8 Local initiatives that are specific to the FRS area

Fire Emergency Support Service (FESS)

The FESS are a team of volunteers who mobilise following fire incidents to provide welfare support to individuals and families who are displaced or lose possessions as a result of fire. They provide temporary shelter, clothing, toiletries, toys and welfare support post incident.
The FESS allows crews to depart from incidents more quickly once operational matters have been resolved, knowing the welfare of those involved in the fire will be taken care of. There are non-cashable savings associated with this.

All operational fire appliances now carry lock pulling and lock securing equipment and crews have been trained on its use.
In the event that forced entry has to be made to a property for operational reasons crews are able to remove and replace locks, rather than having to wait for a locksmith or boarding-up Service. This enables crews to be released from scene more quickly and avoids costs associated with third party provision of this service.
The associated costs have reduced by approximately £4k between 2018/19 to 2022/23.

Safer Streets is a crime prevention initiative, with a specific focus on reducing the risk of harm to women and girls in Nottingham City. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service are a partner of the safer streets initiative and some city based crews have received additional safeguarding training to enable them to best support and signpost victims of crime.
In addition crews drive along red routes in the city when returning from prevention, protection or response activities in that area with the aim of providing a visible reassuring presence and disrupting crime and antisocial behaviour.

The service was forced to close its canteen provision at its Head Quarters site back in 2015/16 in order to make savings. The service was approached Pulp Friction, a Community Interest Company, who offered to provide a canteen service in exchange for the free use of the existing kitchen and canteen area. Pulp Friction have worked in partnership with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service ever since to provide lunch time and buffet catering for staff. Pulp Friction support young people with learning disabilities with employability skills.
Pulp Friction moved with the Fire Service from our old Head Quarters to the Joint Police Fire Headquarters in 2022 to provide a much expanded staff canteen for both police and fire staff.
Pulp Friction have also supported NFRS with operational training and exercising to ensure that plans are accessible and fit for purpose for individuals with accessibility needs.
During 2021/22 the costs were £16k, costs after moving to the Joint HQ the catering costs has reduced by £8k. Prior to using pulp fiction the canteen costs were significantly higher as NFRS employed their own cooks.

The Service commissioned an evaluation of the Services Safe and Well process by Nottingham Trent University. The evaluation demonstrated that adoption of the ‘CHARLIE’ profiling tool by the Service had improved the effectiveness and quality of partner referrals for individuals at risk of fire.
Current metrics show that partner referral levels remain high, and of good quality with 6,500 referrals received annually, of which all align to our personcentred CHARLIE profile and are at least at a Medium risk of fire.

The Service funds a full time Occupational Therapist (OT) Secondment from the NHS. The post is embedded within the Prevention Team to provide practical support to those individuals with complex needs and at highest risk of fire to live more safely in their homes.
The OT supports the Service to access health referral pathways and works with multiagency partners to ensure effective risk mitigation for individuals.
Independent evaluation of the OT secondment undertaken by Nottingham Trent University demonstrated that for every £1 invested in the OT Service a benefit of £7.16 was realised through reduced harm and costs to the wider public purse.