Where applicable, we publish responses to requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This one, , is detailed below.
Other FOI's
Ref: FOI/20101
RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 REQUEST
I am writing to confirm that the West Midlands Fire Service has now completed its search for the information you requested further to your freedom of information request.
Please find below a summary of our findings.
Request
How many BME personnel are employed within each listed role: FF, CM, WM-A, WM-B, SM, GM, AM, ACFO, DCFO, CFO
Reply
Brigade Manager | 1 |
Area Manager B | 1 |
Group Manager B | 1 |
Station Manager B | 3 |
Watch Manager B | 8 |
Watch Manager A | 10 |
Crew Manager | 18 |
Firefighter | 126 |
Request
How many female personnel are employed within each listed role: FF, CM, WM-A, WM-B, SM, GM, AM, ACFO, DCFO, CFO
Reply
Brigade Manager | 1 |
Area Manager B | 1 |
Group Manager B | 2 |
Station Manager B | 6 |
Watch Manager B | 4 |
Watch Manager A | 6 |
Crew Manager | 18 |
Firefighter | 117 |
Request
How many formal complaints have been received by the organization alleging sexual harassment from 1st January 2015 to 1st January 2020?
Reply
Between 1st January 2015 to 1st January 2020 there has been 2 formal complaints alleging sexual harassment
Request
How many formal complaints have been received by the organization from 1st January 2015 to 1st January 2020 alleging direct discrimination and racism?
Reply
from 1st January 2015 to 1st January 2020 there has been 6 formal complains alleging direct discrimination and racism
Request
Out of all the formal complaints made, how many were dealt with formally through agreed procedures?
Reply
8 complaints were dealt with formally through agreed procedures.
Request
How many complaints in item 5 were not resolved internally and were subject to external resolution through an industrial tribunal?
Reply
3 complaints were subject to external resolution through an industrial tribunal
Request
Do the organization have a formal process involving an exit interview?
Reply
The formal process involving an exit interview is through our HR Management system
Request
How many BME personnel have left the service before reaching retirement age between the years 2000 – 2020?
Reply
The number of BME personnel that have left the service before reaching retirement age since 2007 is 132. Information prior to 2007 is exempt under section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as we do not hold this information. Leaver information is only available from 2007 onwards .
Request
How many personnel have cited racism, bullying or sexual harassment as their reasons for leaving the organization?
Reply
This information is exempt under section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as we do not hold this information. We do not record this information from our exit interviews
Request
How many female personnel have left the service before reaching retirement age between the years 2000 – 2020?
Reply
The number of female personnel that have left the service before reaching retirement age since 2007 is 461
Request
Please list any processes in place to encourage recruitment from under representative groups
Reply
We have a comprehensive positive action recruitment strategy which has made WMFS an award-winning organisation (winning the Guardian newspaper public sector award for diversity in recruitment in 2019) and seen as the Gold standard for the Fire and Rescue sector in the recruitment of underrepresented groups. We have a full-time positive action officer, as well as a specific Diversity and inclusion team which run all aspects of fire fighter recruitment (not just positive action). We are a Stonewall Champion and have been listed in the top 50 UK inclusive employers for 4 years running.
Our positive action programme includes;
- The sophisticated use of social media to target our advertising at underrepresented groups within our area.
- Pre-recruitment activity , consisting of organised programmes to support and prepare underrepresented groups for selection.
- Fitness session for potential female candidates to help them fully physically prepare for selection
- Virtual support, including current employees from underrepresented groups talking to potential candidates about what it is like to work for our organisation.
- All interview panel members being trained in unconscious bias to ensure fair assessment.
- Innovative behavioural selection process which is less dependent on the traditional interview and uses a variety of behavioural assessments including roleplay exercises to create a more inclusive and neuro diversity friendly assessment process.
Request
Please list any formal internal support mechanisms for the retention of personnel from under representative groups
Reply
We have employee stakeholder groups which support and mentor underrepresented groups;
- Fireout (LGBT+)
- Inspire (BAME, particularly Afro Caribbean)
- AFSA (Asian Fire Service Association)
- Affinity (women and gender)
These groups organise Brigade wide training days and events , have their own social media and internal comms pages, terms of reference, and meet regularly with senior management
Request
Have you conducted an equality impact assessment on station facilities and premises to ensure that the organization are not discriminating against any group? Please supply a copy
Reply
The content of Equality impact assessments (EIA) is exempt under Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person (an individual, a company, the public authority itself or any other legal entity). It is the policy of West midlands Fire Service that EIAs are completed for all new and existing premises to ensure that the organization does not discriminate against any group.
Request
When ordering PPE and working rig, do you consider anthropometric data to ensure garments are suitable for all?
Reply
West Midlands Fire Service purchases uniform and PPE from Framework Agreements where this study would be carried out.
If you have any queries about this Freedom of Information request, please contact us. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
For service complaints, issues or comments regarding this request please contact The Public Relations Department, West Midlands Fire Service, 99 Vauxhall Road, Birmingham, B7 4HW
Further information concerning Freedom of Information requests can be found on the Information Commissioner website at either the following link: https://ico.org.uk/ or at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.