Specifics of Quality and Standards Management in Mid and West Wales - Case Study Example

Name : xxxxxxxxxxx Institution : xxxxxxxxxxx Tutor : xxxxxxxxxxx Title : Quality and standards in mid and West Wales Course : xxxxxxxxxxx @2009 Quality and standards in Mid and West Wales Introduction The Mid and West Wales fire and rescue service covers two thirds of the Wales landmass. This fire and rescue service is governed by regulatory guidance and a series of legislations that revolve around the Fire and rescue services Act 2004. The aims of the mid and West Wales fire and rescue services are geared towards providing a safe and sustainable community whereby avoidable damages, injuries and deaths that come as a result of fire are minimized (mawwfire.gov.uk). Evidently, the mid and West Wales fire and rescue services play a fundamental role in averting fire related damages. In reference to Drucker’s sentiments, “You can’t manage what you can’t measure”, it is imperative that the aptitude of the fire and rescue services and systems in Wales is keenly appraised so as to ensure that the set standards and qualities of service delivery are being put into account. Moreover, evaluating quality systems in fire and rescue services aids in the identification of the underlying flaws thus rousing the need for improvement. This paper seeks to present a critical assessment of the benefits and validity of the main quality assurance systems that are used by Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) in mid and West Wales. It will critically evaluate the appropriateness of quality assurance systems that are incorporated in the existing output measures of the Fire and Rescue Services that relate to the strategic objectives of the alleged organization. Additionally, this paper will present a critical review of the application s of evidential outputs derived from the quality assuarance systems so as to ensure that there is consistent proof of quality enhancement within the organization (Estyn 2004). Validity and benefits of QA systems in FRS Quality assurance systems in the fire and rescue services comprise of formal management systems that area used to strengthen its performance or service delivery. These quality assurance systems tend to raise the standards of work in the fire and rescue departments. They also ensure that there is consistency in the delivery of fire and rescue services. Quality assurance systems in the fire and rescue services set out and identify the expectations and standards of the fire and rescue departments. Quality assurance systems in the fire and rescue services are valid since they comprise of standards that are holistically agreed upon. These standards may consist of the performance expectations of the management on fire fighters and other staffs (National Audit Office 2000). Quality assurance systems in the fire and rescue service are valid and beneficial since they facilitate self assessment practices thus enabling the administration of the fire and rescue services to compare their performance with the set standards and expectations. The validity of quality assurance systems in the fire and rescue services is apparent since these systems draw up on an action plan that enables the administration in the fire and rescue services to identify what actions need to be taken, how and when certain operations are to be done and who should be part of the alleged operations. Moreover, quality assurance systems assist in the implementation of delegated course of action in the fire and rescue services. Additionally, these quality assurance systems assist in the review process by analyzing the changes that have actualized over the course of time (National Audit Office 2007). In regard to fire and rescue responses such as protection and prevention, quality and assurance systems are beneficial in that they create and build up relationships between efficient and effective delivery function in the fire and rescue services. These relationships enable the relevant authorities to monitor how resources are utilized and the performance of the work force in fire incidences. Moreover, the validity and benefits of quality assurance systems are evident in that these systems assist in giving audit trails that act as checking procedures. Through these systems the administration of the fire and rescue services is able to identify areas of non-compliance and procedural failure( Masellis 1991). On the other hand, the implementation of quality assurance systems in the scope of the fire and rescue services has proved to be somewhat challenging. Most of these challenges are brought about by the lack of commitment from the work force in ensuring that their services and operations are in line with these quality assurance systems (Masellis 1991). Due to lack of understanding shared across the work force the implementation of these strategies are challenging. The limitations of these systems in ensuring efficiency in the fire and rescue services also extend leadership failure. Organizational failure in the litigation of policies revolving around quality assurance systems further discredits the validity and benefits of quality assurance systems in the fire and rescue services. Technical infrastructures of implementing quality assurance systems further discredit the validity and benefits of quality assurance systems in the fire and rescue services. In addition to fire and rescue responses such as protection and prevention, quality and assurance systems are beneficial in that they create a frame work of accountability and reporting to both the local and the federal government . Through these frameworks of scoring and accountability positive practice is promoted through inspections since the aim of each evaluation or inspection is to identify innovations, methods of improving the utilization of resources and creative means of overcoming resistance to change and other related barriers in the fire and rescue services. It