South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue has been recognised for making significant improvements, according to the latest inspection report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), published today.
The service has been rated ‘Good’ in several key areas, including the prevention of fires and other risks, promoting the right values and culture, and ensuring fairness and promoting diversity. Inspectors also found the service to be ‘Good’ in its use of resources and planning for future affordability.
In the remaining six inspection categories, the service received an ‘Adequate’ rating. This is a newly introduced category within HMICFRS’s updated five-tier grading system, which was expanded from the previous four grades.
Chief Fire Officer Chris Kirby said:
“We welcome the findings of this report, which reflect the hard work and commitment of our staff. I’d like to thank everyone at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue for the improvements made since our last inspection.
“While we’re pleased with the progress noted, we recognise that there is more to do. We aim to be among the leading fire and rescue services in the country, and we’ll continue working towards that goal.
“Our focus now is on addressing the areas identified for further development, to ensure we continue improving the service we provide to the public and our workforce.”
This is the third full inspection of the service by HMICFRS. All fire and rescue services across England are assessed using the same 11 criteria, with grades ranging from Outstanding, Good, Adequate, Requires Improvement, to Inadequate.
