Release date: 19 July 2024
West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has published its Statement of Assurance for the fiscal year of 2023/24.
A significant reduction in automatic fire alarms, volunteers providing 2,220 hours of their time and targets being exceeded are just some of the highlights recognised in the statutory document.
Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said: “The Statement of Assurance is an annual report that provides the fire authority with confidence that the fire and rescue service is meeting its strategic objectives.
“This report clearly evidences the progress that West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is making to deliver on the commitments set out in their Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), and I am delighted to share this document with the residents of West Sussex.”
Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, Chief Fire Officer, added: “As a fire and rescue service we have made lots of change to improve the way we function and deliver on our statutory duties. I am thrilled that these changes have culminated in a Statement of Assurance which makes for positive reading, ensuring that we are protecting our communities and managing our budgets to the best of our abilities.”
Report highlights:
- This financial year gave the service its first 12-months working to its new automatic fire alarm policy. The policy change has resulted in a 66% reduction in unwanted fire signals, allowing fire crews to be more effective with their time by undertaking community-based risk reduction activities and essential training.
- The service has exceeded its target of delivering 5,000 Safe and Well Visits. A total of 5,335 were completed, and an additional 1,333 Home Fire Safety Interventions were carried out in homes where no person was identified as having a listed vulnerability, but a visit has been agreed with multi-agency partners (such as the Fostering & Adoption Service).
- His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services published their Spotlight report into the values and culture across the sector nationally, which noted widespread discrimination, harassment and bullying. While West Sussex was not named in the report, WSFRS continues to build a culture of psychological safety where every aspect of work aligns with the National Fire Chiefs Council’s Core Code of Ethics.
- Wellbeing support dogs were introduced to improve the wellbeing of staff and offer support for those living through stressful circumstances.
- Platinum House, the service’s new training centre and fire station for Horsham, opened in July. The site now provides a central location for all staff to train at which ties into Strategic Priority 5 of the service’s CRMP (making the best use of resources).
- These achievements took place against the backdrop of a busy year operationally. Incidents of note include a significant fire at The Harvester in Littlehampton on 10 August 2023 where firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to adjoining buildings. In late October firefighters also prevented over 30,000 homes in the Bognor Regis area from losing power when a substation on Shripney Road flooded.
You can read the report here: https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/rwse0a2d/statement_of_assurance_2023_24.pdf