is worth noting that the lack of quality assurance in the fire and rescue a service inherently limits the performance and consistency in the delivery of fire and rescue services. It is therefore evident that quality assurance systems are valid and beneficent to the fire and rescue services (Covino & Angelo 1997). The application of evidential outputs measures from the Quality Assurance systems Critical assessment is a fundamental step in the management process since it is the basis of continual improvement. In instances whereby assessment is not carried out appropriately the effectiveness of the fire and rescue services is undermined since there is lack of authentic information to inform policy makers and managers on the performance of the work force. Currently, there exist quality assurance systems in the fire and rescue systems that act as the frameworks of evaluating the performance of the fire and rescue service departments. Nevertheless, the validity and benefits of the existing quality assurance systems in the fire and rescue services are yet to be established (Trotman 2001). Quality assurance systems in the fire and rescue services comprise of incident recording systems. Incidence recordings comprise of data that has been collected nationally by the fire and rescue services such as fire tragic and explosions. The incident recordings assist in the assessment of the causes of fire tragic and deaths. The incidents recordings give a robust set of figures in which lessons from past fire tragic and fatalities can be put into account and assist in averting future tragedies from occurring. Nevertheless, there exist certain discrepancies surrounding incident recordings in the fire and rescue services. In some cases, incident reports can be established as a result of faulty risk assessment processes. The formerly unpublished Operational Assessment of Service Delivery (OASD) reports comprise of solid evidence on the failures and weaknesses that underlie in the mid and West Wales fire and rescue services. These reports depict that some particular risk evaluations and integrated risk management plans (IRMPs) were inadequate such that they compromised fire safety and rescue efforts. When measured against the set standards of fire fighting a number of fire and rescue service procedures and policies in mid and west Wales can be termed as lacking. The Operational Assessment of Service Delivery reports also depicted that emergency response training is somewhat insufficient in the mid and west Wales fire and rescue services. This is evident through the fire explosion that occurred at the South Wales steel plant furnace in Port Talbot. Allegedly, one person died as 18 people got serious injuries following the explosion at the steel plant. In regard to this tragic incident emergency planning and fire explosion response required a more advanced and scientific elaboration. Rescue phases of responding to fire explosions require effective managerial systems that revolve around preparedness and prevention. The response of the fire and rescue services during the South Wales steel plant explosion can be termed as relatively deficient( House of Commons papers 2006). Integrated Risk Management Planning (IRMP) centers on minimizing the number of fire tragic, saving lives and improving the safety of the general public. As a quality assurance regulation, the Integrated Risk Management Planning prioritizes and directs its planning on people first by looking at the risks that come as a result of fire and emergency incidences. Hence it opts to minimize and manage these emergency and tragic occurrences. Integrated Risk Management Planning also prioritizes on weighing out the risk that result from full range or whole scale fire incidences and other emergencies (Collins 2005). The implemented Integrated Risk Management Planning provide holistic and integrated emergency response structures, risk management approaches that ensure the safety of the community and fire safety enforcements and inspections. In a bid to counter the diverse needs of the community the implementation of Integrated Risk Management Planning promotes equitable services. Nevertheless, it is essential that authorities in the fire and rescue services assess the best ways of meeting the needs of the community as fire safety provision is concerned. Basically, Integrated Risk Management Planning comprises of proposed standards, policies and strategies geared towards actualization the standards in the fire and rescue services (Fire and resilience 2008). Fire safety legislations and guidance act as quality assurance factors that facilitate, guide and strengthen performance or service delivery in the fire and rescue services. There exist legislations that stipulate the standards that should be upheld in service delivery (H.M. Fire Service 2006). Fire safety regulations or legislation affect the way the fire and rescue service carries out its operations. Nonetheless, these legislations and regulations limit the autonomy of the fire and rescue services. The appropriateness of QA systems to the existing output measures of FRS In reference to the key strategic objectives of the mid and West Wales fire and rescue service, training as quality assurance systems aids to the existing output measures. The key strategic objectives of the mid and West Wales fire and rescue services are geared towards providing a safe and sustainable community whereby avoidable damages, injuries and deaths that come as a result of fire are minimized(mawwfire.gov.uk). Training as a quality assurance procedure provides a bridge whereby effective output measures can be actualized. The initiation of comprehensive training analysis helps in the identification training areas that require refresher or additional training. Consequently, the standards of work in the fire and rescue departments are raised. The existing output measures are resulted through adequate specialist training that