Improving Lives to Save Lives

Did you know we did this? Click here to tell us what you thinkIMPROVING Making West Midlands SaferLIVES TOSAVE LIVES www.wmfs.netPrevention Protection Response

Our partners Backwww.alzheimers.org.uk IMPROVINGwww.nhs.uk LIVES TOwww.mind.org.uk SAVE LIVESwww.rethink.orgcrimestoppers-uk.org

IMPROVING Case Studies: HomeLIVES TOSAVE LIVES Vunerable People #RTBWhat have we got to do with Sheila? Useful links www.wmfs.net www.networkwestmidlands.com @WestMidsFireWe’re committed to making the West Midlands safer, and know that www.thetrainline.comsafety at home is closely linked to a person’s health and wellbeing. BelieveOur Home Safety Checks (HSCs) play a key role in helping us toidentify and support those at risk of fire and other dangers.We target our HSCs at our most vulnerable residents. And if ourfirefighters spot anything that concerns them, they’ll return and workwith the occupier to help make their home as safe as possible.It’s all the more important with the elderly, like Sheila (pictured,right). We and our colleagues at Age UK worked with Sheila overtime to help her sort out a number of fire safety and health issues.Our fire crews know how to make every contact count. They refermore complicated cases to our expert Vulnerable Persons Officers(VPOs). The people they support suffer from a range of illnesses andconditions, including dementia and mental health issues, problemsmoving around, or drugs and alcohol misuse.If you think you or someone you know could benefit from a HomeSafety Check, we might be able to offer you one for free. Pleasecall 0800 389 5525 to see how we can help.We’re here to help people in the West Midlands live safe, healthyand independent lives.

IMPROVING Why are Colin and Pam Fire Service HomeLIVES TO happy to see us? Home Safety CheckSAVE LIVES The work of We see clear links between people’s health and Our people - they’re our our VunerableUseful links how they live, and the risk they face from fire and finest asset People Officerswww.ageuk.org.uk other emergencies. It’s why we want everyone towww.alzheimers.org.uk have a healthy standard of living. Our staff are skilled, #RTBwww.nhs.uk motivated, flexible and Every day our firefighters and other staff work dedicated to providing www.wmfs.net with many of the West Midlands’ most vulnerable @WestMidsFire residents. They visit nearly 25,000 homes every year an excellent service to carry out Home Safety Checks, which are a Believe cornerstone of our wide-ranging prevention work. We think of our prevention work as firefighting - but just further upstream. Our communities trust our firefighters. They’re welcomed into people’s homes, where they often change people’s behaviours for the better. Pam and Colin (pictured left) had been living in dangerously cramped and cluttered conditions when we and Age UK started to work with them. The couple are hoarders, and Colin has dementia. Fire can rip even more rapidly through hoarders’ home. Rooms crammed to the ceiling pose a far greater risk to our firefighters if there’s a fire. But there’s no quick fix for hoarding, which is why our Vulnerable Persons Officers build up trust and work over time with sufferers. There are usually lots of issues to sort out at the same time: fire safety, physical and mental health, environmental risks, social isolation. It’s where our tried and tested approach of working with partner organisations comes into its own.

IMPROVING Home LIVES TO SAVE LIVES Case Study:Why do the homeless trust and listen to us? Our people - they’re our Community Resource Centre finest asset West BromwichWest Midlands Fire Service keeps safe a population of 2.7 million people,living in seven different local authority areas. Our staff are skilled, motivated, Useful links flexible and dedicated to centrepoint.org.ukOur communities are some of the most ethnically diverse in the UK. Some www.womensaid.org.ukof the places we protect are among the country’s most deprived. providing an excellent service www.stbasils.org.uk www.britishlegion.org.ukWherever they live, we want all of our residents to have a healthy 449 1,322 www.shelter.org.ukstandard of living. We see clear links between people’s health and how www.salvationarmy.org.ukthey live, and the risk they face from fire and other emergencies. Which support firefighters www.sifafireside.co.ukis why, every day, our firefighters and other staff work directly with manyof our most vulnerable residents and communities. staff #RTBSome of our ‘hidden’ work is with our homeless, who are at extra risk www.wmfs.netfrom dangerous buildings, living by candlelight, or from drug and alcohol @WestMidsFiremisuse. We build their trust. Give fire safety advice. Fit smoke alarms insquats. Put them in touch with other agencies if they need other help. BelieveWe know that healthy and sustainable places and communities are keyto physical and mental health and wellbeing. They’re also key to helpingus make the West Midlands safer.

Home IMPROVING LIVES TO SAVE LIVES How did we make Anna smile? Our work in hundreds of West Midlands schools is Anna (pictured, left) is among the many young people complemented by our wide-ranging youth with special educational needs we support. We have a engagement programmes. team of Special Needs Educators. Several of our community fire stations are home to Our firefighters act as mentors to young people with branches of the Young Firefighters Association (YFA). whom we work over time - sometimes months or years. Lots of young people gain their first ever qualifications We also run the week-long FIRE Project, which with us, and return to mainstream education or training gives young people from challenging and troubled as a result. We share their and their families’ sense of backgrounds the chance to learn about our pride and achievement. firefighters’ work and develop their confidence and team-working skills.Other Youth Activity links West Midlands Fire Service Coventry Our people - they’re our Young Fire Fighters’ Young Fire Fighters’ finest assetwww.princes-trust.org.uk Association Associationwww.fsyta.org.uk Our staff are skilled,www.girlguiding.org.uk motivated, flexible andscouts.org.uk dedicated to providingwww.dancexchange.org.ukwww.talktofrank.com an excellent servicewww.brook.org.uk #RTB www.wmfs.net @WestMidsFire Believe

IMPROVING How do we encourage learning for life? HomeLIVES TOSAVE LIVES We want to give every child the best start in life, and Case Study: enable people of all ages to maximise their potential. A great deal of our prevention work is delivered by our Aurora 1,322 firefighters in schools and colleges. We start with reception and nursery children, and meet more than Useful links 25,000 Key Stage 2 children every year. We help them to www.capt.org.uk understand risks and consequences, and how to make www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc safe decisions. www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise www.nhs.uk/change4life Getting the right people to the We work with children as they get ready to move to www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/ right place at the right time secondary school, and match what we teach to the nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk risks faced by different age groups. www.gov.uk We’ve got the right vehicles and But our education work isn’t limited to the classroom. #RTB equipment, technology and We run a popular schools safety challenge, which ends with a grand final at Safeside, our interactive www.wmfs.net systems to let us deliver our services indoor safety village. Safeside’s staff and volunteers @WestMidsFire economically and efficiently encourage young visitors to think and act safely. They cover approxiametely 10,000 people per year through 41 38 Safeside, everything from road, fire and water safety, through to the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Fire Fire Engines Stations At our fire stations, our firefighters work every week with mainstream and special educational needs pupils, and 19 others referred to us because of problems in their life. We help to boost their confidence, personal motivation and Brigade team-working. Many get their first ever qualifications Response with us. We know that decent employment is good for Vehicles health and helps to protect it. Believe

IMPROVING Home LIVES TO SAVE LIVESHow do we engage with our communities?From popular open days at our community fire stations, through to Home Open Days Road CasualtySafety Checks, schools visits and events we organise with our partners - Reduction Teamwe’re in touch with our residents and communities every day of the year.We keep safe a population of 2.7 million people, and continually assessthe different risks faced by our many different communities.We use the information to make sure we’ve always got the right people Home Safety Check #RTBin the right place at the right time, so we get to serious incidents withinour five-minute target. Our wide-ranging safety and prevention has a Campaigns www.wmfs.netbig impact in reducing the number of emergencies we get called to. @WestMidsFireBy working with our partner agencies and targeting our most vulnerable Making sure all of our communitiesresidents, we help to keep them safe from fire and other dangers in get the best service possible Believethe home. We’re dedicated to helping people live safe, healthy andindependent lives. Our strong working links with other emergency services and our many partner How can you help? organisations are vital in making us anTo book school visit call 0800 389 5525 effective fire and rescue serviceTo book home safety check call 0800 389 5525

