1. What is Convergence?
Principally as a result of the Firelink, FiReControl and New Dimension Projects, CFOA have identified the areas where FRSs need to converge their ways of working and the terminology they use.
The Convergence work began in March 2005 with Convergence phase 1 (March - December 2005) for which 41 products were grouped into seven task areas to be worked on by task groups of FRS nominees and FiReControl team representatives.
The convergence items were grouped to link specific skill / interest areas together and allow volunteers to concentrate on their interest areas. Each task group consisted of a CFOA appointed FRS leader, a FiReControl representative and nominees from the FRS's.
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2. Areas considered in Convergence Phase 1.
The list below details each of the 7 task groups and their individual Convergence Outcome subject areas. Six FRS task groups dealt with the subject areas listed below and task group 7, FiReControl work, is being completed by the FiReControl team. All the linked documents are presented as PDF's.
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2.1 Short Tasks.
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2.2 Control and Command.
- 10: Policy document regarding how the Major Incident Procedures are activated and operated within an RCC (incorporating Gold/Silver Command Areas).
[Not complete yet as awaiting policy decisions]
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2.3 Incident definition and Attributes.
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2.4 Resource Management.
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2.5 Data definition for Gazetteer and Mapping.
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2.6 Mobile Data Terminals.
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2.7 FiReControl Work.
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3. How were the Convergence Phase 1 products reviewed and agreed?
Once each of the products had been written by the CFOA Convergence task groups, they were taken to the monthly Core CFOA Convergence Meetings (attended by CFOA representatives and held every 4 weeks).
If the products were agreed and signed off at these meetings, they were then sent out to the regions for review and comment (via the FiReControl Business Change team).
The CFOA Convergence task groups reviewed all comments received and revised the solution, where appropriate, before giving a recommended solution to CFOA at the Core CFOA Convergence Meetings.
On CFOA's approval, the products were amended to become 'outcomes' of the Convergence work and were passed to FiReControl and the ODPM for future adoption by all FRSs.
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4. Convergence Phase 2.
Phase 2 Convergence Outcomes were issued to Fire & Rescue Services in March 2007 and are as follows-
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5. The Next Steps.
Please note that the Outcomes are recommendations only. Resolution of some issues can only be achieved once the FiReControl technical solution is developed.
FRSs have been asked not to act on these recommendations until further notice.
The FiReControl Project will now develop 'Convergence Outcome Phase 1 Implementation Plans' to enable the Fire and Rescue Service to begin the process of implementing Convergence.
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