involves fresher training for fire fighters (Compton & Granito 2002). Good leadership and management are fundamental in the actualization of efficiency in fire and rescue services that are community based such as the mid and West Wales fire and rescue services. These factors also act as quality assurance systems that have contributed to the existing measure outputs. Effective authority or leadership accelerates strong working relations in the fire and rescue services thus shaping up service delivery (Cote 2003). The existing output measures realized by the fire and rescue services in the mid and west such as the current large scale incidences have over the course of time reemphasized on the need of well integrated leadership and management. In order for the existing output measures to be realized operational practices and strategies revolving around quality assurance systems (Princeton 2006). Fire and resilience programs can be considered as quality assurance systems that provide the fire and rescue services with technical equipments and a structured network of countering a wide range of fire incidences. These programs comprise of fire control, fire link and new dimension components. The new dimension program was started in Wales following the 2001 terror attack in the United States. These programs have to a large extent contributed to the existing output measures in the mid and west Wales fire and rescue services. For instance, the new dimension program contributed £56 that funded projects and initiatives in the fire and rescue services (Cabinet Office 2008). As a result, some of the key strategic objectives of the mid and West Wales fire and rescue service have been actualized. The free link feature that is yet to be fully implemented in Wales enables quick and effective communication across the various fire and rescue services, this is bound to increase efficiency. Given the fact that the work force is the most vital faction of any organization, in a bid to actualize effective quality assurance policies the fire and rescue services should put into account the plights of its work force. This measure can be regarded as a key fragment in quality assurance policies. It is vital that the administration of the fire and rescue services reviews considers the plight of its employees particularly the fire fighters as this will ensure that the fire fighters are not subjected to excessive work load this will in turn promote effectiveness in fire fighting and rescue missions. Therefore as a quality assurance measure in the fire and rescue services priority should be rendered to the fire fighters since they are the core entities of the fire and rescue service (Britain 2007). The introduction of the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) is an appropriate quality assurance system that has contributed to the existing output measures in the fire and rescue service. Generally, this system the ways in which public bodies such as the fire and rescue service work together to counter the existing and emerging needs of the people in society. Through these assessments quality assurance is evaluated and established in the fire and rescue services. The frame work of the Comprehensive Area Assessment comprises of audit commissions and a number of inspectorates in the fire and rescue services. These frame works create a working arrangements and single approach delivers a comprehensive and joint assessment in the fire and rescue services (Audit commission 2008). Conclusion The key strategic objectives of the mid and West Wales fire and rescue services are geared towards providing a safe and sustainable community whereby avoidable damages, injuries and deaths that come as a result of fire are reduced and averted. It is crucial that the aptitude of the fire and rescue services and systems in are keenly appraised through the lenses of quality assurance systems so as to ensure that the set standards and qualities of service delivery are being exercised. Quality assurance systems in the fire and rescue service are valid and beneficial since they facilitate self assessment practices thus enabling the administration of the fire and rescue services to compare their performance with the set standards and expectations (Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service 2006). In reference to the key strategic objectives of the mid and West Wales fire and rescue service, training as quality assurance systems aids to the existing output measures. Fire and resilience programs can be considered as quality assurance systems that provide the fire and rescue services with technical equipments and a structured network of countering a wide range of fire incidences. The implemented Integrated Risk Management Planning provide holistic and integrated emergency response structures, risk management approaches that ensure the safety of the community and fire safety enforcements and inspections. In a nut shell , it is worth noting that the lack of quality assurance in the fire and rescue a service inherently limits the performance and consistency in the delivery of fire and rescue services. It is therefore evident that quality assurance systems are valid and beneficent to the fire and rescue services (Bjornlund 2002). Bibliography Audit commission, 2008, Comprehensive Area Assessment, Retrieved on November 30, 2009 Bjornlund, L, 2002, Managing fire and rescue services, County Management Association press, UK. Britain, G, 2007, Fire and rescue service manual, Volume 2, The Stationery Office, UK Cabinet Office, 2008, The 39th Civil Service year book, Stationery Office, UK. Collins, L, 2005, Technical Rescue Operations: Common Emergencies, Penn Well Books, UK. Compton, D & Granito, J, 2002, Managing fire and rescue services, International County Management Association, New York. Cote, E, 2003, Organizing for Fire and Rescue Services, Jones & Bartlett Publishers, UK. 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