How we deliver our service need what we 1,322 Targeting the mostIn order to ensure that we of the area that we serve that Health & e - vulnerablerespond to emergency incidents tells us where most incidents Wellbeing businessesin the most effective, assertive are likely to occur. We split Our resourcand safe way we use a risk these incidents down into a Targeting 58 firefightersbased approach to everything number of categories i.e the the most Prevention 41 Protection Working withwe do. This allows us to positively most severe like a house fire or vulnerable technical 38 partnerspredict that we can get to an serious road traffic collision, to people Stopping you rescue Fire Engines Teaching,high-risk incident (those that the least severe like a small fire getting hurt fire stations talking, listeningpresent the most significant risk in a field and we then place 19 61to someone’s life) inside of 5 our resources according to and advisingminutes. these categories - all the time remembering our 5 minute Working with ResourceWhy 5 minutes? Well, we response time goal. partners to riskbelieve that every secondcounts. Looking back at the design Resource Brigade Response fire safety StatutorySo much so in fact that on the right will tell you what to risk Vehicles officers Requirementseverything we do revolves resources we need to achievearound us working towards this this goal. Without these we Assertive, Response5 minute goal; staff numbers, believe that it simply won’t be safe &amount of fire engines, the possible to make this happen: Getting the rightamount of time we spend We have 1,322 full time effective people to thetraining and importantly the firefighters based at 38 firefighting right place atamount of time doing what we community fire stations. These the right timelike to call ‘upstream firefighting’ full-time firefighters work from minsor educating. either 41 traditional fire engines Targeting risk or 19 smaller fire engines - whichThe circles you can see on the we call Brigade Response 5right hand design gives you a Vehicles - or BRVs. Either wayquick glance of what we call each of our 38 stations has at We have 61 specialist fire incredibly important area of Homeour service delivery model, or in least 1 traditional fire engine. safety officers who advise on work. In fact we consider thisother words how we shape our any statutory requirements that part so important that we will Believe #RTBservices for you. We have 58 technical rescue may exist who also work closely spend about 30% of our time in firefighters (specially trained in with partners and businesses. targeting those who we think Communities andSo what does this all mean? high rise, rope, water and other are most likely to be involved in PartnershipsOur ongoing analysis allows specialist rescues). The left hand side of the design an incident, and then workingus to create a detailed map talks about our ‘upstream with these members of the Resources firefighting’ or our work that community to ensure that they we do in order to stop you stay as safe as possible. We People getting hurt in the first place. strongly believe in prevention Everyone one of our firefighters being better than cure. Prevention will play their part in this Response IMPROVING LIVES TO SAVE LIVES

Reasons to Believe in us Back Communities and Partnerships Our local The West Midlands communities are highly diverse, and to this profiles end it is essential for us to meet your differing needs in order for us to achieve the delivery of our core services of Prevention, Protection and Response. We know that we are most successful at engaging with the community when we work alongside other organisations. We work with health, Local Authorities, voluntary and community organisations and the private sector to make your lives and businesses safer. Our strong working links with other emergency services and our many partner organisations are vital in making us an effective fire and rescue service. Making Every Contact Count IMPROVING LIVES TO SAVE LIVES

Reasons to Believe in us BackOur community Our local profiles West Midlands Fire Service is the second largest fire and rescue White (Includes White Irish The West Midlands communities are service in the country, delivering emergency services to and White Other) 70.1% highly diverse and we must continue to 2.7 million residents across the seven local authorities within the meet their differing needs to achieve West Midlands. The population of the West Midlands in made up Asian or Asian British 18.9% the delivery of our core services of of the following ethnicities: Black African/Caribbean or Prevention, Protection and Response. In order to commit to this and efficient Black British 6% service delivery, we continue to work Mixed Origin 3.4% with Community Safety Partnerships to deliver prevention activities and Other 1.6% improve outcomes for the West Midlands communities. We continue (Census 2011 First Release) to work with local authorities, voluntary organisations and the private sector to achieve our vision of ‘Making West Midlands Safer.’ A breakdown of the community profiles covered can be found in the ‘Equality and Diversity Report and Objectives 2012-2015’ which outlines our approach to delivering services to the communities of the West Midlands. Through achievement of these objectives we meet and exceed our public duties in the following key areas: `` Accountability `` Leadership & Promoting Inclusion `` Effective Service Delivery & Community Engagement `` Employment & Training `` Evaluation & Sharing Good Practice #RTB Resources

Reasons to Believe in us Home Resources Why are our This incorporates all the technology, vehicles, equipment stations based and buildings we use on a daily basis (and how we go about where they are? procuring them) that allows us to provide the most up to date and economically efficient service to our communities. Finance Finance is a core service to the organisation. It serves the needs and safety of operational firefighters through the procurement of goods and services that are fit for purpose and readily available at the point of need. How does our funding work? Our financial challenge IMPROVING LIVES TO SAVE LIVES

Back Reasons to Believe in us Why are our Stations based where they are?Our estatesWe have 38 stations, most of which are Community Fire Stations with When a new station location is planned many aspects are considered,Community rooms; these rooms host meetings/functions. WMFS also including risk. Other factors include where it is in the community forpartner with the West Midlands Ambulance Service on most sites and prevention and protection activities, land available and suitable, cost,there is now a WMAS response vehicle located on most stations to enable access and egress, training facilities, future plans, co-location and otherquicker response time and provide closer working opportunities between agencies for example.the two services. In relation to risk we look at attendance times from the location to highLocations of stations risk incidents and coverage across the area. We look at the resourcesThe map below shows where our stations are located. that need to be placed in that location. What facilities are available to members of the public? The public can use the community rooms to host meetings/courses. IMPROVING LIVES TO SAVE LIVES #RTB People

Home Reasons to Believe in usPeopleOur People. They are our finest asset without whom noneof the previous four RTBs could happen. Every day westrive for excellence in everything we do and this pagewill give you a feel for who we are and how we aim tobe the best we possibly can be. Our Core Values

Our Core Values We will value service to the community by: Back • Working with all groups to reduce risk • Treating everyone fairly and with respect We value diversity in our service and the • Being answerable to those we serve community by: • Striving for excellence in all we do • Treating everyone fairly and with respect Our core values • P roviding varying solutions for different set out how we expect our employees needs and expectations to be the best they can be • P romoting equal opportunities in in all that they do to deliver our core services to the employment and communities of the progression within our Service West Midlands: • Challenging prejudice and discrimination We value all of our people by We value improvement at all levels of the IMPROVING practising and promoting: Service by: LIVES TO • Fairness and respect SAVE LIVES • Recognition of merit • A ccepting responsibility for our • Honesty, integrity and mutual trust performance • Personal development • Co-operative and inclusive working • Being open-minded • Considering criticism thoughtfully • Learning from our experience • Consulting others #RTB Prevention and Protection

Reasons to Believe in us HomeWe are there before Preventionyou need us FactsKeeping the West Midlands safe starts way before we turn up IMPROVINGin a big red fire engine. We have a team of highly trained Fire LIVES TOSafety Officers who work with the business community, offer SAVE LIVESadvice, carry out audits and enforce legal requirements whennecessary thoughout a range of activities.Firefighters should make pensioners’ homes safe,head of NHS England saysMeeting the unsung heroes of public health:West Midlands Fire Service

Reasons to Believe in us Case Study Back Prevention Facts Fire Safety Case Study #RTB Response Protection - Shisha PremisesHow West Midlands Fire Service makes you safer Introduction These hazards and risks during a fire are not Stopping you getting hurt (prevention) Shisha smoking is a social custom traditionally just confined to the people who may use the used by people from Middle Eastern or Asian premise. As a number of shisha premises are 271 We at the West Midlands community groups. Shisha smoking is becoming operating illegally they may not be easily Fire Service believe increasingly popular among groups in cities identifiable to our crews when initially turning fire deaths in that everyone should around the UK. up to deal with an incident.Great Britain in be safe in their own Data suggests that the number of shisha Local incidents 2012/13 homes. Which is why we smoking premises is increasing across the Over the last three years there have been four offer to do a free home country. incidents involving shisha premises across the safety check of those at West Midlands. Two of these fires occurred What is Shisha smoking? within a two-month period of each other. greatest risk of fire Shisha pipes contain sweetened tobacco which provides more aromatic smoke than What is WMFS doing about it? 2013/14 cigarettes. Despite this however, shisha smoking Our fire safety team have built up partnerships can be equally - if not more - damaging to an with a number of agencies: 24,889 individual’s health than smoking cigarettes. • West Midlands Police Home Safety Further information can be found via • Environmental Health and Checks http://www.bhf.org.uk • Building Control Officers Completed 21,377 Smoke Alarms fitted 737 In part due to these This team is working together to ensure that shisha premises are as safe as they can be from Hearing Impaired prevention tactics fire. Where standards are not met, enforcement action may be taken. Alarms fitted house fires in the Conclusion West Midlands have The hazards and risks With a growing number of premises across the There are a number of hazards and risks UK now being used for shisha smoking, there reduced by 40% in associated with shisha premises. Whilst many are inevitably a number which are operating conform to applicable regulations, WMFS illegally. WMFS has recognised this which is the last 10 years has experienced the following problems at a why we have teamed up with various partner number of shisha premises: agencies to ensure that shisha premises across #RTB REASONS TO BELIEVE IN US the West Midlands are as safe as they can be. • R apid fire spread due to materials used in 2 of 12 construction and the furnishings. © West Midlands Fire Service Marketing 2014 1415•107 • Inadequate means of escape or excessive travel distances to exits. Making West Midlands Safer • F ailure to comply with Fire Safety Laws. www.wmfs.net • F ailure to conform to building and planningPrevention Protection Response regulations.

