Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 16/04/2010 15:01

An IDeA Peer Challenge report has concluded that “Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service are moving in the right direction and improvement is apparent, to some degree, in almost every area.”

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) have been on their improvement journey for a year, and the Service hosted a Peer Challenge to gain an external check and balance on where the Service is and how its improvement is progressing.
A Peer Challenge involves external experts in the field from outside of the organisation coming in to cast a critical eye over a service and, in this case, its improvement plan.

The peer challenge team, led by Chief Fire Officer Paul Fuller from Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service, highlighted many positive areas in the service and some areas which they considered might be seen as notable practice to be shared with other fire and rescue services.

The team paid tribute to Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service employees, not only for their energy and enthusiasm, but also for their honesty and openness.

The positive conclusions of the Peer Challenge Review team included praise for a range of effective partnerships and confidence in the senior management team.

The areas where the need for further work was identified included communicating with staff; greater staff involvment in decision making and a lack of clarity in identifying the priorities of the Service.

Welcoming the report, CFRS Chief Fire Officer Des Tidbury said: “I am pleased that the review by the peer group has identified that the CFRS direction of travel is positive. There is always room for improvement and we will take on board those areas identified in the report, consider them, and if it is felt they are a priority for the organisation, will take the necessary actions.”

Lance Kennedy, Cornwall Council’s cabinet member for community safety and neighbourhoods said: “This is a useful snapshot which gives us the opportunity to take stock and be positive about the areas of achievement and be pro active in addressing those areas requiring further work.”