Innovation in local government is about improving the lives of the people in our
communities. Browse through our case studies to see the many innovative programmes councils are involved
in.
Fire and rescue authorities (FRAs) have a key role to play in ensuring that their communities are safe through responding to emergencies and also through their extensive preventative work
The borough identified the need to work with at risk communities to increase reporting for support (voluntary or statutory support) and the need for greater understanding among professionals in supporting FGM victims.
Falls are responsible for more than four in 10 deaths in the home. Fires by comparison cause less than one in 10. So firefighters in Bury and Salford are playing their part in trying to reduce accidents by identifying those who are at risk of falling as part of their day-to-day work.
West Midlands has made working with the most vulnerable people a key priority. The service’s 1,322 fire officers have been given public health training to support the people they come into contact with.
In Bolton, fire crews have placed a special focus on trying to keep babies and toddlers safe. The Fire and Rescue Service distributes cots and Moses baskets to vulnerable families to try to reduce the risk of sudden infant death.
The reputation of the fire and rescue service in the public psyche means firefighters can often gain access to households where other services are turned away. This trusted status is enabling Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) to play a vital role in a Public Health England (PHE) pilot, aimed at reducing the winter pressure on NHS and local council services.
Cornwall’s tri-service officer project, which has now been picked up by Durham and Darlington Fire And Rescue Service, is a forerunner of the closer working relationship that is likely to develop between fire and police.
Firefighters in Humberside are providing the first response to reports of falls in the home in a pilot that is helping to reinvent the role of the fire service.
The new Furness Peninsula Blue Light Hub will accommodate not only the fire and rescue service, police and ambulance, but also other Cumbria County Council departments.
The tragedy of 13 separate fire deaths in one year has led to a transformation in how Dorset firefighters work with partner agencies to enable residents to live safely in their own homes.