REPORT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS WORKING GROUP
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REPORT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS WORKING GROUP |
CONTENTS
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Introduction |
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Mission Statement |
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Pre-Deployment |
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Deployment |
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Post Deployment |
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Issues outside of the Working Group Brief |
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Conclusion |
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Appendix A - Model for post incident debriefing |
The Working Group consisting of:
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London Fire Brigade: DO Chris Giles (Chair) DO Brian Reardon ADO Steve Innis ADO Peter Tolhurst |
UKFSSRT SDO Ian Muir - Kent Fire Brigade ADO Dave Dickson - West Sussex Fire Brigade Stn O Andy Beale – Essex Fire and Rescue Stn O Mark Wilson – Essex Fire and Rescue Stn O Peter Crook – Hampshire Fire and Rescue Representatives: DO Simon Webb – West Sussex Fire Brigade Paul Archer - West Sussex Fire Brigade Roy Stevens - West Sussex Fire Brigade |
The Group have met 6 times to-date [29/6/00] and spent approximately 24 hours in meetings.
The Group was inaugurated by the Steering Group to review all communication protocols and procedures and to make recommendations. The principles of this report which are agreed by the Steering Group should be fed back where appropriate to the Working Group, for detailed implementation.
A Mission Statement was agreed by the Working Group to ensure that the boundaries they were to work to, were clearly identified:
To review and make recommendations for the provision of effective practical communications prior, during and post any deployment.
Propose to review the communication links needs, and the physical provisions. The remit will cover the following main elements:
Pre Deployment
- Standard agreed Procedures
- Database
- Information dissemination
- Communications hardware
- Press & Media
- Liaison with other Organisations [NGO’s]
Deployment
- Initial Call
- Mobilisation
- Communications hardware
- Welfare
- Press & Media
- Command and Control – tactical and strategic
- Emergency Arrangements
Post Deployment
- Press & Media
- Debriefing [lessons learnt]
- Information dissemination
In making recommendations to the Steering Group, the Mission Statement will be used as headings.
3.1 Standard agreed procedures
That the ‘Red Book’ (deployment protocol) should be the authoritative document that all mobilisations of whatever type are based upon, should there be any amendments to this procedure these should be sent out in draft to participating Brigades for ratification prior to publication. The "Red book" should be revised at regular intervals to ensure the information is up-to-date and a registered list of holders should be maintained. Upon revision all holders will receive the new version which should be easily identified.
3.2 Database
The protocols of the Red Book states that the London Fire Brigade, Command Support Centre mobilises Teams on the authority of the Home Office. Currently a database is being prepared by the Home Office, which lists each team member’s profile. When requirements for specialist personnel are required, access to this database which should list personnel competencies, should be available to the Command Support Centre on occasions when there is a variance to "normal" requirements.
3.3 Information dissemination
Information dissemination would be considerably enhanced by a more open approach and a greater use of website facilities.
3.4 Communications hardware
Teams should have available to them:
- 2 satellite telephones based on the INMARSAT system
- Laptop computer for email and fax
- Handheld fireground radios with charging facility and spare batteries
- Sonic repeater or similar to boost radio signals
3.5 Press and Media
Currently there appears to be little acknowledgement of the benefits of a communications strategy with the media. The Working Group proposes that the London Fire Brigade Press and Public Relations Division (which is available 24hours 365 days) is the facilitator for all media enquiries to direct the Press to the most suitable point of contact. UKFSSART Brigades and the Home Office to work with LFB media personnel for provision of material and points of contact.
3.6 Liaison with other Departments and Organisations
Communication channels are developed with the DFID and other appropriate non-Government organisations.
4.1 Initial Call
That the London Fire Brigade Command Support Centre is activated at the earliest possible opportunity in preparation for mobilisation.
4.2 Mobilisation
That mobilisation will be co-ordinated through London Fire Brigade Command Support Centre, this operates on a 24 hours 365 day basis with trained staff familiar with UNDAC and UKFSSART protocols.
It is felt and has been illustrated that, when the Command Support Centre is not used at an early stage, communication breakdown is inevitable.
4.3 Communication hardware
That the Teams always be deployed with equipment of which the minimum should be:
- 2 Satellite telephones based on the INMARSAT system
- Laptop computer to enable email and fax
- Fireground radios set to a common frequency. (The Steering Group should consider the legality of using these frequencies overseas.)
- Spare batteries and charging facilities as appropriate.
- Sonic repeater to boost radio signals (this is considered less of a priority)
4.4. Welfare
Should the mobilising protocols be followed and Field Commander situation reports be given daily to the Command Support Centre (neither of these have been followed to date), then the dissemination of information to participating brigades and families would greatly increase the welfare of all those concerned with the committed team/s in the field. A framework for procedures need to be considered for death or serious injury to a person in the field and also for one of their near relatives at home.
