ig_h eBFIR E 6R ESCUE taoe d "An Excellent Authority" n OTNEWS Summer 2007 — N oy X Inside this issue... ‘se New, HESC pilot Crash course on driving MF&RS football injthe BIG apple New.neighbourhood, firefighters = WHY IS PETE wiles !? ENGINE ON OUR See inside! CONTENTS Cover story: Pete Price Welcome to the joins crews as he takes an first edition of Hot in depth look at the role of News, Merseyside a firefighter—see page 12 Fire and Rescue Service's quarterly employee magazine. It’s packed with stories about people, New HFSC pilot ps rescues, stations and the day to day work which goes on across the whole of the Service. We hope you enjoy it and feel free to submit a contribution. The magazine will be Also inside: in addition to the Spotlight on Kirkby weekly Hotline, which has also had a ASB clampdown 7 ‘makeover’, and the Ops incidents throughout regular district and regional newsletters Your questions answered 10 already produced for the Authority. FSN projects 11 CFS partnerships 16 Sam Grady Youth engagement activities 18 Editor Chaplain on the run p14 A blast from the past! 21 CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE NEXT EDITION ARE WELCOME. PLEASE EMAIL YOUR NEWS ARTICLES AND PICTURES TO [email protected] PRODUCED BY CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS 0_ ——ESs—$_—s_ IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD Knowsley District has introduced a neighbourhood firefighter at each Community Fire Station. FFs Robbie Guibertoni (Whiston Blue), Phil Hart (Kirkby Blue) and Watch Manager Mal Whipp (Huyton Blue) have taken up the role. The firefighters are given an additional responsibility of getting involved with partnership work, such as Neighbourhood Pride teams, housing groups and resident associations. By attending meetings and getting involved with the planning of local activities and campaigns, they are ensuring that the Fire Service is at the heart of the community and engaging with the community more. It also helps operational crews be more supported in their day to day role, as other agencies can offer additional resources to help some of our campaigns and initiatives. The scheme was set up to help local fire stations link up with other agencies who worked in the area so that a more co-ordinated response could be organised to local issues. FF Hart is a Kirkby resident and saw the role not only helping his role as a firefighter but also helping his own local community. He said: “At first some people didn't really know if it would have any effect but we are already seeing some results. One of the things we have looked at is car fires, as we had an issue in certain parts of Kirkby. | was able to talk to the different agencies and see how we could work together to address the issue—for example, we looked at access to areas and the council have put bollards in. The number of car fires has reduced significantly. We're able to do these sorts of things because I'm able to get an instant response by going along to these meetings rather than going through the chain of command like we have done in the past. “It's early days at the moment but | am enjoying this new role. I’m making new contacts all the time and that will be something really worthwhile for the future.” FF Guibertoni said: “I saw it as a way of extending my operational role into the community. Although there is a lot we can do as a Fire Service there is a lot more we can do in partnership with other agencies, like the Knowsley Pride Teams or the Council's clean-up service. It’s been interesting. | get to meet a lot of other agencies. Sometimes you don’t realise there are a lot of things that we can use to make our job easier.” arm, SXCALIEUR DEVASTATION OF FIRE Two families in Kirkby had a lucky escape after a serious house fire in Northwood. Crews from Kirkby, Aintree and the City’s Aerial Appliance were called to the property to tackle a fire in the roof void and two first floor rooms. The incident left the house uninhabitable and also caused severe smoke damage to the property next door and the families from both were forced to find alternative places to stay. Watch Manager Andy Kelly, from Red Watch Kirkby, has kept in contact with the families involved and given them support in the aftermath of the incident. He said: “This fire was particularly difficult to reach and we were at the scene for a number of hours. Both families were outside watching what was happening so | spoke to them regularly throughout to keep them updated. “It was a very sad incident. The residents of one house wanted us to retrieve some personal possessions and they lost near enough everything because they weren't insured. The neighbouring property was also badly affected and the family had to move out, and that included an 18-year-old with Spina Bifida who had to leave behind his specialist bed. That led to him developing bed sores and septicaemia and for a while he was on life support. Thankfully he is back home now with his family but it does show how fire can devastate. The incident really touched home, so | kept in touch with the residents involved to offer them support.” Ironically the fire happened in an area specifically targeted for Home Fire Safety Checks because it had a high risk of fire. As part of the Whatever it Takes campaign shortly before Christmas, Fire Support Network knocked on the door of every house in the road to encourage residents to get working smoke alarms for their property. Unfortunately the residents of this house were out at the time and didn't have a smoke alarm and never got around to responding to the leaflet left for them. ECO POND MAKES A SPLASH An unused piece of land at Kirkby Fire Station is being transformed into a wildlife garden and eco- pond for the community to enjoy. Landscaping work is already well underway and over the next few months a walkway is to be added along with viewing/dipping platforms. Facilities will include a community resource room and it is hoped that it will provide an educational resource for local schools, youth and play groups. There are currently no safe facilities of this kind in the