Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service improving but still needs work, says inspectorate

A report into Norfolk Fire and Rescue has said there is evidence of improvement and positive progress in many areas of the service.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies and Fire and Rescue Services found it had improved in five key areas since its last inspection.

The report recognised the service’s sound financial management, positive working culture, and the high priority it gives fire prevention.

Particular praise was given for ‘promising practice’ in significant incident and multi-agency fatal fire reviews, which are improving outcomes both locally and nationally.

Ceri Summer, chief fire officer, said: “I am very proud of the consistent hard work of everyone at Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service over the last two years to move us further forward on our journey of improvement – it has been a real team effort.

“This report recognises our good progress in a number of areas, but we know we still have more work to do, particularly in targeting our prevention activities, improving how we evaluate the quality of our work and attracting a more diverse workforce.

"We are fully committed to continuing to do the best for the people of Norfolk and are already making progress on our plans to address these areas.”

Inspectors also noted such things as a positive working culture with staff feeling empowered to challenge poor behaviours and the service acting to tackle bullying, harassment and discrimination, dealing effectively with disciplinaries, grievances and dismissals.

In recognition of the progress made, the ‘cause for concern’ related to preventing fires and risks has now been removed with the service improving its rating from ‘inadequate’ in this area to ‘requires improvement’.

But inspectors said the service needs to do more on assurance for the quality of its prevention and protection work, more on training, more to improve diversity in its workforce, and more on identifying and developing leaders.

Councillor Margaret Dewsbury, Norfolk County Council’s cabinet member for communities and partnerships, said: “The improvements highlighted by inspectors clearly demonstrate how hard the service is working to make itself even more effective and efficient.”

The Inspectorate spent eight weeks in September and October last year for this inspection – it last carried out a full check in 2021.