Devon Fire and Rescue Authority employs 1,584 staff consisting of 597 whole-time and control personnel, 835 retained duty system personnel and 152 support staff. 46 out of 58 fire stations are crewed by retained duty system staff.
The Fire Authority’s vision and aims are clearly stated and it has prioritised what it is trying to achieve. The effective use of retained duty system staff is recognised as essential to delivering its objectives. The Authority is ensuring that it has the right people to deliver its objectives through addressing recruitment and retention issues in the retained duty workforce.
The Authority is willing to try alternative methods of delivery to improve its service. This has involved developing a more strategic approach to the use of retained duty system firefighters. It has developed a new duty system, based upon an annual salary and has concluded a pilot of the scheme. Subject to formal negotiations with the unions, once implemented it will enable the Authority to address issues of recruitment and retention, provide guaranteed cover on a shift basis and ensure greater flexibility in the use of retained duty system firefighters to assist with the work/life balance of staff. Furthermore, through an effective overarching HR strategy, the successful introduction of IPDS is helping to structure effective training and development for operational staff. This helps to ensure it has the skills it needs to deliver its services.
An effective response to non-fire emergencies is provided by the co-responder scheme which is successful, efficient, and well-regarded by the community and its partners. The service, provided mainly from retained rural stations, enables members of the community to receive rapid medical response to what is on many occasions a life or death situation. The scheme has been expanded, due to community requests and risk assessments, to include 15 stations.