Kirkby area. The intention is to use the pond to teach water safety to young children, whilst older children can learn about design, implementation and maintenance. Funding has come from Local Solutions Network, Expanding Horizons and Community Foundation for Merseyside. NEW HFSC PILOT Last month a new HFSC pilot scheme was started. One station in each of the districts is involved—E6 Kirkby Green, N1 Bootle/ Netherton Green, W3 Heswall LLAR, E1 St Helens White and C4 Low Hill Green. The aim is to encourage staff to stretch HFSC targets, not just in terms of quantity but rather in quality so that more vulnerable communities are targeted. To measure the success of the initiative, a weighting scale has been set up that will be applied to each HFSC completed during the three month trial. The project will also assess whether high performance in relation to HFSCs can be rewarded. MF&RS is currently considering what rewards can be offered. DAMAGE CONTROL OPEN DAY MF&RS and ISS Arc, the Damage Control company, hosted an open day at the Training and Development Academy recently. Loss adjusters and continuity managers were asked to between the two |organisations and how they are helping businesses back on their feet following disasters like fire or flooding. MF&RS gave a demonstration of fire behaviour, particularly flashovers, whilst 1SS Arc brought along state of the art equipment so they could demonstrate how they are able to decontaminate buildings effectively. TRANSPORT NEWS MF&RS has just taken delivery of a 15 ee al tonne M.A.N. curtain sided lorry. This vehicle is going to be available for LGV training and meets all the new legislation for a driver training vehicle. It will also be used operationally for moving equipment, foam, or any other items required to be transported in times of emergency. Workshops are getting back to normal following the bad weather earlier this year. The team were one of the casualties of the high winds in J anuary when their roof blew off. But they were quickly up and running within 24 hours after relocating to the Training and Development Academy and Birkenhead. Now though, the roof repairs are being completed and Workshops have vacated the T&DA site and are operating as normal from Speke, although only half the workshops is being used until roof repairs have been completed— the workshops at W1 is still in operation. A very intense electrical training course was recently completed by eight of the workshop Technicians. The course was overseen by a representative from the Institute of Road Transport Engineers, who commented on the high standard of the technicians taking part and the fact that the course was of such a high technical standard. He recommends that the course be given full accreditation and that the technicians should now be put forward for the Master technicians examinations. PUZZLE CORNER DIARY DATES North West Fire Services Extrication Challenge. ‘Sat June 2—Cheshire FRS HO Contact :nholmes @cheshirefire.gov.uk 4-7 June Volunteering marketplace Knowsley district Answer on page 10 a TACKLING ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has been working with various agencies across Merseyside to tackle anti-social behaviour. Various high profile operations have been taking place in different districts, giving out a clear message that criminal and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated. One of the recently targeted locations was the Sefton Coastline when there was a high visibility of officers patrolling the railways and coast. Members of MF&RS' Threat Response Group joined with Merseyside Police, British Transport Police, the National Trust and Sefton Council to crackdown on unruly youths who intended to cause problems. It follows a series of incidents last year when members of the public faced violent and drunken behaviour, deliberate fires were lit in remote locations and general anti-social behaviour took place. MF&RS Arson Reduction Advocates and the Anti-Social Behaviour Advocates were out and about in the pinewoods at Formby and | the coastal area giving fire safety advice, particularly to people who were having barbecues. A series of raids have also taken place in Wirral after residents complained about rowdy youths, fighting in the street, criminal damage and drug-dealing. Operation Respect was launched in Carrington Street and Randle Street, Birkenhead, with police blocking off roads and various officers descended on the area. MF&RS joined Police, Wirral Council, HM Customs and Excise, Trading Standards, RSPCA, Department of Work and Pensions and television licensing and other agencies who used all legislation available to them to clampdown on criminal and anti-social behaviour. Fourteen addresses were targeted and eight arrests were made for various offences including drugs, handling stolen goods and abstracting electricity. MF&RS’ new Anti-Social Behaviour Advocates offered support and reassurance to residents by knocking on every single door to give information and advice. MF&RS is tackling these sorts of issues more and more with the development of the Anti-Social Behaviour Taskforce. This was set up last year and is a joint team made up of fire and police officers. Group Manager Chris Case heads the team along with his counterpart from Merseyside Police Supt John Myles. GM Case said: “We believe specialist fire service staff working alongside the Police is the best way to tackle |" a wide range of issues facing many of our communities. We have already worked in partnership with the Police in other areas, such as arson, and this has delivered significant results. We believe it can do the same with the more complex issues surrounding anti-social behaviour.” FIRE CAUSES ROAD CHAOS A major route into Liverpool was forced to close after a fire in a disused engineering warehouse. When crews arrived at the building on West Derby Road, the ground and first floors along with the roof space were well alight. Crews from Low Hill initially attended and were joined by firefighters from Liverpool City, including the aerial appliance. After cylinders were found on site, a number