Home Reasons to Believe in us Who do 19 we need? BRVWe’re there when you really need us. We match theresources we send to emergencies and other incidents 41to the risks they present. PRL 57 38 What risk 1322 Technical means to us Stations Rescue Firefighters Firefighters Response West Midlands Fire Service have 38 Fire Stations, on which are 41 Fire engines and 19 brigade response vehicles, providing comprehensive and effective response to fires, road and rail accidents, chemical hazards and many other emergency situations. 1,322 firefighters and 57 Technical Rescue firefighters are required to staff these vehicles. Workforce planning analysis is used to plan levels of recruitment and promotion activity in order to maintain our effective service to the community and ensure that optimum staffing levels are maintained. The service has recently recruited 107 trainee firefighters in order to maintain these essential staffing levels.Introducing West Midlands Fire Service IMPROVINGYou believe in us LIVES TO SAVE LIVES

What risk means to us Back Risk Analysis of a range of social factors, gives a reliable basis for We employ a sophisticated process to manage our assessing foreseeable future risk. Weightings are applied performance in responding to emergency incidents, to some of these factors to enhance the value of the based upon the principle of proportionality, dependent map in identifying risk areas, based on a combination on the risk involved. of relevant factors such as deprivation and the previous occurrence of high risk incidents. Firstly, we create a map known as the Area Risk Map (ARM), to show where the areas of high, medium and low The map is then used as part of the basis for planning risk are in West Midlands. our emergency response strategy, along with the categorisation of incidents into groups, according to the This is done by dividing the area into 1,687 units of potential life risk attached to each type. population called ‘Lower Super Output Areas’ (LSOAs), which are small geographical areas with a minimum For example, a house fire or a road traffic collision (RTC) population of 1,500 and 400 households, as used in are categorised as high risk incident types, because there organising the national census boundaries and the data is often the possibility of lives being placed in danger that is derived from the census. and a fast attendance time is therefore needed, either to save lives, or to prevent a fire escalating. Linked with Within these LSOAs, we are then able to calculate a risk this, we may need to send a greater level of response score, based on factors such as deprivation and the vehicles and firefighters, based upon the information history of dwelling fire incidents within that location. In this initially received at the time of call and the number of way, we can paint a picture of the future likelihood of urgent tasks that firefighters might need to carry out high risk incidents occurring in particular areas, because simultaneously, to bring about a successful resolution. we know that past history, combined with our knowledgeBringing together the map and the WMFS Risk Based Attendance Standard Incident Risk Description First Applianceclassification of incidents by risk, we can Category Attendance Standardestablish performance standards to ensure 5 minutesthat overall, we are able to provide a service Category 1 Incidents that present the most significant risk to life, namelythat reflects the likelihood and potential (High Risk) dwelling fires, other building fires, RTCs and ‘Life Risk’ Special 7 minutesseverity of incidents in our area, with fast Service Calls, such as water rescue.attendance times for the most hazardous 10 minutesemergencies, especially in areas identified as Incidents where there is a potential risk (either through incident 20 minuteshaving a high risk profile. Category 2 severity or the type of property affected), but there is aEmergency incidents are categorised in the (Medium Risk) reduced likelihood of this risk being realised. For example - afollowing way: flooding or a person locked in. Category 3 Incidents where there is a significantly reduced risk to life. (Low Risk) Category 4 Incidents that are secondary fires and where there is a very low IMPROVING (secondary fires risk to life; e.g. fires in the open, in waste materials or grass fires LIVES TO SAVE LIVES that attract a 20 minute attendance standard) Category 5 False Alarm calls - called in good faith, but turned out to be no incident.

A high number of people who die in fires in the home are classed as vulnerable Back to varying degrees. To effectively target the complexities of varying vulnerabilitiesVulnerable Persons Officers the role of Vulnerable Persons Officers (VPOs) was developed. VPOs are both firefighters and support staff who undergo additional training to identify variousWMFS is heavily involved in prevention based activities, including vulnerabilities that include mental health, deaf, blind, learning difficulties andhome safety checks which have evolved to become smarter in general ill health.identifying and targeting vulnerable people. To maximise pooledresources we seek to work with partners and other agencies to Several cases which may have resulted in “fire deaths” have been prevented byeffectively identify and target the most vulnerable members of VPOs working closely with other agencies.the community. One such example was a person in their late eighties who was a heavy smoker and a strong determined character that had refused help for many years. After several fires in the home that were directly related to smoking, assertive actions were taken by WMFS, social services and AGE UK to mitigate the additional risks of fire. However following a number of repeat calls, social services determined with the agencies involved that the risks to the individual were so high that it would be in the best interests of the individual if they were relocated into sheltered accommodation where they could live safely with additional care and support.

BackWest Midlands Fire ServiceYoung Firefighters’ AssociationWe believe in helping to positively develop all young people. The Young Firefighters’ Association(YFA) is designed to improve young people’s self-esteem and self-belief.The YFA reaches out to all groups regardless of levels of education, their race, gender or culture.Our trusted image enables them to overcome barriers and to realise what they are capable of.We empower them to achieve emotional resilience in a safe and trusted environment.Each area that the West Midlands Fire Service covers runs their own YFA group, varying what theyoung people are taught to reflect the characteristics and risks of the area in which they live.

Fire Service Home Safety BackCheck visits to vulnerable Stopping you getting hurthouseholds 24,800 Home Safety ChecksRoutine Home Safety Check visit were carried out by our firefighters in 2013/14To help keep people safe from harm the UK Fire Serviceconduct Home Safety Checks (HSC) which are mainly Smoke Alarmstargeted at high risk and vulnerable households wherethey offer advice after conducting an extensive Free Smoke Alarms fittedsurvey of the house and home. Traditionally these where necessary.HSCs were mostly focused on reducing the primaryrisk of fire, including checking for the presence of Make sure you test yourshazardous materials such as plastic ceiling tiles and weekly, it could savechecking there was a functioning fire alarm. But more your life.recently WMFS have been providing a more holisticapproach where the health and wellbeing needs ofthe householder are also assessed and can include awide range of health and well-being concerns suchas mental ill health, disability, poverty, poor health,limited mobility, obesity, ancient cooking and heatingappliances, risk of slips, trips and falls and issues suchas poor hearing or sight. (All of which could seriouslyaffect the outcome in the event of a fire). The trustedbadge of the Fire Service usually allows the Fire Serviceopen entry to households of all age and cultures.Positive engagement with the client and listening totheir views are essential to the success of the visit andto assist this process crews also have access to officerswith specialist training in areas such as ‘signing’.They also carry information relating to signposting torelevant services such as Social Services, Help theAged, Macmillan, Citizens’ Advice, Stop Smoking andSubstance Misuse Services.

Station Open Days Thousands of people head for our popular Back community fire stations’ open days. They’re great fun - and a great placed to pick up tips on keeping you and your family safe. From sitting in a fire engine and sounding the sirens, through to watching our firefighters rescue someone from a staged road traffic collision, there’s something for everyone. Our 38 fire stations are at the heart of the communities they’re dedicated to keeping safe. Open days are a perfect opportunity to find out about all the prevention work our 1,322 firefighters do when they’re not responding to emergencies. And while you’re there, you can book your own Home Safety Check!

