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- External Link.

Fire and Rescue Equality FrameworkEquality & Diversity

Local Government (LG) Improvement and Development (formerly IDeA), in partnership with the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA), has produced the new Fire and Rescue Services Equality Framework (FRS EF) - External Link to a PDF not under the control of ESFRS.

The FRS EF recognises and addresses equality and diversity objectives that are a priority for the fire and rescue service. The FRS EF is outcome-focused and based upon the same principles as the EFLG, including the use of three achievement levels:

• developing
• achieving
• excellent

It has also been cross-mapped with the national 'Fire and Rescue Service: Equality and diversity strategy 2008 to 2018' to incorporate the same five priority areas stated in that document.

The priority areas of performance are:

• leadership and promoting inclusion
• accountability
• effective service delivery and community engagement
• employment and training
• evaluation and sharing good practice

Peer Assessment

In March 2009 ESFRS were Peer Assessed by The Improvement & Development Agency (IDeA).

The Peer Assessment rated ESFRS as an 'Achieving' Fire & Rescue Service.

Our self-assessment and our assessor recommendations can be viewed below.

• Summary document for Level 3 Assessment [pdf, 332K, opens in new tab]
• Level 3 assessors conclusions [pdf, 102K, opens in new tab]

Peer Challenge in March 2012

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service underwent a Peer Challenge in March 2012 and has been successful in being externally assessed as Excellent Level of the FRS Equality Framework, at this level we have shown particularly good practice in the following:-

• Strong leadership from senior officers and Members.
• Clearer, simpler and better communication with partners and communities.
• Improving internal customer satisfaction via HR Business Partners.
• Sophisticated community profiling to provide usable management information and intelligence.
• Working with young people.
• Competent and professional workforce who are proud of what they do.
• Sharing best practices with partners.

As a result of achieving Excellent, ESFRS will continue to be an exemplar on equalities issues across East Sussex and the City of Brighton & Hove and is working to an Improvement Plan to implement actions into the future.

Equality Peer Challenge East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service March 26- 28 2012 Report [pdf, 254K, opens in new tab]