Priority Message

In this episode Tristan Ashby is joined by FRSA President, Mark Palmer to discuss the pay offer presented by the National Employers which was published on 25 April 2024. As a member-led, independent trade union, the FRSA welcome the views from our members on the offer, the details of which can be found on our website. You can also submit your views via email to FRSA HQ. If you haven't already, you can download the FRSA App from the Apple or Google store and fully interact with fellow members and local and national officials. You will have exclusive access to a library of resources, engage in private and secure forums, direct messaging service plus regular local and national updates, all as part of your membership of the FRSA. If you would like to contact the Podcast you can do so via prioritymessage@frsa.org.uk we would welcome your feedback and suggested content for future episodes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Chief Executive Officer, Tristan Ashby and National Executive member, Ben Redwood discuss recent events in Parliament and specifically the Home Affairs Committee panel sessions with Fire & Rescue Service stakeholders which focused on Culture issues in English FRSs. The Home Affairs Committee session which took place on 05 March 2024 can be found here. The Home Affairs Committee session which took place on 20 March 2024 can be found here.Equality and Social Justice Committee which took place on 04 March 2024 can be found here.The South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Independent Culture Report can be found here.If you would like to contact the Podcast you can do so via prioritymessage@frsa.org.uk we would welcome your feedback and suggested content for future episodes. Not currently a member of the FRSA? You can join via our website https://www.frsa.org.uk/join-frsa/ Our socials can be found here - https://linktr.ee/frsa.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Chief Executive Officer, Tristan Ashby is joined by FRSA President, Mark Palmer, to provide members with an update on the campaign to oppose the proposals in Warwickshire to sack all of On-Call firefighters in the service, and rely solely on Wholetime firefighters, Part-Time firefighters and 'Surge Teams'.These proposals, which are contained in the Cabinet paper from their meeting on 09 November 2023, can be found on our website here.The video of the Cabinet meeting at which they approved the proposals for public consultation, can be found here.If you would like to contact the Podcast you can do so via prioritymessage@frsa.org.uk we would welcome your feedback and suggested content for future episodes. Not currently a member of the FRSA? You can join via our website https://www.frsa.org.uk/join-frsa/ Our socials can be found here - https://linktr.ee/frsa.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode National Executive Officer, Ben Redwood, is joined by FRSA Chief Executive, Tristan Ashby to discuss plans by the Senior Leadership Team in Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, to removal all of their On-Call units, preferring to rely solely on Wholetime firefighter, Part-Time firefighters and 'Surge Teams'. These proposals, which are contained in the Cabinet paper from their meeting on 09 November 2023, can be found on our website here. The video of the Cabinet meeting at which they approved the proposals for public consultation, can be found here. If you would like to contact the Podcast you can do so via prioritymessage@frsa.org.uk we would welcome your feedback and suggested content for future episodes. Not currently a member of the FRSA? You can join via our website https://www.frsa.org.uk/join-frsa/ Our socials can be found here - https://linktr.ee/frsa.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode our Chief Executive, Tristan Ashby, is joined by National Fire Chiefs Council Chair, Mark Hardingham, who provides his view on the challenges facing the sector, and answers a number of questions posed including, how the NFCC operates, the Chair's role, tackling poor behaviour in the fire service, On-Call recruitment and retention and migration from On-Call to Wholetime. If you would like to contact the Podcast you can do so via prioritymessage@frsa.org.uk we would welcome your feedback and suggested content for future episodes. Not currently a member of the FRSA? You can join via our website https://www.frsa.org.uk/join-frsa/ Our socials can be found here - https://linktr.ee/frsa.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is part one of a two part podcast in which we discuss the mechanics and eligibility criteria for Retained / On-Call Firefighters to take part in the Second Options Exercise, and join or extend membership of the New Firefighters Pension Scheme as Special Members. This exercise will provide eligible firefighters to purchase historical pension service from the date they joined the fire service, which in some cases goes back to the mid-sixties!!In this first part we explore the legal journey that took almost eight years, which culminated in Retained Firefighters being recognised as 'Part-time workers' under the Part-time Workers Less Favourable Treatment Regulations and achieve parity with their Wholetime colleagues.Part one deals with the longstanding myths and misinformation as to who was involved in this process and how much was actually down to the Independent Review by Sir George Bain in 2002. If you would like to contact the Podcast you can do so via prioritymessage@frsa.org.uk we would welcome your feedback and suggested content for future episodes. Not currently a member of the FRSA? You can join via our website https://www.frsa.org.uk/join-frsa/ Our socials can be found here - https://linktr.ee/frsa.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we are joined by Justin Johnston who is the Chief Fire Officer of Lancashire FRS, Vice-Chair of the NFCC and past Chair of the FireFit Steering Group plus Area Manager Neil Taylor (also Lancashire FRS) and current Chair of the FireFit Steering Group. Justin and Neil join Tristan Ashby (Chief Executive Officer of the FRSA) to discuss firefighter fitness.  If you would like to contact the Podcast you can do so via prioritymessage@frsa.org.uk we would welcome your feedback and suggested content for future episodes. Not currently a member of the FRSA? You can join via our website https://www.frsa.org.uk/join-frsa/ Our socials can be found here - https://linktr.ee/frsa.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FRSA National Officer Ben Redwood sits down with Terry Reynolds from Devon and Somerset FRS to discuss his experiences Co-Responding in the service, including the benefits and whether there are any disadvantages to performing the role.  