Making Every Contact Count BackThere are millions of opportunities every day for emergency IMPROVINGservices to help improve people’s health and wellbeing LIVES TOand reduce health inequalities. But to take this opportunity SAVE LIVESit needs a different view of how we use our contacts withthe public. A home safety check by the fire service or adental check-up, for example, is a chance to offer adviceto help someone stop smoking. We know that smoking is amajor player in starting fires and yet it would be impossiblefor your fire service to get to all 2.7 million members of theWest Midlands. Shouldn’t we all work together and referour different contacts to other professional services?The answer has to be a resounding ‘yes’. We call thesereferrals ‘pathways’ and it is something we have now beenworking to improve over the last 18 months.This concept supports what’s known as Making EveryContact Count (MECC) and is now a key component ofour prevention delivery model that contributes to reducinghealth inequalities.MECC encourages conversations based on behaviourchange methodologies (ranging from brief advice,to more advanced behaviour change techniques),empowering healthier lifestyle choices and exploring thewider social determinants that influence all of our health.We’re very keen to improve our pathways so if youthink you can help we’d love to hear from [email protected]

BackCoventry Young Firefighters’ associationThe Coventry branch of the YFA is the largest in the UK. It has threesections, including one for young people and special educational needs.Each group can boast and attendance of 80 - 90 young people.In the run up to the 2012 Olympics Coventry YFA were awarded an InspireMark from London Organising Committee of the Olympic and ParalympicGames (LoCOG). This mark meant they were involved in numerousphysical acitivities, including a fire engine pull, sports day and assisting inthe Olympic Torch relay route.They are regularly involved in fund raising events for charities such as theBritish Legion and their local hospital’s Children’s Ward.

Back Case Study Community Resource Centre, West Bromwich The Resource Centre is a large single storey former Community Centre which had fallen into disrepair, and had become a target for metal thieves, homeless people and alcohol and drug abusers. One room deep within the building was found with signs of rough sleeping, bedding, candles, fresh food wrappers, syringes and alcohol containers. The local Fire Station Commander was contacted and alerted to the dangerous situation. The ‘on duty’ crew attended to fit smoke alarms in the derelict building. This had the immediate result of reducing the risk of fire death, offered an early warning system, provided passers-by with an alert and gave firefighting crews an audible way to locate the affected area. The local homeless team was contacted and staff were invited to make contact and engage with the people using the building. The council was also contacted resulting in the building being made secure and resulted in an order for demolition of the building to be brought forward.In Birmingham specialist trained firefighters helpto deliver a project called “fireside” alongside theorganisation SIFA to provide fire safety educationto the homeless communities of Birmingham.They have also developed a joint project withBirmingham re-homing team to support the aim ofhelping homeless people back into society.

BackCampaignsOur safety campaigns support our wide-ranging prevention work to make theWest Midlands safer.Whether you’re at home, at work, or outand about - there are lots of things youcan do to keep yourself safe.From summer to winter safety, tips on safecooking and advice for smokers - you’llfind it all in our ‘Stay safe’ section.

Case Study: Aurora 15-year-old girl, referred from a Short Stay School Back Originally this young person had of the programme she was quiet, IMPROVING attended Aurora’s predecessor the withdrawn and did not endeavour to LIVES TO FIRE project, but was removed from engage with the other participants. SAVE LIVES the course due to her behaviour and This was seen to change dramatically attitude. She remarked that at the time during the course of the week. Two she knew she had made a mistake that of the lead officers who attended the she subsequently regretted because centre on different occasions took she was actually enjoying the course. time out to talk with her and confirmed She was provided with a second that she felt adequately prepared opportunity to take part again through and knew what to expect from the a referral from a Short Stay School. She programme. was intrigued by Aurora and the fact that it was a 12-month programme. Her parents did not have confidence She was also extremely pleased to be that she could complete the full 12 given another chance to undertake months and believed that she would the one week FIRE course (Part one of be likely to give up part way through. the Aurora Course). It was at this time that she reflected and realised that it was her attitude The staff at the Short Stay School that had caused the previous problem talked to her about Aurora along with which resulted in her dismissal from one of the Fire Service leads for the the one week FIRE course and said programme. Through discussion she as a result of this ‘insight’ she now felt soon realised that actually FIRE had determined to try and change this not been for her due to the way it was mind set and actually complete the delivered (authoritarian) and felt that 12 months. She believed that both she Aurora would be much better suited to and her parents had been provided her. Some of the instructors would be with the right level of information prior the same which she found reassuring. to starting the course. She particularly She knew that the whole programme praised the fact that one of the was 12 months but did not believe that leads phoned her parents prior to she would get to the end. The lead commencing Phase One to take them instructor noted before the interview, through what the programme entailed. that when she came on Phase One

Phase one was a great experience, she was conscious of being mentored; do more than just the three phases during Previous pagegetting on with people and particularly enjoyed the yard the 12 months; and suggested additional activities such asbased activities and the day spent at the Search and Rescue developing the community garden and making bird houses. IMPROVINGhouse. There were no parts of this phase that she did not LIVES TOenjoy. By the end of the week her confidence, self-motivation • S ubsequent to the interview she became the first peer SAVE LIVESsense of achievement were all markedly higher than when mentor for Aurora and an instructor for a Phase Oneshe started. With the end of Phase One, she was clear about course. This was in response to the referring agencywhat she needed to do in order to continue to the other contacting the course leader and saying that since thephases.She started to attend school more often, changed her end of the programme she had retreated a little from theattitude towards the teachers and began to find that she was progress she had made and would not engage with themimproving in her work. She knew about the mentoring part of or anyone else. The involvement in the course mentorthe programme, and that she would have a change of mentor scheme has helped ensure that her improvements arepart way through. Originally she was happy to take part, but sustained and that she has continues to make progressshe did not like the change of mentor’s part way through. She in terms of her behaviour and attitude to authority.could talk to the previous mentor, had built a rapport, andwould have preferred to have stayed with the one mentorthroughout. Despite this she did get to know the secondmentor and felt that overall it actually really helped.During mentoring she would talk about how she was getting onat school, keeping out of trouble, the reasons for her exclusionfrom school and her relationship with her mum. She felt thatjust to be able to talk openly was really helpful. She stated thatusually they just walked around for the mentoring sessions, andone time visited a fire station, and that that was a bit boring.She would have liked to have done some sort of activity aswell. Her recall of the phases and the activities was a littlepatchy, but she mostly remembered the surgeon on Phase twotalking about the impact of knife crime and how people candie from being stabbed by even the smallest of knives.In the final phase she stated she enjoyed all the outwardbound activities (had previously never experienced this type ofactivity). Overall she felt that during the programme she haddeveloped a sense of respect for other people and that as aresult her relationship with her mum had greatly improved. Sheis currently attending a Specialist College. In terms of learningabout things that could be improved on the programmeshe noted the following : develop an activity to do whilst

Our Financial Challenge Government Grant 2010 - 2018£81m £73m £71m £65m £60m £54m Back £50m IMPROVING LIVES TO £46m SAVE LIVESPercentage cut -9.5% -3.4% -8.5% -8.7% -8.6% -7% -7% 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 EstimatedThe above figures exclude the £8m Council Tax Support Funding Grant which from 2014/15 has been incorporated into the Formula Grant.

