robo, the fbu have just updated their guidance to officials - approved by the ec, a couple of weeks ago. when r2r 'kicks in' the guidance will be widely available
however in the interim i quote
1.5 It is important however to understand what is meant by the term Community Safety as opposed to Community Fire Safety. The term Community Safety relates to a more holistic approach to the safety of the community, through a variety of activities.
1.6 An important point is that Fire Service personnel should only lead on activities that relate to their expertise as fire service personnel, namely fire related issues. This doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t support the activities of other groups or agencies, but any involvement should be just that, supporting their activities not undertaking them on their behalf. The whole ethos behind the report ‘Safe as Houses’ relates to the reduction in the number of fire deaths and until a Brigade has reduced their fire deaths to zero then all resources in Community Safety should be directed at achieving this.
1.7 This doesn’t mean that on a strategic level the campaigns of other organisations or groups shouldn’t be supported, it means that the priority is and should remain zero fire deaths. Should a Brigade wish to undertake activities outside of the issues of fire, then additional funding should be provided for those activities.
perhaps this helps in your specific 'case'
as for 'command' or 'commanders' or perhaps even 'managers?' using this as to enhance their careers - to be honest anything anyone ever does or doesnt do can be seen as enhacing their careers, getting to work early, working late, volunteering to do things etc - its always gone and will continue to do so. often officers (in old money) are accused of using whatever is being done or they are doing - of doing it purely to enhance their career. perhaps it may just be because they believe or think it is what they should be doing, often they themselves are not given the correct guidance or support. i would always refer them to the joint fbu/cacfoa (as was) joint protocol - again i quote from the guidance for fbu officials
2.1 Brigades should develop with the FBU on a partnership basis, local agreements (that remain within the overall terms of the National Joint Council - Conditions of Service) regarding community fire safety programmes and associated activities.
2.1.1 This principle sets the whole scene for community fire safety programmes and activities.
2.1.2 Local community fire safety agreements should be developed as a partnership approach between Brigade management and FBU officials on a local basis. We believe that partnership approach means just that, a partnership, with neither side assuming a degree of precedence over the other and both being prepared to work together for the greater good of the community they serve.
2.1.3 We would recommend that the overall responsibility for all community safety programmes and activities within Brigades is set at Principal Officer level and that one of the Brigade’s Principal Officers works with FBU Officials on that basis.
2.1.4 One of the reasons for this recommendation is that many of the activities likely to be undertaken as part of an overall community safety strategy is also likely to involve other bodies and agencies besides the fire service and its members. It is important therefore that a communication link is established between the Brigade and those bodies, or groups, at a policy and decision making level.
sorry if this is a longwinded way of replying, what im trying to do is give you the information that perhaps others dont have.
in finishing i would suggest you need to be aware of your brigades irmp and service plan in terms of cfs, im pretty sure it wont say 'cycling proficiency tests will be provided by frs personnel' - in short if it isnt part of the overall service delivery plan then by doing what you are being asked is actually diverting resources from delivering that plan - simple really!
hope this helps - dont even get me going on the latest odpm proposals of 'working with youth' aaggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
and role maps/nos - pleeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaasssssssssssssssseee no! cos you'd end up with a much longer reply than this - suffice to say guidance will be out - issued by the fbu - when it is agreed to make the substantive move from r2r
both documents will be available from the fbu web site so you can access them there quite soon i hope!
dave bev
