Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service (DFRS) has been rated as ‘Good’ for how effective and efficient it is at keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks, in its third inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS).
During a six-week inspection programme that concluded in July 2022, HMICFRS inspectors looked at the three inspection areas, known as the pillars, namely:
- Effectiveness – This is how we respond to risk, prevent fires, and protect the public through regulation. In this category we have maintained our ‘Good’ rating from 2019.
- Efficiency – This is how well we use our resources to match to risk and provide value for money. In this area too, we have maintained our ‘Good’ rating from 2019.
- People – In this pillar inspectors assess our values and culture as well as ensuring we have the right people with the right skills, manage performance and develop leaders, ensuring fairness and promoting diversity.
The Service has been rated as ‘requiring improvement’ in this area but noted as ‘Good’ for promoting the right values and culture, noting employees felt valued and included at work.
The latest report, which is available from the HMICFRS website, details inspectors' judgment of the Service against the assessment criteria, highlighting positive findings and areas for improvement.
In his summary, HMI Inspector, Roy Wilsher said “I am satisfied with Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service’s performance and the improvements it has made since our last inspection. I encourage it to continue with efforts to make improvement in the areas we have highlighted.”
Speaking following the publication of Derbyshire’s inspection report, Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive Gavin Tomlinson said: “His Majesty's Inspectors were pleased with the performance of Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, rating us as Good for how effective and efficient we are at keeping our communities safe from fire and other emergencies. This is great news for Derbyshire and testament to the hard work and dedication displayed by all of our employees, the very people who work together to deliver our services to our communities.
“With our people in mind, we acknowledge we do have some work to do and have already planned improvements through the delivery of our People Strategy, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Our Plan 2023-2026.
"I have already referenced the hard work and dedication of all of our employees, without whom we simply could not be the Service we are, so I was particularly pleased to read that Inspectors rated the Service as ‘Good’ for promoting the right values and culture, noting that staff felt valued and included at work. With such a spotlight on the culture of fire and rescue services nationally, I think this is something that we need to be proud of here in Derbyshire.”
Councillor Trevor Ainsworth, Chair of the Fire and Rescue Authority said: “I speak on behalf of all members of the fire and rescue authority when I say that we are pleased that HMICFRS inspectors have once again deemed Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service ‘Good’ for being effective and efficient at keeping its communities safe and secure from fire and other emergencies. I know this will provide the communities of Derbyshire with the confidence and reassurance that they should have in their fire and rescue service.
“Our communities should also be confident, as am I, that the areas highlighted by inspectors as requiring improvement are being addressed.”