We Are There Before You Need Us BackKeeping the West Midlands Safe starts way before we turn up in a big red fireengine. We have a team of highly trained Fire Safety Officers who work withthe business community, offer advice, carry out audits and enforce legalrequirements when necessary thoughout a range of activities.One of the cornerstones of the work of the Fire and Rescue Service is the areaof Fire Protection.This work is focused on assisting business to comply with the Law so that thenon-domestic buildings in which people work, visit and enjoy leisure timeare provided with facilities that will ensure a safe means of escape in theevent of a fire starting. This assistance may take the form of educationalevents, signposting to relevant guidance and the checking or auditing of fireprotection measures.All of our fire protection activities are targeted at those premises or eventsthat we perceive present the greatest risk to the community and we arecommitted to enforcing the law so that members of the public and localemployees are protected from the risk of death and injury caused by fire.It is essential to us that the way in which we enforce fire protection supportsour community, business and the Government’s expectations of enforcers.This enables us to achieve the greatest impact on safety in the community aswell as for our firefighters, should a fire occur. This also supports the economicgrowth and well being of the business communities in the West Midlands.Fire Safety Officers work within several areas split into different teams. • The Applications Team • The Location Independent Team • The Legal Team • The Fire Safety Training Team • The Fire Engineering Team • The Partnerships Officer

Fire Safety Applications Team based at Fire Service HeadquartersThis team handle all building regulation, planning, licensing, petroleum andexplosives applications. They also carry out advice and enforcement work withinthese areas.Licensing OfficersThe Fire Authority is one of a number of ‘Responsible Authorities’ as definedwithin the Licensing Act 2003 and as such will be notified of any applications forthe grant, variation, or review of a premises license or club premises certificate.We will work with the Local Authority to ensure satisfactory standards of firesafety in licensed premises.We participate in multi agency late night inspections that gives us a clearpicture of a business in full operation.We encourage best practice within the cities clubs and pubs by being astakeholder of the Best Bar None scheme which assists to create a safer moreenjoyable night time economy.The Licensing section has numerous activities including Safety AdvisoryGroups where advice is given to event organisers and major sports groundmanagement on the successful, safe running of large scale events within ourarea. Past events have included the Frankfurt Market, pop concerts that attract70,000 people, The Olympic Super Event and the Papal visit.Petroleum and Explosives OfficersAs the Licensing Authority our officers are involved from the planning stages,the excavation and build and through to the final handover to the owner of allpetrol filling stations within the West Midlands area. We then work with the siteowners using a risk based inspection programme to ensure the safety features ofsuch sites are maintained.These Officers also oversee the licensing and registration of outlets storingexplosives within our area to ensure those premises storing and selling fireworksare safe and well managed. Previous page

Planning and Building Regulation Officers Previous pageThere is a legal requirement for fire services to respond and give our expert opinion on fire safety matters to otheragencies and Approved Inspectors. Generally these take the form of Building Regulations applications for new buildings #RTBor alterations to existing buildings. In 2012/13, our team of www.wmfs.netOfficers were involved in 8,858 consultations. This is where the Fire Service can input into the safety of a building before it is @WestMidsFireeven built.Many things are looked at during the planning stages of a building including:• Ensuring a fire appliance can reach the building within a workable distance to provide safe effective firefighting• Ensuring persons can escape safely in a fire situation• That building do not simply collapse, endangering both public and firefighters lives• Ensuring there is a method of informing persons within the building there is a fire• Limiting the size of fire compartments within a building on the principle that a small fire is less destructive and safer than a large onePast and current projects involve the 600 million pound regeneration of New Street Station, The New Birmingham Library,Birmingham Airport, HS2, Walsall Manor Hospital, Jaguar Land Rover and Warwickshire County Cricket Ground. All of theseinvolve engineered solutions and months or even years of consulting with major external stakeholders. IMPROVING LIVES TO SAVE LIVES

on discussion that she had been enduring Previous page this unacceptable situation for someCase Studies considerable time, but as with many elderly time with her finding out what it was on and how happy she was. HerVulnerable people people she thought she had to stoically that Alice would like to see happen. overall well-being, mobility and pain endure this without complaint, because Alice revealed that a new nursing levels all improved. She loves to tellCombined Home Safety she didn’t ‘want to bother anybody’ and home had opened just nearby him how she is thrilled that she isCheck (HSC) Visit and nobody had taken the time to really assess and her greatest wish was that actually served three meals a dayHolistic Needs Assessment for Alice’s true health needs. she could move from her current and as many cups of tea as she cana lady named Alice property and move into the nursing drink (and doesn’t have to do any The firefighter also assessed Alice’s cooking home. But Alice believed it was not washing up, cleaning or shopping).WMFS carried out a ‘routine’ HSC for an and heating appliances and found they achievable and just a ‘pipe dream’.elderly lady named Alice. The firefighter had not been serviced for at least 10 The VPO contacted the home on After six months, the VPO visitedcarrying out the visit took the time to chat years and needed urgent attention due Alice’s behalf and they confirmed her in the nursing home and sheand gain the confidence of an elderly to their dangerous condition. Due to only that Alice was eligible and that in introduced him to all the otherlady and discuss her health and personal occupying the downstairs rooms, Alice view of her circumstances would residents and told everybody thatneeds. It was during these discussions also slept on inappropriate and poor take her almost immediately. Alice he was her ‘friend’ and that it wasthat she revealed that life had become quality bedding and felt this added to her was delighted and accompanied due to him and his efforts that shemiserable, difficult and limited due to her difficulty with mobility. She was asked if she by her niece was shown around is now so happy and content. Sheworsening disability. And it became quite received any support and if there were any the premises and encouraged to regularly stated that she wishedobvious to the firefighter that in addition to relatives who could assist with these issues. ask any questions about the living she had moved into a nursingher apparent depression and health needs It transpired that her only living relative was arrangements at the Nursing Home. home years ago. During the visitshe also presented an ever present risk of a a niece who had learning difficulties and The VPO also contacted local her final comment was that, ‘they‘slip, trip or fall’ and a house fire or even fire lived in specialist accommodation provided Social Services who were able to even let me visit my niece and godeath. by Walsall Independent Living programme. meet with Alice and arranged the shopping whenever I want’. All So although the householder appreciated assessment of need and necessary this elderly lady needed to keepDue to her lack of mobility Alice was unable the limited help and company the niece funding. her safe, fit and happy was a safeto access her upstairs bathroom facilities was able to provide in essence Alice had and supportive environment withor upstairs toilet which was the only one nobody close who could help or support her Alice was absolutely thrilled and all amenities being based on oneavailable in the house. It further transpired in her present circumstances. moved into the nursing home floor. By providing an individual only a few weeks later. (Her three holistic assessment of need and Reducing Risk and providing for a happy bedroomed house was actually somebody who took the time to and secure future for Alice. owned by a Social Housing listen to what Alice wanted, WMFS Enterprise and as a result of Alice were able to substantially reduce Alice was referred to the WMFS local VPO (A moving were able to release the her risk, improve her joy of life and Vulnerable People’s Officer who are serving house for use by a family with keep another member of the West frontline firefighters who carry out additional children). Alice continued to Midlands elderly community safe duties keeping vulnerable people safe from maintain her contact with the VPO from harm. harm) The VPO befriended Alice and spent and used to ring him on a regular basis to tell him how she was getting

Case Studies Previous pageEnd of Life Care Plan Michael’s home in order to provide the support required. To allow admission to soWMFS supporting an elderly gentleman to achieve his many people over both the night and day an ‘open door’ policy with an intercomdying wish to die in his own home. system had been installed with the result that almost anybody could make a request to enter Michael’s home. Michael suffered from severe hearing impairment andWalsall Social Services referred an elderly gentleman (Michael) to WMFS for an urgent stated to the officers that he was often unable to even hear who the caller was andassessment due to their worries and concerns for the gentleman’s safety. A Home Safety was certainly not in a position to assess if it was safe to allow entry. This was judgedCheck (HSC) visit was carried out within 24 hours of referral and the home was found by WMFS to be an unacceptable level of risk to Michael, his personal safety and theto be immaculate with all ‘normal’ safety measures already adopted and no obvious safety of his home. The medical staff attending also described how they felt that thisrisk of fire. But what was immediately obvious was the complete lack of security for the lack of safety would adversely affect Michael and his poor state of health.house bound and bed ridden dying gentleman. It had been agreed with Michael andhis close family members that he would be provided with a range of ‘needs led’ services A ‘needs led’ plan was agreed between West Midlands Fire Service and Walsallto support him in his wish to die at home. Walsall Social Services had arranged for a large Social Services with Michael’s safety being paramount and the main focus ofnumber of carers to attend at different times of the day and night; Macmillan nurses decision making. Central to the solution agreed was the installation of a cameraalso attended on a regular basis as did the Community nursing team. WMFS were able linked to the intercom so that Michael could personally view any visitor requestingto estimate that at least 70 different people, carers and medical staff were entering admission. The door was fitted with a ‘door release’ system and Michael was provided with a pager to wear around his neck which was linked to a central alarm system providing cover 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Several items of equipment were introduced and linked to a Telemedicine alert system. These included the installation of a monitoring system which provided an alert if Michael became unconscious or did not move for an extended period of time. This alert system was linked to the local Fire Service who were automatically alerted via their mobile phone to the fact that Michael has not moved. Their mobile phone alert system is fitted with an override system for the front door intercom monitoring system and ensured they were able to gain entry to the property and if required alert medical staff for further support. Michael had lived in his current home all his married life and had formally requested that he should not be admitted to hospital but be allowed to die a peaceful death in familiar surroundings in his own home. But being bedridden, frail and elderly and hard of hearing presented a real problem and made it very difficult to protect him from harm and ensure his safety and well-being. WMFS were able to work in partnership with Michael and his family and Walsall Social Services to ensure that Michael’s dying wishes were upheld and he was allowed to stay in the comfort and security of his own home to die.

