The service should make sure its supporting systems provide an accurate picture of prevention-related community risk, so that operational crews can prioritise the most vulnerable people.
Effectiveness, efficiency and people 2025–2027: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service
Published 26 March 2026Fire & Rescue Inspection0 recommendations15 areas for improvement
Coverage
The organisations covered are not linked in this record. Check the original report for its scope and addressees.
Areas for improvement
The service should improve the availability of its fire engines to make sure it can respond better to incidents.
The service should make sure it has an effective system to learn from operational incidents and exercises.
The service should improve the consistency of incident command at incidents
The service should continue to improve its processes for learning from incidents and exercises
The service should assure itself that its response cover, including its mix of crewing and duty systems, provides the most effective and efficient response for the public.
The service should proactively monitor staff with dual contracts to make sure adequate rest periods are adhered to.
The service should make sure staff at all levels have confidence to challenge unacceptable behaviour.
The service should make sure firefighters are appropriately trained in safety-critical skills, such as breathing apparatus use and driving.
The service should make sure it has an effective, accurate and accessible system to record and monitor the training and skills of its operational staff.
The service must continue to improve the availability of risk-critical training
The service should make sure effective arrangements are in place to learn from operational incidents
The service should improve staff understanding of the purpose and benefits of people impact assessments in improving equality, diversity and inclusion.
The service should improve its understanding and awareness of the importance of people impact assessments
The service should make sure leaders are equipped to effectively performance manage their staff.