Technical Rescue Skills

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Dear Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service,

Freedom of Information Request - Technical rescue skills within
your FRS.
I would like to make a freedom of information request to you
regarding the technical rescue skills and services that your FRS
provides. I would be very grateful if you will provide responses to
the following questions;
1. Please list the range of technical rescue services that your FRS
provides(ie line rescue, water rescue, USAR, Animal rescue etc).
2. Please state what stations carry out which technical rescue
services.
3. Please advise if your firefighters/staff directly provide these
services or whether or not an external organisation is contracted
in.
4. Please advise whether your staff who carry out these services
are whole time or retained duty systems.
5. Please state the duration of initial training courses for each
skill set as well as the continuity training commitment.
6. Please state whether firefighters/staff who undertake these
technical rescue skills are also required to undertake full
operational firefighting duties.
7. Please state whether firefighters/staff who undertake these
technical rescue skills are also required to undertake normal CFS
duties.
8. Please state the terms and conditions of employment for
firefighters/staff who undertake these technical rescue skills ie
secondary contracts.
9. Please explain what additional payments (skills payments if any)
exist for firefighters/staff who undertake these technical rescue
skills.
10. Please explain if your FRS operates skills payments for any
additional roles undertaken by firefighters/staff ie LiFE trainers,
CBRN/Hazmat teams, aerial appliances, HV pumping etc.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to a reply at your
earliest convenience.

Yours faithfully,

Joe McMahon

Laura Slade, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service

Dear Mr McMahon

Thank you for your request for information. Your request was received on 25 March 2015 and is being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. We have 20 working days to respond and so I will contact you again on or before Friday 24 April. In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I will let you know the likely charges before proceeding.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me.

Yours sincerely

Laura Slade

Sent on behalf of:
Louise Taylor - Solicitor & Information Officer For Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service The Old Hall, Burton Road, Littleover, Derby DE23 6EH Tel 01332 771221 ext 5666 | [mobile number] Fax 01332 270360 | Email [email address]

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Laura Slade, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service

Dear Mr McMahon

In response to your request for information please find details provided below:

1. Please list the range of technical rescue services that your FRS provides (ie line rescue, water rescue, USAR, Animal rescue etc).

Safe working at height (SWAH) - Levels 1,2 and 3
Animal rescue (AR) - Levels 1,2 and 3
Water rescue at 1st responder
Swift water rescue and boat operator
Trauma care
Road traffic collision (RTC)
Heavy vehicle rescue
Decontamination and mass decontamination (MD)

2. Please state what stations carry out which technical rescue services.

All stations carry out technical rescue services, only Kingsway, Matlock and Buxton have a boat. There is a difference in SWAH level depending on station area risk.

3. Please advise if your firefighters/staff directly provide these services or whether or not an external organisation is contracted in.

These services are all provided internally.

4. Please advise whether your staff who carry out these services are whole time or retained duty systems.

All wholetime and retained duty system staff carry out technical rescue disciplines.

5. Please state the duration of initial training courses for each skill set as well as the continuity training commitment.

SWAH 1 - 2 day initial course, 1 day refresher every 3 years
SWAH 2 - 3 day initial, 1 day refresher every 3 years
SWAH 3 - 10 day initial, 2 day refresher every 3 years
AR 1 - 1 day initial, quarterly refresher on station
AR 2 - 2 day initial, 1 day refresher every 3 years
AR 3 - 5 day initial, 3 day refresher every 3 years
Water First Responder - 2 day initial, 1 day refresher every 3 years
Swift Water Rescue - 5 day initial, 2 day refresher every 3 years
Boat Operator - 4 day initial, 1 day refresher every 3 years
Trauma Care - 4 day initial, 2 day refresher every 3 years
RTC - 5 day initial, 1 day refresher every 3 years
MD, 5 day initial, 1 day refresher every 3 years.

6. Please state whether firefighters/staff who undertake these technical rescue skills are also required to undertake full operational firefighting duties.

Yes.

7. Please state whether firefighters/staff who undertake these technical rescue skills are also required to undertake normal CFS duties.

Yes.

8. Please state the terms and conditions of employment for firefighters/staff who undertake these technical rescue skills ie secondary contracts.

All of the skills they undertake are done so as part of their primary contract of employment.

9. Please explain what additional payments (skills payments if any) exist for firefighters/staff who undertake these technical rescue skills.

There are no additional payments applicable for these technical rescue skills.

10. Please explain if your FRS operates skills payments for any additional roles undertaken by firefighters/staff ie LiFE trainers, CBRN/Hazmat teams, aerial appliances, HV pumping etc.#

There are no additional skills payments made for any core operational services.

I trust that this deals with your request. If you have any queries please contact me.

Yours sincerely

Laura Slade

Sent on behalf of:
Louise Taylor - Solicitor & Information Officer For Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service The Old Hall, Burton Road, Littleover, Derby DE23 6EH Tel 01332 771221 ext 5666 | [mobile number] Fax 01332 270360 | Email [email address]

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