Case Study Syndrome, a form of Autism, and it was a plan of care which included maintaining contact over an extended period of time evident that her condition was having a in order to gain Katrina’s trust and to develop a relationship which it was hoped wouldVulnerable people detrimental effect on her quality of life and result in long term behaviour change. general well-being. The VPO arranged to visit several times a month and to spend time getting to knowYoung woman suffering Following a discussion with the carer who Katrina. The reduction in hoarding and long term changes required to improve herfrom Asperger Syndrome visited twice daily, the level of risk was very quality of life would require understanding and agreement from Katrina. Over timehelped by WMFS to build her quickly escalated to ‘high risk’ as it was she felt able to reveal that she felt sad and depressed and would usually spend theconfidence and to take steps found that Katrina was a habitual smoker first half hour of each visit crying before being in a state of mind that would facilitateto improve her whole way and smoked cigarettes whilst sitting close meaningful discussion. Katrina had a kind nature and loved the idea of helping othersof life to high levels of combustible material – where possible. The VPO suggested that Fire Service officers based at the Dudley station namely her habit of hoarding. Katrina would really appreciate having her newspapers once she had read them. This was dulyIntroduction had a long history of storing mostly paper arranged and at each visit a number of newspapers were removed.Katrina, a young woman of 25 years who products, including, newspapers, receipts,lived alone and considered to be at risk of flyers and any other material she judged At the start Katrina would only allow a few newspaper but within a six month periodharm was referred to WMFS by her parents to be suitable for hoarding. It was obvious was happy to allow large quantities to be removed. She was also really happy to learnfor a Home Safety Check visit (HSC). Katrina that this action had been present in this about ‘recycling’ and was pleased to give her hoarding material forhad limited hearing and wore a hearing property for some time and had resulted in recycling purposes.aid during the day but removed it to sleep a high risk of fire, not only to herself but alsothereby rendering her at greater risk of to her close neighbours. Katrina was also Measurable Outcomesharm through a house fire. The traditional very overweight and rarely left her home or The VPO maintained her regular visits and as a result was able to facilitate theapproach is for the Fire Service to make a took even simple exercise. removal of vast amounts of paper and as a result Katrina began to feel happier andprofessional assessment of a householders less depressed. As the rooms became filled with more light so she seemed to gain inneeds and if required to provide a range West Midlands Fire Fighters are trained in confidence and said she felt happier than she had been in many years. Her parentsof products designed to reduce risk and providing a holistic assessment of need were thrilled to see how her well-being had improved. By the end of six months themake householders safe from harm. Homes and not only make a traditional assessment property had been almost cleared of all hoarding material and her risk of harm duebelonging to people with limited hearing of home safety but also assess the overall to a house fire had been greatly reduced. But equally importantly her health andare regularly fitted with a ‘hearing impaired well-being needs of the client which often well-being had also significantly improved although Katrina continued to smoke andalarm’ which alerts householders to a fire in render the householder at greater risk remained overweight.the home. of harm. Hoarders usually present with several risk factors and it is often associated The changes were maintained over an extended period of time and Katrina,Background with mental ill health and depression the her carers and her parents were pleased with the outcomes. But unfortunatelyOn arrival the home was found to be in causes of which need tackling if the actual approximately 12 months after initial contact had been made Katrina died suddenlysemi-darkness due to excessive hoarding problem of hoarding is to be reduced to and unexpectedly of a cardiac event. The VPO was very distressed at this event butblocking the day light. The home was in a manageable and safe levels. felt that she had done her very best to support Katrina in making changes whichpoor and very untidy state with hoarding resulted in a happier and more contended life style. Katrina’s parents also expressedapparent in every room. It was confirmed Plan of Care their gratitude and stated that their daughter’s last 12 months had been made all thethat Katrina suffered from Asperger The visiting Fire Fighter who is also a trained happier as a result of the VPO and her support and care. Vulnerable People’s Officer (VPO) devised Back

Road Casualty Reduction TeamBack Through targeted action with our partners, we aim to improve road safety through educating the public about the consequences of dangerous driving. The Road Casualty Reduction Team (RCRT) has built on the success of the “Your Choice on The Road” package which has been used successfully to educate vulnerable and inexperienced young road users of the tragic consequences of dangerous and inappropriate actions whilst driving and as passengers. These groups include young people who fall within the vulnerable 17-24 age group. Many have been or have friends who have been involved in serious road traffic incidents, some have broken the law and some have received custodial sentences and are therefore statistically more likely to re-engage in this type of activity. The RCRT also deliver bespoke packages including a factual based DVD called ‘COW’. This is based on a real-life incident and is aimed to show the real-life consequences of dangerous driving. The RCRT also support the West Midlands Police by giving drivers the opportunity to correct their errors through education events. They also attend national shows, support station open days and any other events they are asked to support. The RCRT also support any station/watch that wants to carry out Road Safety Campaigns or initiatives within their station area.

Stuart’s story Two budding young grime artists have recorded an The track was produced by Ian Clarke and Dean Jones, who audio track designed to change attitudes to driving and both work for the Youth Offending Service in Birmingham.Previous page highlight the consequences of irresponsible road use. Dawn Roberts, who heads the service, said: “Jesse and Kadeem had completed the requirements of their court ‘Stuart’s Story’ is the result of a link-up between Birmingham orders, but volunteered to be involved in ‘Stuart’s Story’ as Youth Offending Service, the WMFS Road Casualty they recognised they had much more to offer. Reduction Team (RCRT) and the West Midlands Road Safety Partnership (WMRSP). “The Youth Offending Service expects all young people on community court orders to undertake some form of Birmingham teenagers Jesse Bowen and Kadeem Lavington restorative justice, to increase their understanding of the - both former young offenders themselves - have written consequences of crime to victims and society. In this case, lyrics and ‘spit their bars’ on the grime-based track which Jesse and Kadeem have demonstrated that the system can features the life-story of Stuart Fisher MBE, from Walsall. As achieve what it aims to do and rehabilitate young people.” a 17-year-old he was knocked down by a drink-driver in a stolen car while crossing the road on holiday in Blackpoolin Peter Francis, WMRSP Manager, said: “Last year, on West 1996. Stuart was left with life-changing injuries and in need of Midlands roads, 11 car drivers and passengers aged 16 to 24-hour care. 25 were killed and 100 were seriously injured. This project will help to reach one of our target groups with a positive It’s hoped that the recording will deliver a strong message message, and hopefully achieve the results we’re always to all motorists, but especially 16 to 25-year-old male drivers. striving for.” They account for a large proportion of the people killed or seriously injured every year on the region’s roads. The hard work of Jesse and Kadeem, and Birmingham Youth Offending Service, were officially recognised at a Arron Lennon, from the WMFS RCRT, who led on the project, presentation ceremony at Teamworks Karting,Birmingham, said: “I invited young people from Birmingham’s Youth where everyone involved in the ‘Stuart’s Story’ project was Offending Teams along to a road safety presentation, treated to aVIPgo-karting experience and an award to featuring Stuart’s life story. Jesse and Kadeem got to meet recognise their efforts. Stuart and his parents, and were so influenced and inspired by his story that they felt they could make a difference to You can listen to, watch or download the ‘Stuart’s Story’ the people and communities of the West Midlands through track by following the links from the homepage of the West their musical talent. Midlands Fire Service website: www.wmfs.net. Photographs of the celebration event can also be viewed at http://www. “As part of the programme they spent some time at a fire flickr.com/photos/wmfs/sets/72157631988459020/ station, to see the reality of what firefighters often have to deal with when they turn out to road traffic collisions. ‘Stuart’s Story’ highlights how the actions and decisions of the people involved on the day he was knocked over have had serious consequences for him, his family and his friends.”

