drivers of vehicles travelling on blue light conditions to emergencies.

  • Give training on all West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service emergency vehicles

Training Admin

The department is responsible for the overall co-ordination and implementation of all Training Courses held at WYFRS Training Centre. The team offers support to all departments in relation to Training related needs.

Group Manager/Training and Development

Christopher Kovacs

01274 471784  |  Christopher.Kovacs01@westyorksfire.gov.uk

Command Training and Operational Learning
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The primary role of Command Training is to ensure that all operational officers are trained and assessed for competence in the core function of Incident Command.

The Command Training Department is the functional resource which delivers the training courses required, provides the assessment structure for Command Assessments and ensures appropriate records are maintained of all officers within the Brigade in relation to Command Development.

The courses offered by the Command Training Department range from:

  • Safe to Command (for Firefighters who perform acting up)
  • Incident Command System – ICS 1 (Virtual Reality Exercise – VRX): a one day watch based competence course.
  • Incident Command System – ICS 2: Predominately for Crew Commanders and Watch Commanders and part of the Crew Commander and Watch Commander Development Course.
  • Incident Command System – ICS 3: (previously referred to as ‘MINERVA’): A one day ICS observation course for officers including Station Manager.
  • Incident Command System – ICS 4: This is for Station Managers. Provision to attend the Officers Command Course and also the bi-annual Station Managers Assessment.

Future Developments:

  • Group Managers observation Incident Command System Exercise
  • Group Managers Incident Command System Assessment
  • Firefighter Incident Command System Assessment

 Operational Learning

This function provides operational supervisory commanders training and allows them to demonstrate their skills at risk assessment, decision making, Tactical planning and prioritising objectives.

  • Theory input – Principles of the Incident Command System (ICS), Analytical Risk Assessments (ARAs), Health and Safety, the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, managing incidents, fire engineered buildings, building construction and Fire Investigation.
  • Practical input – command and tactical planning, effectively dealing with other agencies and personnel at incidents.
  • Confirmation of learning – Practical/written assessments, group discussions and one to one feedback.

E-learning

The department is primarily responsible for the design and development of bespoke operational training modules such as Tactical Firefighting. The team offers technical advice and support to all functions, maintains robust reporting systems and facilitates all e-learning delivery.

Command Multimedia

Command Multimedia is responsible for photographic, video (film and digital) and imaging material. It is involved in a variety of fire investigation work and liaises closely with outside bodies such as the Police to support their enquiries. The unit also produces publicity and community relations materials.

Group Manager/Training and Development

Christopher Kovacs

01274 471784  |  Christopher.Kovacs01@westyorksfire.gov.uk

 

Service Delivery Assurance Team
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Service Delivery Assurance forms part of the overall performance management framework of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

It will:

  • Conduct specific audits into areas following requests
  • Monitor the self- assessment toolkit and quality sample the evidence supplied
  • Support the existing audit framework undertaken by Kirklees Council
  • Carry out full audits of the Key Areas in accordance with a 3 yearly plan
  • Support Peer Challenge audits
  • Audit controls set out on the corporate risk register
  • Report findings to the audit sponsors (Directorate Heads) in accordance with the governance framework

The emphasis of Service Delivery Assurance is on the outcomes and impact of activities carried out by personnel within all Directorates ensuring resources are utilised safely, effectively, efficiently and economically.

Performance Management

A Performance Management Framework exists within West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to ensure that we are providing an effective service to the communities of West Yorkshire. Through this performance management framework we are able to demonstrate how effective we are in specific areas and how we are dealing with areas in which we are not quite so effective. This is a tool for use across all directorates and in all functional areas of service delivery.

A separate Performance Management Visits system exists for fire stations within West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. The recorded outcomes of Performance Management Visits contribute to the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service self-assessment process. The Service Delivery Assurance Team quality sample Performance Management Visits ensuring resources are utilised safely, effectively, efficiently and economically.

Audits

Any audits completed by the Service Delivery Assurance Team will align to the areas of service delivery specified within the Chief Fire Officers Association Self-Assessment and Peer Challenge Toolkit.

Areas of inspection fall within a set framework known as the Key Areas of Assessment. The Key Areas of Assessment provide the framework through which the Service Delivery Assurance Team will gather and assess evidence relating to service delivery within West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service use the Chief Fire Officers Association Toolkit as a ‘live‘ document where evidence is recorded of the organisation‘s current position in the Key Areas of Assessment.

The Key Areas of Assessment are:

  • Community Risk Management – How well is the authority identifying and prioritising the risks faced by the community?
  • Prevention – How well is the authority delivering its community safety strategy?
  • Protection – How well is the authority delivering its regulatory fire safety strategy?
  • Response – How well is the authority delivering its response activities?
  • Health and Safety – How well is the authority ensuring its responsibilities for health, safety and welfare are met?
  • Training and Development – How well is the authority ensuring its responsibilities for training, development and assessment of its staff are met?
  • Call Management and Incident Support – How well is the authority delivering its call management and incident support activities?

Whilst the Key Areas of Assessment are outward facing and focused on the Authorities objectives, audits will also cover all the supporting functions essential to Service Delivery.

Assurance Process

The assurance process is designed to:

  • Provide an industry standard improvement tool
  • Form a structured and consistent basis to drive continuous improvement within the Fire and Rescue Service
  • Provide elected members on Fire and Rescue Authorities and Chief Fire Officers with information that allows them to challenge their operational service delivery to ensure it is efficient, effective and robust

It will:

  • Assist West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority to identify its service‘s strengths and areas to explore
  • Inform West Yorkshire Fire Rescue Authority’s strategic improvement plans
  • Deliver a robust process for assessing operational performance
  • Complement and not duplicate any national requirements for financial audit
  • Be used as a tool to assist West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority in the identification and the dissemination of notable practice
  • Be flexible in design and simple in delivery
Health and Safety
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  • Provide strategic and day to day advice on health and safety matters.
  • Implement and monitor a systematic and structured health and safety management system.
  • Oversee a H&S audit programme across the Authority
  • Manage the accident & near miss reporting database, ensuring all safety events are investigated and lessons learned, to prevent a re-occurrence.
  • Produce & update H&S policies & procedures