Policy Response
Capability Scotland
13thMarch 2012
Capability Scotland campaigns with, and provides education, employment and care services to disabled people across Scotland.
Consultation on the Transitional Fire and Rescue Framework
Summary
- While fire deaths across the population as a whole are falling, disabled people are disproportionately more likely to die in fires. In 2011 30% of fatal fires involved victims with physical impairment, rising to 39% when age related physical impairment is included; 15% of fatal fires involved someone with a cognitive impairment[1].
- If these disturbing statistics are to change it is critical that Fire and Rescue Services across Scotland are able to address the wide ranging fire safety needs of disabled people during the transition to a single Fire and Rescue Service.
- As the primary function of the Transitional Fire and Rescue Framework is to maintain current fire and rescue outcomes and ensure a smooth introduction for the new Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Framework should not adversely impact upon disabled people.
- The Framework may have a positive impact on equality as it provides specifically for the improvement of performance across all equality strands at the core of Fire and Rescue Authority.
Our Response
Disabled people have a wide range of fire safety needs. For example disabled residents of a care home may require detailed evacuation plans or specialist fire alarms, a person with cerebral palsy may have difficulties communicating with first response staff when trying to report a fire and need alternative forms of communication, or a person with mental ill health may be at risk (or may put others at risk) from fire-setting and need intensive support.
It is apparent from the clear and thorough Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) for the Transitional Fire and Rescue Framework that Fire and Rescue Services across Scotland wish to engage with disabled people in order to provide the fire safety assistance and advice thought to be necessary. We are pleased to see that theFramework calls for ‘improved engagement, consultation and collaboration’ as being‘essential for strategic development through the transitional phase’.
We are also pleased to see the EQIA recognising that disabled people are not a homogenous group and thattherefore a variety of fire safety initiatives are necessary to support disabled people and decrease theirvulnerability to fire incidents.
During this period of transition every effort should be made to retain relationships with local voluntary organisations which help the Fire and Rescue Service to achieve its outcomes in relation to disabled people. In East Lothian for example, Care and Repair works in partnership with Lothian and Borders Fire Service to ensure their service users (older and disabled people) have a working fire alarm. Voluntary organisations often have access to people who may feel uncomfortable contacting public bodies or authorities and as such they are a valuable tool for reaching the most at risk people within communities.
Relationships developed with other local services should be retained where appropriate. For instance, where social care services have an established relationship and pathway for referral with their local fire service, every effort should be made for this to be retained or to ensure that staff are made aware of changes.
It is essential that information about any changes, particularly in relation to how to contact the Fire and Rescue Service, is distributed as early as possible to avoid a gap in provision and so that new relationships can be developed. This information must be made available in a range of formats to ensure that it is accessible to all disabled people.
It is essential that information about local requirements is maintained within the Fire and Rescue Service. Local stations may have developed ‘informal’ knowledge about the needs of their local community (about the level of need of disabled people in a local residential care home for instance) or about a particular disabled person (specific communication needs for example) that may not be electronically recorded. It is essential that this information is retained if there is a likelihood of large scale staff redeployment.
We are pleased to see that Deaf awareness and British Sign Language courses have been run in some of the fire and rescue services over the past two years and that the services and the Scottish Fire Services College provide training onequality and diversity. It is essential that control staff consider communication and alternative communication techniques for disabled people and we are delighted that this is happening.
We feel it is essential to note that people with sensory impairments are not the only people who have may have difficulty communicating with the Fire and Rescue Service. Serious consideration should be given to this issue with particular attention paid to:
- People with communication support needs as result of conditions such as cerebral palsy, stroke or multiple sclerosis may be unable to communicate effectively with the Fire and Rescue Service. This is particularly problematic in the event of an emergency and any Fire Service reform should include plans to ensure people can contact the fire and rescue service through a range of accessible mediums such as textphone, SMS, email etc.
- People with learning difficulties and disabilities may not be in a position to read or understand information on fire safety or reforms to the Fire and Rescue Service. It is essential that information is made available in appropriate formats, including Easy Read and that support is given to individuals who require assistance to understand the reforms being made and any changes to who they should contact when they are concerned.
- Where possible, information on a person’s communication requirements should be recorded so that those carrying out Fire Home Safety Visits can take steps beforehand to ensure they will be able to communicate with the relevant person. Again, this information will also be vitally important in an emergency situation.
- Where information is recorded on a person’s physical impairment, communication support need and/or the accessibility of their home it is also essential that this information is maintained to ensure crews are prepared in the event of an emergency.
The Transitional Fire and Rescue Framework makes clear the intention to mainstream equality and to have dueregard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality and fostergood relations.
We are very pleased to see policy that so clearly adheres to the Public Sector duties contained within the Equality Act 2010 and are aware that during the transitional period Fire and Rescue Authorities will be required to develop Equality Outcomes. We await these with interest.
In relation to workforce diversityduring the transition phase particular care should be taken with any restructuring of the support roles within the Fire Services given that most disabled staff within the service work in these roles. Redeployment of disabled staff should be undertaken in full cognisance of the housing, travel and support needs of a disabled employee.
More use could potentially be made of civilian/support staff to undertake community safety initiatives. For example, the most common use of civilian/support staff in other parts of the United Kingdom is in the form of Community Safety Advocates who may be employed with particular skills in a given area of expertise, such as disability, or be from a particular community.
About Us
Capability Scotland campaigns with, and provides education, employment and care services for, disabled people across Scotland. The organisation aims to be a major ally in supporting disabled people to achieve full equality and to have choice and control of their lives by 2020.
More information about Capability can be found at
Contact Us
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this consultation. If you require more information on this response, please contact:
Susie Fitton
Senior Policy Advisor
Capability Scotland
11 Ellersly Road
Edinburgh
EH12 6HY
Tel: 0131 347 1025
E-mail:
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[1] Scottish Government Fire and Rescue Services - Equality Impact Assessment