BackNursery and Reception Key Stage 1- The 1066 Great Fire of LondonThe training provided to very young children focuses on how they can Key Stage 2 - Sparksrecognise what is safe and what is dangerous and who can help themin the event of a house fire. Left to their own devices when faced with We have linked our key stages 1 and 2 training programmes to the Nationalperceived danger or a house fire young children are likely to run away Curriculum requirements and are intended to ‘add value’ to their education.and hide thereby putting themselves at increased danger. The ‘Little Red For example a recently developed training package is centred on the GreatEngine’ evidence based training package helps them to recognise a Fire of London (1066) where the children learn about history, life in early Englandfirefighter as ‘friend’ when dressed in helmet and full emergency gear. and how safety in 1066 compares with emergency services today. The children are encouraged to dress in traditional clothes of the time and to build a representation of the 1066 London timbered houses. The format ensures that children remain fully engaged and therefore helps maintain their interest in all aspects of fire emergency and the potential damage and loss of life that can be caused by only a tiny spark.Schools Safety Challenge

Schools Safety Challenge We recognise the need to incorporate the skill set of modern children and as a result have developed an online IT based tool which delivers children with a route to independent learning and direct access to the on-line WMFS training on how to ‘stay safe’. The tool is linked to the school curriculum education on health and well-being. The system is user led with access via a person specific password, all of which enables the child to develop a deeper understanding, is driven at their own pace and enables them to repeat tasks until they feel confident and pleased with their results. Schools across the West Midlands compete in a school quiz organised and delivered by West Midlands Fire Service. The quiz tests the knowledge of young people on a very wide range of safety issues, such as overloaded electricity sockets, cycling proficiency and the increased risks of swimming in unsafe environments (e.g. reservoirs and canals). They are also tested on what to do in the event of an emergency situation and how to keep themselves and their family members safe in the event of a house fire. The initial quiz is on-line allowing individual schools and teachers to participate from their own locality. Those schools that successfully complete the online tasks are invited to attend a WMFS Command final at a Fire Station in their locality. The winners are put forward to represent their area in a Grand Final held live at a central location. Previous pageF.I.R.E

F.I.R.EFire is an extensive 5 day programme originally designed for use with young people newlyarrived in the UK and ‘unaccompanied’ by an adult. Following the success of this focusedapproach the course was enlarged to also include young people entering the youth justicescheme and is delivered in partnership with Youth Services, Schools and Youth OffendingSchemes. The Programme was awarded a Compact Award in 2011 for its cutting edge workon breaking down barriers and helping to reduce the negative impact of migration.Previous page Your Choice On the Road

‘Your Choice On the Road’‘Your Choice On the Road’ is delivered as a main stream training package and involves firefighters relating their experiences and engaging in discussion with young peoplealways ensuring that delivery is sensitive to the needs and lifestyles of young people. The topics include general concerns and safety issues relevant to this age group.The following issues are examples of topics included in discussions:• Refusing to get into a car when the driver has been drinking• Girls never accepting lifts• Wearing Seat Belts• Discussion on the repercussions of arson and anti-social behaviour• Road traffic accidents• Drivers using mobile phones when driving• Learning to say ‘no’ Previous page

BackFire Service Home Safety CheckVisits to Vulnerable HouseholdsRoutine Home Safety Check VisitTo help keep people safe from harm the UK Fire Service conduct HomeSafety Checks (HSC) which are mainly targeted at high risk and vulnerablehouseholds where they offer advice after conducting an extensive surveyof the house and home. Traditionally these HSC’’s were mostly focusedon reducing the primary risk of fire, including checking for the presence ofhazardous materials such as plastic ceiling tiles and checking there was afunctioning fire alarm. But more recently WMFS have been providing a moreholistic approach where the health and wellbeing needs of the householderare also assessed and can include a wide range of health and well-beingconcerns such as mental ill health, disability, poverty, poor health, limitedmobility, obesity, ancient cooking and heating appliances, risk of slips, tripsand falls and issues such as poor hearing or sight. (All of which could seriouslyaffect the outcome in the event of a fire). The trusted badge of the FireService usually allows the Fire Service open entry to households of all age andcultures. Positive engagement with the client and listening to their views areessential to the success of the visit and to assist this process crews also haveaccess to officers with specialist training in areas such as ‘signing’. They alsocarry information relating to signposting to relevant services such as SocialServices, Help the Aged, Macmillan, CAB, Stop Smoking and SubstanceMisuse Services.

Keeping Safe from harm - Previous pagean Elderly Couple with Learning DifficultiesA Wolverhampton Crew was asked by Social Services to make contactwith an elderly couple and arrange a Home Safety Check visit. Concernshad been raised about the couple’s level of safety and Social Servicesbelieved that WMFS were the most appropriate organisation to carry outthis assessment. The crew assessed the elderly couple as having ‘learningdifficulties’ and determined that they were also very deaf. They arrangedfor a ‘deaf alarm’ to be fitted free of charge which is designed to keep safethose people who would not ‘hear’ an audible alarm as found with a normalsmoke alarm. They assessed them as being fairly fit and active and withan adequate understanding about the need to be safe. Their gas fire andcooker were fairly ancient so the crew raised concerns on whether they hadbeen recently serviced by a tradesman who was ‘Gas Safe’ and qualified.The couple were able to provide reassurance to the crew that they had afantastic ‘handy man’, an experienced local builder, who dealt with all theseissues and many more and therefore felt they were protected and quite safefrom harm.Whilst conducting the HSC a gentleman who happened to be present whenthe crew arrived, invited himself on the HSC visit. He kept following the crewaround the house and whenever the crew asked a question of the elderlycouple he attempted to answer on their behalf. He almost appeared to betheir spokesperson and seemed intent on preventing them from answeringon their own. The crew repeatedly tried to chat to the couple alone but thegentleman managed to be present on every occasion.It soon became apparent that this gentleman was in fact the ‘handyman’,the local builder the couple were so dependent upon. He had apparentlybeen carrying out little jobs around the house for the last few years andwould arrive at their doorstep every few months. The couple said they werehappy to pay him for the work he carried out including, only recently, somenew tiles on the roof and laying a new drive. They said over the years he hadcarried out lots of other little jobs related to keeping their appliances safeand working well. They felt his charges were quite reasonable and especiallyconsidering how much work he undertook for them and how well he lookedafter them. They were happy to report that he also carried out work forseveral of their elderly neighbours and they were all equally grateful for hisassistance.

Report Rogue Trader to Trading StandardsThe crew felt very uneasy about the situation and whether the ‘handyman’ wasactually genuine or taking money under false pretences. The couple were notvery well off and had learning difficulties making it really easy for somebody totake advantage of their trusting nature. The crew reported the situation to TradingStandards who investigated the gentleman concerned. They found that he was infact a known ‘Rogue Trader’ with a history of ‘conning’ elderly and vulnerable clientsout of money. He had already managed to take several thousand pounds from thiscouple for jobs that either didn’t need doing or that he didn’t actually carry out (e.g.replacing missing roof tiles or fitting a garden water tap that was not actually linkedto a water supply). He was also in process of taking money under false pretencesfrom their neighbours.Positive OutcomeThe ‘handyman’ was successfully prosecuted and the Fire Crew were able tosignpost the elderly couple and their neighbours to a local council Handymanscheme where only accredited tradespeople were allowed to advertise. Thecost of the work undertaken was regulated and all tradespeople were trained toan appropriate standard. The cooker and gas fire were assessed by a Gas Safeengineer and made safe. Social Services were able to offer links to several schemeswhich would help the couple with everyday tasks and CAB were able to help themachieve the full Benefit payments they were entitled to. The local Area Fire Servicearranged for the couple to receive regular visits to ensure they continued to remainsafe from harm.Walsall Case Study2012 Previous page

