Nottinghamshire Fire Service inspection rating improves to ‘good’ despite 11 per cent staff reduction

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has improved its inspection rating to 'good' despite its overall workforce falling by 11 per cent.

An independent report published today (July 27) found Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service had improved since its last inspection when it was rated 'requires improvement' in some areas.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) visited the Service between September and November last year.

The service has now been rated 'good' in all areas, with HMICFRS stating 'clear improvements' have been made since the last inspection in 2018/19.

The report also acknowledges that Nottinghamshire has seen an 11 per cent decrease in its workforce in the last five years, compared with a UK average of five per cent across all fire services.

The service also helped to deliver more than 75,000 Covid-19 vaccinations, helped to set up more than 20 vaccination centres, and provided almost 500 urgent care shifts for the ambulance service.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Chief Fire Officer for Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, Craig Parkin, who started in the role in April 2022, said: "I've known about the result for a couple of months and I've been walking around with a suppressed smile.

"That's on behalf of every member of staff in this organisation, the journey that we've been on together in the last four or so years to get us to this point.

"I am super proud and I am absolutely beaming. All my staff need something pretty positive at the minute as we all do nationally.

"Bearing in mind it is through a pandemic that we have made these improvements, providing support to other partners and in reducing resources during that time as well."

Mr Parkin, who has worked for the service for over 27 years, added the fire service "stepped up and did the job that the public expect us to do" during the recent heatwave.

The fire service declared a major incident after one wildfire in Blidworth required 15 fire engines to bring under control.

Speaking of the workforce cuts in the last five years, Mr Parkin added: "Cuts make things more challenging, but that adversity has made us focus on doing the right things.

"In that time we have still provided new fire appliances, we have built new fire stations, we have invested in technology.

"That challenge is going to continue, I would be dishonest if I thought the challenge had gone away. We certainly think we can maintain 'good' but the work has got to continue."

Looking forward, Mr Parkin said he wishes to focus on making sure new buildings are safe, which is an "increasing challenge".

He said: "Everybody talks about Grenfell and people want assurances that it could never happen again.

"Our job with the building sector is to make sure it is as safe as it can be.

"That is going to be an increasing challenge."

Nottinghamshire was one of 15 fire and rescue services to be inspected in the latest round of HMICFRS inspections. It is just one of four services from the 30 inspections so far in round 2 to receive 'Good' in all 11 inspection areas.

By December 2022, HMICFRS will have inspected all 45 fire and rescue services in England.

Chair of the Fire Authority, Councillor Michael Payne, added: "This is a remarkable but incredibly well-deserved outcome for the service.

"I'm so proud that we have a fire and rescue service which is effective, efficient, and has amazing people working for it to make our communities safer.

"When you think that our fire service still attended 28,000 emergencies since the last inspection, this really is an extraordinary achievement."