His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has graded Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service’s performance across 11 areas and found the service was ‘adequate’ in four areas, ‘requires improvement’ in six areas, and ‘inadequate’ in one area.
HMICFRS said the service needed to improve how it ensures fairness and promotes diversity, particularly in ensuring it provides adequate facilities to maintain the dignity of its staff.
The service also needs to improve how it manages and looks after its people, and ensure it can improve and deliver change at a reasonable pace.
Welfare facilities
His Majesty’s Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Wendy Williams said: “I have concerns about the performance of Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, particularly around how the service ensures fairness and promotes diversity.”
“The service hasn’t made enough progress in providing suitable, gender-appropriate welfare facilities for its staff at its fire stations. We also found several other areas where progress wasn’t as expected, including in how it manages and looks after its people.”
Commitment from staff
“We recognize the service has faced challenges over recent years and acknowledge that one of our previous causes of concern has been discharged. And there is a clear commitment from staff and senior leaders to improve. However, many areas have deteriorated or remain unchanged,” continued Wendy Williams.
“Given the nature of some of the problems we have identified, we will keep in close contact with the service to monitor its progress and revisit in six months to review its improvement plans.”