WMFS engaging positively with Bill an 86 year old Previous pagegentleman, who had lived a sad life of loneliness The Fire Service regard older people as a high risk group. Despite the fact that elderly people haveand exclusion for the last 28 years. less dwelling fires than many other groups they are statistically more likely to suffer injury or to actually dieBackground in a house fire. They may live alone, suffer from ‘slips, trips and falls’ due to limited mobility, loss of sight andBill, an elderly gentleman of 86 years was referred to West Midlands Fire hearing, possible issues relating to dementia, and areService by Walsall Social Services. They had been trying unsuccessfully for the group most likely to be classified as ‘hoarders’five years to engage with Bill, an elderly gentleman who appeared to have which again presents a fire hazard. Older people mayno relatives and who was beginning to develop a hoarding problem and have a reduced income and as a result are oftenlived a life of exclusion. He had politely refused all offers of help and said cash poor which causes them to use old and worn outhe preferred his independence and didn’t need any help. Social Service equipment for cooking and heating.staff felt his increasing loneliness, deafness and hoarding presented an everpresent risk of harm, including the risk of a fall or accidental house fire andwere aware that the Fire Service were often successful in gaining the trust ofmany so called ‘hard to reach’ groups and in particular older people. Bill hadalready experienced a small fire so he accepted the offer of a Home SafetyCheck visit. The officers carrying out the visit were trained in Making EveryContact Count and were experienced knowing where to refer communitiesfor help and in gaining the trust of people, helping to ensure high risk andvulnerable communities are protected from harm and future risk.Home Safety Check Visit – using the trusted ‘badge’ of WMFS to engagesuccessfully with elderly peopleWMFS persuaded the gentleman to accept a Home Safety Check visit(HSC) and on inspection found he would benefit from fitting a free ‘hearingimpaired fire alarm’, received advice regarding his kitchen safety which stillhoused an old electric oven with ancient Bakealite fittings and other moreroutine advice on staying safe. But the officers were clear that the main remitof the visit was to ensure the future safety and well-being of Bill who wasregarded as being at future risk. With this aim in mind the WMFS officer drewBill’s attention to a photograph which showed a young man in MerchantNavy uniform. Bill was initially reluctant to talk about his past and neededencouragement to speak about the photograph, saying nobody would beinterested in his past life in the navy.

Bill lived the life of a recluse for 28 years following the death of Previous pagehis brother Life Transformed from isolated, lonely and miserable to happy and full.The WMFS officer continued his conversation, persuading Bill to show him his largecollection of photographs and as result gradually gained Bill’s trust and learned about Bill was reduced to near tears as he met with the Fleet Commander and wasthe very interesting story of Bill’s life. When only 15 years Bill had lied about his age and amazed that he was being treated with such respect and honour. Apparentlyhad joined the Merchant Navy, which he had regarded as his family and a life he had Bill had been highly regarded as a very brave and professional officer andalways loved. He had enjoyed a successful life in the navy and had risen through the had reached the height of respect and seniority when in the Merchant Navy.ranks to become a senior officer by the time of his retirement. Due to his life of travel he Nobody had been made aware that his brother had died within a few monthshad never married and on retirement had moved to live near to his only brother; looking of Bill’s retirement and that he had gone onto live the life of a recluse for theforward to spending quality time with him; something denied due to his life on the seas. last 28 years.In the first year of retiring Bill’s brother died and he found himself alone, without friendsand local contacts. Bill revealed that it had been 28 years since his brother had died Bill was invited to join the local Merchant Navy Association and transport wasand he went from having a full and interesting life in the navy to living a life of loneliness arranged to ensure he could travel to all meetings and be taken on trips toand exclusion since that day in July. During the 28 years he had not been further than places of interest. He was treated to a ‘special’ trip to Portsmouth where hethe local corner shop, located only a very short distance away and providing only a very was given the ‘red carpet’ treatment and met with senior staff and treatedlimited selection of food with very limited availability of fresh fruit, vegetables or meat. with dignity and respect due to him. His life changed overnight from one of loneliness and exclusion to one where he was able to meet with like-mindedContact made with local Merchant Navy Association people and friends from his past.The WMFS officer called to visit on several more occasions, gradually gaining Bill’s trust For the first time in 28 years he was able to enjoy a healthy and nutritious diet,and allowing him time to reveal more of his very interesting career in the Merchant Navy. take exercise, make contact with other people and significantly reduce his riskWith Bill’s permission, the officer contacted the local Royal Navy Association who put of a fall and/or a house fire due to his hoarding (which ceased overnight).him in contact with the local Merchant Navy Association (MNA) in Bill’s area. Once theFire officer had been assured that they would provide genuine support for Bill he gained The WMFS made a further check to ensure that Bill was being supported.Bill’s permission to allow the MNA to visit and make personal contact. The local Merchant During this visit Bill was able to reveal that he was happy for the first time inNavy Association immediately knew of Bill and his successful military career and were years and wished he had made the effort earlier. He expressed his gratitudeastonished to hear that he had never been in contact. It was also sadly revealed that to West Midlands Fire Service and in particular to the officer who took theBill’s best friend, when in the Navy, lived only 3 miles away and had lived there for the time to visit over an extended period of time and of course praised the skill ofwhole of the 28 years. The WMFS officer arranged for somebody from the MNA to visit an officer who able to gain his trust when everybody else who had tried hadand it was arranged that the Fire Officer would collect the MNA representative at the failed.local Fire Station to ensure they would travel together to visit Bill so as to maintain trust.The WMFS officer was astounded to be met by the Merchant Navy Fleet Commander Bill died approximately 18 months later but those months were filled with joy,(the most senior officer in the Merchant Navy) who was decked out in his finery, ‘best tremendous support and friendship. His previously expected funeral of theremilitary dress’ uniform with a full complement of medals and epaulettes as befits a senior being nobody in attendance to mourn his loss was transformed as he wasofficer. They had been very upset at hearing about Bill’s plight and wanted to ensure given a ceremonial funeral with full military honours. His funeral was attendedthey paid him his full respect as deserved. by senior officers from the Merchant Navy accompanied by new and old service friends all keen to pay their respect to a valued friend and colleague as he was laid to rest with his mother.

Finance BackFinance is a core service to the organisation. It serves the needs and safety ofoperational firefighters through the procurement of goods and services thatare fit for purpose and readily available at the point of need.West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) spends around £12 million per annum onthe procurement of supplies, works and services providing companies of allsizes with a wide range of business opportunities.WMFS has a statutory duty to ensure that the procurement of supplies, worksand services represents the most cost-effective solution and that best valuefor money has been achieved. The Procurement Section is responsible forensuring that the Service meets this obligation and that all buying activitiescomply with all EU and UK Procurement legislation.Finance is committed to ensuring that public money is spent in a way that isfair, honest and accountable and that all decisions are transparent, fiinancialtransparency data.The Finance Section provides specialist support to all departments within theFire Service by establishing a wide variety of contractual arrangements. Someexamples of the things that we buy are:• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – we purchase a wide variety of PPE in order to keep our firefighters safe when attending a variety of incidents ranging from fires, floods, chemical spillages, Road Traffic Collisions and search and rescue.• Operational equipment - including Hose, cutting equipment, lifting equipment, thermal Image Cameras, unmanned Ariel systems and breathing apparatus. WMFS encourages Research and Development at all levels within the organisation and is willing to look at new and innovative ideas from suppliers.• Vehicles – including Fire Engines, Brigade Response Vehicles, commercial vehicles and specialist vehicles such as major incident Command Units and Hazardous Materials vehicles

• ICT Equipment such as computers, software and complete systems e.g. our Fire Control system which receives all 999 calls• T raining facilities, services and equipment such as the new high rise training facility at Oldbury and scrap vehicles for training exercises• Building and maintenance services – including the building of new Fire Stations like the one nearing completion at Haden Cross and the ongoing maintenance and repair of our existing buildings. WMFS is also keen to consider any carbon reduction initiatives and support the environment.• A s well as buying fire specific equipment and services Corporate Procurement is also responsible for purchasing more generic goods and services such as office furniture, stationary, cleaning materials and catering services.To obtain best value, most of our procurement is subject to competition (quotes or tenders) or joint arrangements with otherlocal authorities and emergency services. The West Midlands Fire Service procurement procedures are governed by internalstanding orders, financial regulations and EU Procurement Directives (where applicable).West Midlands Fire Service is keen to encourage local suppliers and contractors to bid for any contract opportunities. Potentialcontracts are advertised on the WMFS website and on the local “Find it in” Birmingham, Sandwell and Black Country websites.Previous page IMPROVING LIVES TO SAVE LIVES