If you would like to contact the Podcast you can do so via prioritymessage@frsa.org.uk we would welcome your feedback and suggested content for future episodes. Not currently a member of the FRSA? You can join via our website https://www.frsa.org.uk/join-frsa/ Our socials can be found here - https://linktr.ee/frsa.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our two national FRSA officials from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, David Crawford and Tim Kirk, join Tristan Ashby to discuss their experiences both as operational staff and as local trade union officials in Scottish Fire. The topics of discussion touch on the pay offer from 2019, crews of 3 and impact the FRSA has had on both individual members but also the service as a whole. You can contact David via DavidJ.Crawford@firescotland.gov.uk and Tim via Timothy.Kirk@firescotland.gov.uk for more information about becoming an FRSA member or local official in Scottish Fire.  If you would like to contact the Podcast you can do so via prioritymessage@frsa.org.uk we would welcome your feedback and suggested content for future episodes. Not currently a member of the FRSA? You can join via our website https://www.frsa.org.uk/join-frsa/ Our socials can be found here - https://linktr.ee/frsa.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode FRSA National Officer Beccy Barr speaks to HMI Roy Wilsher OBE QFSM. Beccy and Roy discuss the recent HMICFRS Spotlight report on Values and culture in fire and rescue services, including what the report found and how the sector should react to the recommendations in the report.  You can follow Roy on @roywilsher If you would like to contact the Podcast you can do so via prioritymessage@frsa.org.uk we would welcome your feedback and suggested content for future shows. Not currently a member of the FRSA? You can join via our website https://www.frsa.org.uk/join-frsa/ Our socials can be found here - https://linktr.ee/frsa.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we speak to the new NFCC Lead for On-Call, Lancashire Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Steve Healey. Steve discusses how he will approach his new role, the challenges facing On-Call across the UK and his plans on how to improve On-Call recruitment and retention and appliance availability. You can follow Steve on @stevejhealey If you would like to contact the Podcast you can do so via prioritymessage@frsa.org.ukwe would welcome your feedback and suggested content for future shows. Not currently a member of the FRSA? You can join via our website https://www.frsa.org.uk/join-frsa/ Our socials can be found here - https://linktr.ee/frsa.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we celebrate International Women's Day, Chief Fire Officer for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Dawn Whittaker joins Beccy Barr and Tristan Ashby from the FRSA to discuss her experiences on joining the fire service and rising through the ranks to CFO, plus the current and future challenges facing the sector. If you would like to contact the Podcast you can do so via prioritymessage@frsa.org.uk we would welcome your feedback and suggested content for future shows.Not currently a member of the FRSA? You can join via our website https://www.frsa.org.uk/join-frsa/Our socials are can be found here - https://linktr.ee/frsa.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode National Exec member Ben Redwood and Chief Executive Officer, Tristan Ashby discuss the current pay offer from the National Employers and the background to the proposal, how the offer is funded and the potential consequences of where the money is coming from.Ben and Tristan also talk about why the National Joint Council (NJC) is failing firefighters and the need for reform.If you would like to contact the Podcast you can do so via prioritymessage@frsa.org.uk we would welcome your feedback and suggested content for future shows.Not currently a member of the FRSA? You can join via our website https://www.frsa.org.uk/join-frsa/Socials are:twitter: https://twitter.com/frsa_ukfacebook: https://www.facebook.com/FRSAHQ youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@frsauk instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frsa.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Fire and Rescue Services Association has launched its very own podcast. From time-to-time we will be inviting guests onto the podcast to hear other voices and perspectives on a wide range of topics. But, we want our content to be driven by you, the listener, so if you have an area related to the fire and rescue service that you’d like discussed on the Pod, you can email the show on prioritymessage@frsa.org.uk  Already in the pipeline we have episodes that will be covering the current pay offer and what it means to firefighters and services, Co-Responding and the benefits it can bring and the current hot topic, Culture in the fire and rescue service, how poor behaviour needs to be tackled and how staff can be supported if they are a victim of bullying and harassment.All this and more will be available in future episodes, but to ensure you do not miss out, subscribe to the podcast Priority Message via your preferred means of listening. You can also find out more about the Fire and Rescue Services Association via our website at www.frsa.org.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is part two of a two-part podcast in which we discuss the mechanics and eligibility criteria for Retained / On-Call Firefighters to take part in the Second Options Exercise, and join or extend membership of the Firefighters Pension Scheme as Special Members / Pensioners. This exercise will provide eligible firefighters to purchase historical pension service from the date they joined the fire service, which in some cases goes back to the mid-sixties!!In this second part we explore the legal journey that created the opportunity for eligible (in-scope) firefighters to have another opportunity to purchase pensionable service retrospectively. But most importantly, talks about the eligibility criteria needed to take part in the Second Options Exercise and what to do if the employer/ex-employer disputes your entitlement. If you would like to contact the Podcast you can do so via prioritymessage@frsa.org.uk we would welcome your feedback and suggested content for future episodes. Not currently a member of the FRSA? You can join via our website https://www.frsa.org.uk/join-frsa/ Our socials can be found here - https://linktr.ee/frsa.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.