of acetylene cylinders and a 200 metre exclusion zone was set up, affecting rush hour traffic in and out of the City. Silver Command was set up at Police HQ to deal with the traffic management. Once the cylinders were removed, crews searched the adjacent buildings as there were concerns that they were used by people sleeping rough. The Incident Investigation Team is looking into the fire. RETAINED AT N1 Earlier last month staffing changed on the 2nd pump at Bootle/Netherton. The crew now works 10am to 10pm on station and then 10pm til 10am on retained resilience. Uniformed staff were asked if they would be willing to work the new system, which offers 20% extra pay and more flexibility. The team is completely self-rostering, ensuring that four people are always available for duty. Much work has taken place between management and the FBU to agree the duty details, and it formed part of the Back to Work Agreement in October last year. Those who volunteered for the new system asked if MF&RS management would change the shift patterns to 8-8 but due to the reluctance of the FBU, this request was denied. The N11 crew are still working the traditional 2-2-4 system. Crew Manager Nick McCormack is one of those working the retained system. He said: “The shifts fly by much quicker than the normal shifts on station. We cross all four watches because of the 10-10 hours, so we work with different managers and that helps to keep us busier than normal and also makes our day more varied. “And of course at the end of the shift, | get to go home and sleep in my own bed!” REC os—<_—_ NO SLINGS HERE Steve Evens is a service trainer with North West Ambulance Service and has been delivering the First Person on Scene (FPOS) training at the Training and Development Academy for over a year. Steve was asked about his thoughts of the course and said: “FPOS is wonderfully suited to the Firefighter as it is certainly more relevant to their role than the four day health and safety first aid at work course which is still relevant to those working in the office. Having the ability to keep a person alive until the arrival of the paramedic and being the vital link in the chain of survival must be a step in the right direction, not only for the patient but also for the Firefighter who in the past may have been frustrated by not having the appropriate life saving skills.” Steve went on to say: “FPOS has been well received by those who have attended the course by gaining impressive pass marks. | hope that | will have a long association with the Training and Development Academy as | believe that | have something to add to fire service training.” It is hoped that the majority of staff will be trained to this new standard in the near future. NEW BA EQUIPMENT Most uniformed staff will have had the initial input by now on the pss100 set, Bodyguard 2 and the Merlin telemetry board. These new pieces of equipment will be on the run in the next couple of months and when they do Merseyside will be once again at the cutting edge when it comes to fire and rescue technology. The built in telemetry system within the bodyguard 2 distress signal unit in conjunction with the Merlin board will replace both the Radio Evacuation Distress system and also the separate rapid deployment board. This system has been used successfully within the Northern Ireland Fire Service for more than four years and has proven itself to be very popular and user friendly. YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED Why are people being called in for a management interview over absence trends? MF&RS is currently losing around 14,000 shifts a year due to sickness which in turn is having a knock-on affect on operational availability. It’s a problem that is costing the taxpayer approximately £3m as we have to employ more staff in anticipation of people going off sick. The absence and attendance team are trying to address this problem by ensuring those who are genuinely sick receive the right pathway of care whilst those who are abusing the system are deterred. The current trend being assessed involves people who have been off at least three times in the last five years. With so many called in for interview, was the net cast too wide? There had to be some form of criteria for the trend initiative. The Executive Leadership Team decided that three or more absences within five years was a reasonable starting point. Every line manager has the authority to remove individuals’ names from the list if they thought it appropriate, for example exemptions have been made for people with welfare issues or underlying medical problems. More than half of those people interviewed have been removed from the list. This is likely to be a rolling programme, so what is going to happen in six months time. Could someone be called back in for interview for the same sickness period? After the interview, some people have received a letter with conditions that may have been imposed (such as producing a doctor's note in the future) which remain in place for six months. This is likely to be a rolling initiative so people could be called in for a further management interview in the future if their absence is still a concern but each case is looked at individually and it’s up to the Station/Locality Manager to decide whether to interview an individual. To submit a question for the next edition email [email protected] Fire Service Direct has made its 50,000" PUZZLE AN SWER appointment for a Home Fire Safety Check in the last 12 months. FSD is based at Service Headquarters. FSD has 20 full and part time » N P| w o oa staff. Never before 5 have 50,000 appointments 8 been booked by phone in a 12 6 month period. 4 FSD has taken on a variety of new roles in 1 the last year and is able to 3 act asa signposting agent for many departments within MF&RS. 9 This includes statistical and analytical reports to management. A future role for FSD is as 2 O|SRO OilWueISUN)P O T NIAU|bo&WO ]l ]IN a !II)N W|NeO/ONio | i )) |SUO|OO|&AnBW l/TT] R) NN ONnWPOa|K |w NNi T ][U PWnooeuO NOONllPl |! ])) WSaPIW|©|AC i II ; / nN NU || re gistration agent for WFG 08.