Area for improvement A1
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should make sure it puts effective measures in place to address the backlog of home fire safety visits.
HMICFRS
Effectiveness, efficiency and people 2023–2025: Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service
Published 16 July 2025
Fire & Rescue Inspection
42 areas for improvement
Report on the HMICFRS site ↗ Browse HMICFRS reports
The organisations covered are not linked in this record. Check the original report for its scope and addressees.
Areas for improvement 42
Area for improvement A2
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should evaluate its prevention activity so it understands what is most effective.
Area for improvement A3
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service needs to make sure HFSVs are completed in a timely and efficient manner
Area for improvement A4
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should make sure staff have a clear understanding of the intervention process.
Area for improvement A5
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should improve how it evaluates its prevention work
Area for improvement A6
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should make sure it completes all audits within the RBIP schedule.
Area for improvement A7
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should assure itself that all processes in place to support performance management are effective.
Area for improvement A8
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should make sure it effectively monitors, reviews and evaluates the benefits and outcomes of any collaboration activity.
Area for improvement A9
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should make sure it has appropriate business continuity arrangements in place.
Area for improvement A10
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should do more to improve productivity and how it monitors and manages performance
Area for improvement A11
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should improve its evaluations of collaborations with other services
Area for improvement A12
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should improve its business continuity arrangements for industrial action
Area for improvement A13
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service needs to improve its monitoring of staff working hours
Area for improvement A14
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should have effective processes to monitor the working hours of its staff.
Area for improvement A15
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service must make sure that all staff in operational roles have a current and valid fitness assessment.
Area for improvement A16
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should improve its management and monitoring of fitness testing
Area for improvement A17
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should make sure that all staff are aware of the well-being support it provides
Area for improvement A18
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service needs to improve workforce planning
Area for improvement A19
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should make sure its workforce plan takes full account of the skills and capabilities it needs to implement its community risk management plan.
Area for improvement A20
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should assure itself that all staff are appropriately trained for their role.
Area for improvement A21
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should provide clear and appropriate development for all staff.
Area for improvement A22
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service must make sure that it trains all staff appropriately for their roles
Area for improvement A23
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should review both the content and oversight of its e-learning modules.
Area for improvement A24
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should provide suitable development for all staff
Area for improvement A25
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service must make sure that all staff receive appropriate and structured development, with learning opportunities consistently provided across the organisation.
Area for improvement A26
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should identify and overcome barriers to equal opportunity, so its workforce better represents its community.
Area for improvement A27
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should make sure it has robust processes in place to carry out equality impact assessments and review any actions agreed as a result.
Area for improvement A28
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should make improvements to the way it collects equality data to better understand its workforce demographic and needs.
Area for improvement A29
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service needs to further improve diversity in its workforce
Area for improvement A30
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service needs to do more to make sure its recruitment processes are accessible to applicants from a range of backgrounds.
Area for improvement A31
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service needs to do more work to improve its approach to equality, diversity and inclusion
Area for improvement A32
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should make sure it is transparent and fair when recruiting, developing and promoting staff.
Area for improvement A33
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should address the high number of staff in temporary promotion positions.
Area for improvement A34
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should develop a system to identify and develop high-potential members of staff.
Area for improvement A35
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should make sure there is an effective induction process in place to support new recruits.
Area for improvement A36
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service needs to improve how it develops leaders and identifies high-potential staff
Area for improvement A37
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service needs to improve the way it manages the career pathways of staff, including those with specialist skills and those with potential for leadership roles.
Area for improvement A38
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service needs to do more to effectively implement the December 2022 fire standards Leading the Service and Leading and Developing People.
Area for improvement A39
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should make sure performance reviews are consistent
Area for improvement A40
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service should do more to encourage diversity in its leadership
Area for improvement A41
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service needs to actively encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds for middle and senior-level positions.
Area for improvement A42
Status: Open
Area for improvement (HMICFRS's words)The service needs to improve the induction process to support new recruits