Delivering through FireFit A strategic overview

1. Delivering through FireFit A strategic overview • Des Prichard • CFOA Director (Human Resources)

2. HR (Executive)BOARD Director: Des Prichard Employee Development EmployeeRelations Overview Future Legislative Impact Future Political Impact Cliff Sear Darran Gunter Organisational development National Leadership Programme National Learning and Development Strategy Vocational Standards and qualifications Centre of Excellence IPDS and Components Fire Service College Learning & Development Managers Forum James Dalgleish Karen Palframan Employee Recognition and Reward Pensions Industrial Relations Employment Legislation Pay Flexibility Locus of Decision Making (National Regional or Local) Human Resources Practitioners Forum EmployeeResourcing Chris Enness/Paul Fuller External Liaison & Marketing the F&RS National Firefighter Selection Tests Fitness Testing Retained Recruitment Transferability Occupational Health Disability Discrimination A

3. Role of FireFit Its overall mission is to contribute to the development of Fitness and Health within the Fire & Rescue Service by advancing the practitioner’s perspective. The steering group’s mission is to provide a forum to identify, develop, communicate and promote best practice pertaining to fitness related health issues of UK Fire and Rescue Service employees in an effort to maximise the wellbeing and efficiency of the Service.

4. Celebrating success Through expertise and partnership: Fitness testing – Research and development of good practice Pre selection exercise programmes Sharing best practice - Occupational Health Identification of effective exercise equipment. Equality & Diversity agenda – Positive action days

5. The journey so far Proposing a physical fitness standard: NFST’s Holistic approach to assessment selection and recruitment CFOA/FireFit steering group/Professor Sykes Communities & Local Government Equality and Human Rights Commission Practitioners Forum Establishing a Strategic Medical & Occupational Health Network

6. Past opportunities lost through ignorance • Past medical standards used by the Service have led to blanket prohibitions on recruitment and retention. • Diabetes • Asthma • Muscular/skeletal injuries • Dyslexia and Dyspraxia • Loss of limbs • Mental health conditions • Visual/hearing impairments • Epilepsy

7. Changes & challenges How far can we push these barriers? Technological advances Innovation Legislation (DDA) Society Mindset Attracting and retaining employees

8. No more excuses Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson OBE MBE Eleven Olympic gold medals at the Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney and Athens games. She has also won the London Marathon six times. Tanni successful career in the media, a presenter of the BBC Wales consumer programme X-Ray. One of the UK's most significant sports ambassadors, being involved in the Sports Council for Wales, the Women's Sports Foundation and the Youth Sports Trust. Cpl Stuart Hale & Sgt Stuart Pearson British Paratroopers currently serving on the front line in Afghanistan They also happen to all have a disability

9. No more excuses Simon Hawkins is the first amputee firefighter in Europe. Following a motorcycle accident in 2004, Simon Hawkins, a firefighter with over ten years' service, lost the lower part of his left leg. Paul Hayden, Chief Fire Officer HWFRS, said: ”Simon’s return to operational duties has presented a number of unique challenges for the Service, but they were challenges we were determined to meet from the outset. “ For a service such as ours, with extensive training requirements, retaining an employee who becomes disabled can actually save money, ensuring that we hold on to valuable experience and avoiding the cost of training new people. More importantly for us, our work with Simon has prevented the unnecessary loss of an experienced and valued colleague and will, I trust, provide hope and inspiration for others.” Simon Hawkins, Hereford & Worcester FRS

10. Broader societal issues Drug taking: “18 sailors test positive for cocaine on Royal Navy destroyer used to catch drug smugglers” The crewmen were caught during routine testing onboard HMS Liverpool, which is currently deployed in the South Atlantic. HMS Liverpool is armed with guided missiles and a 4.5 inch gun.” Evening Standard 28/08/08

11. Health and Well-being Obesity: “A firefighter was sacked for being overweight has been reinstated, averting a potential strike by his colleagues. Grampian Fire and Rescue Service dismissed a 46 year old firefighter in June 2008 after his weight reached more than 20st (127kg) and he failed a fitness test.” The Times July 29/08/08 Alcoholism: “A Firefighter faces drunk driving charge. A fireman in western Sweden is facing prosecution after allegedly driving a fire engine into a ditch while heavily under the influence of alcohol. The 35-year-old firefighter was not officially on stand-by when his pager began beeping one evening at the end of August. Driving along the highway with his siren blaring, he drove the vehicle into a ditch at the side of the road. The Local: 18/09/07

12. FireFit • FireFit play a key role in offering expert advice and guidance on such issues to CFOA and the wider Fire Community • CFOA in turn will continue to influence national stakeholders and drive important debate leading to: • - Positive change and development/publishing of good practice • - Effective networking and cross fertilisation • - The improvement of fitness and wellbeing of staff • - The removal of artificial barriers to recruitment and retention securing a diverse workforce