4.5 Press and Media
As stated under Pre Deployment, should it be accepted that the London Fire Brigade Press and Public Relations Section be given the remit of facilitating press enquiries. Those Brigades that have committed personnel out in the field would provide information at a more local level to satisfy regional media enquires.
4.6 Command & Control tactical and strategic
The Team Leader will be nominated by the Home Office, the Field Commander and Teams should be nominated and deployed by the London Fire Brigade Command Support Centre using the rota sheets showing availability of personnel.
4.7 Emergency arrangements
Should any emergencies arise when teams are in the field, it was considered that there can be no clearly defined strategies that could be put forward. However, it was felt that bridges should be built with the Media who often have indispensable knowledge of the current situation and have communication facilities that may be used in emergencies by a Field Commander or Team Members. However it is recognised that some basic emergency arrangements should exist, and although this may not fall within the remit of this working group, it should be an area for further consideration.
5.1 Press and Media
Experience has shown that, following return from deployment to this Country, there has been a mandate that Team Members do not talk to the Media. It was considered that, on arrival to this Country, there should be personnel trained in media skills to facilitate and publicise the Teams’ work. These people may be part of the Home Office, LFB or participating Brigades. Opportunities for training UKFSSART personnel in press and media skills should be considered.
5.2 Debriefing
Currently, there is no discernible structure to debriefing the Teams’ upon their return to the United Kingdom. There is also currently no structure for information gained from previous deployments to be shared with non-participating Teams.
Debriefs should be held within a set period of return from deployment and adhere to a basic framework for de-briefing. The framework should aim to provide all those participating in the deployment, ample opportunity to review and learn from their experiences and that the final learning points are clearly promulgated throughout the UKFSSART organisation.
Any framework provided will not necessarily be ideal for all deployments, and should be considered flexible. It is therefore recommended that the framework in appendix "A" be used as a guide.
All participating teams should be given the opportunity to make submissions for discussion in advance of the debrief so as to allow for proper scheduling, and where necessary relevant presentations to be made by participating teams.
5.3 Information dissemination
Currently information dissemination is largely by ‘word of mouth’. The Working Group in association with West Sussex Fire Brigade has developed an UKFSSART Website with links to the Home Office and F.I.N.D.S. This website contains current information and it is anticipated that lessons learnt from the Teams’ deployments will be identified following debriefs. It is proposed that information from debriefs be posted to the secure site for all to benefit.
6. ISSUES OUTSIDE WORKING GROUP REMIT
The working group recognises that during the execution of its remit, to report to the steering group on UKFSART communications, the subject, of search and rescue on an international scale has been debated and discussed at length. This has indeed raised some interesting and important issues that the committee recognises are outside its initial remit. The committee is mindful of this, and therefore wishes to recommend those other areas that are believed to warrant further review by the steering group.
These include -
- Core skills - for team members.
- National training standards.
- Nationally and internationally recognised qualifications.
- National liaison for UK teams.
- International liaison with other Pan European teams and non-governmental organisations.
- Command and Control
Core Competencies
Recognising that a training guide for UKFSSART teams was published and circulated some two years ago, there is a need to review this document to ensure that core competencies for UKFSSART team members, are clearly identified and agreement reached on the appropriate standards (preferably nationally recognised standards).
Co-ordinators
The Working Group considered there was a need for team co-ordinators to meet from time to time, either on a regional or national basis. This would enable a co-ordinated and consistent approach to be made to actions cascading from the Steering Group and other avenues.
Liaison
Notwithstanding the Home Office’s role, the appointment of Liaison Officers may be worthy of consideration as a means of breaking down barriers between agencies and to provide more localised contacts, which would be mutually beneficial to the relevant agencies.
The Communications Working Group [CWG] agreed that the report to the Steering Group should be of an interim nature and provide general principles for the Steering Group’s agreement. If this report is agreed, the CWG will then compile a detailed implementation report for the Steering Group’s information at a later date.
Proposed Model for UKFSSART Debriefing
Command & Control
Pre-Deployment – This should consider command & control protocols between the Home Office [HO] Command Support Centre [CSC] and Local Authority Fire Brigade UKFSSART teams [Team].
Those involved should endeavour to identify:
Post-Deployment – This should consider protocols relating to repatriation of teams and field commanders as experienced by CSC, Teams & HO.
Equipment
Areas for discussion should include:
Communications
Liaison
All recognised lines of communication throughout the deployment should be reviewed, these may include;
Public Relations
Was it successful and what did we learn?
Welfare
How did the teams get on and what was the impact on family, friends and the Brigade?
Review
A complete and thorough examination of all presented information should take place following the debrief. It may be considered necessary to convene a temporary working group consisting of those UKFSSART members who were deployed. This would enable a post-incident report to be formulated and allow any recommendations to be put forward. This should be promulgated to all LAFB’s providing Teams, and other relevant organisations.