Dear Joe McMahon

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST 1070

I acknowledge your request for information received on 14/5/18

Your request is being considered and you will receive the information requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Freedom of Information Act 2000, subject to the information not being exempt, or containing a reference to a third party.

For your information, the Act defines a number of exemptions that may prevent release of the information you have requested. There will be an assessment and if any of the exemption categories apply then the information will not be released. You will be informed if this is the case, including your rights of appeal.

If the information you request contains reference to a third party then they may be consulted prior to a decision being taken on whether or not to release the information to you. You will be informed if this is the case.

There may be a fee payable for this information. This will be considered and you will be informed if a fee is payable. In this event the fee must be paid before the information is processed and released. The 20 working day time limit for responses is suspended until receipt of the payment.

If required, the information may be provided in paper copy, normal font size. If you would prefer an alternative format, e.g. language, audio, large print, etc. then please let me know.

Unless otherwise stated, the information provided in response to this request is made available under the Open Government Licence: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/o...

If you have any queries or concerns then please contact:

Service Information Team
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service
12 Geoff Monk Way,
Birstall,
Leicester,
LE4 3BU
Telephone: 0116 2872241
Email: [email address]

Further information is also available from the Information Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Paul Botterill
Data Manager

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Dear Enquirer,

Your request for information has been processed under the Freedom of
Information (FOI) Act 2000.

The first duty of the Fire and Rescue Service in responding to your
request is to inform you whether or not the Service holds the information
you have requested.

I can confirm that Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service does hold the
information.

In response to your questions listed below, I can confirm:

1. With the annual firefighter salary at £29.934, What additional
payment(s) are given to USAR personnel (ie USAR Technician and USAR
Advisor) in your brigade for undertaking training and delivery of the USAR
capability ?

   An allowance entitlement of 8.9% is paid for the dual role of Wholetime
Firefighter and Technical rescue skills, which includes the maintenance of
competence for USAR capability.

2. What on call/recall payments are made to USAR personnel (if additional
to above)

   They are paid an annual retaining fee based on their average On-Call
availability per week, as well as a retained hourly rate for any call outs
and a disturbance allowance of £3.94. Details below are based on a pay
award dated 01.07.2017:

Annual Retaining Fee
100% 90% 80% 75% 70% 60% 50% 40%
120 108 96 90 84 72 60 48
hours hours hours hours hours hours hours hours
Firefighter                
Trainee       1684.53 1572.23 1347.62 1123.02 898.42
Development 2339.04 2105.14 1871.23 1754.28 1637.33 1403.42 1169.52 935.62
Competent 2993.04 2693.74 2394.43 2244.78 2095.13 1795.82 1496.52 1197.22
Crew
Manager                
Development 3182.04 2863.84 2545.63 2386.53 2227.43 1909.22 1591.02 1272.82
Competent 3319.08 2987.17 2655.26 2489.31 2323.36 1991.45 1659.54 1327.63
Watch
Manager                
Development 3391.08 3051.97 2712.86 2543.31 2373.76 2034.65 1695.54 1356.43
Competent
(A) 3485.04 3136.54 2788.03 2613.78 2439.53 2091.02 1742.52 1394.02
Competent
(B) 3711.00 3339.90 2968.80 2783.25 2597.70 2226.60 1855.50 1484.40

Retained Hourly Rate
 
  £ per hour Disturb. £ per occ
Fire Fighter    
Trainee 10.26 3.94
Development 10.68 3.94
Competent 13.67 3.94
     
     
Crew Manager    
Development 14.53 3.94
Competent 15.15 3.94
     
     
Watch Manager    
Development 15.48 3.94
Competent A 15.91 3.94
Competent B 16.95 3.94

3. Do USAR technicians undertake USAR/Technical Rescue only or do they
also have full firefighting and CFS responsibilities?

    Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service USAR technicians are dual
skilled and also provide Wholetime Firefighting responsibilities. Due to
the Training implications on Station they also provide a limited amount of
Community Fire Safety responsibilities.

4. How many USAR personnel do you have?

    Currently Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has 36 USAR
personnel.

5. Please provide a breakdown of your annual USAR budget and expenditure.

     For 2017-18 a budget of £917k and spend of £792k.

6. Please explain the expected training requirements of USAR personnel.

   USAR trained personnel within Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service
are required to maintain their competencies in line with the National
Resilience Competency Framework; this document sets out the minimum
requirements of either six or twelve monthly frequencies, dependent on
the specific skill set.  To achieve these, personnel are allocated two
training days per month, of which they should attend one of the dates. The
training day consists of an average of an eight-hour training period. This
is then supplemented with any additional training which is completed
whilst personnel are on duty.  USAR personnel who have specialist skills,
such as hot cutting or chainsaw operators are provided with additional
training sessions throughout the year to assist with the maintenance of
the competencies. In addition, any local or national exercises
incorporating USAR, provide extra opportunities to maintain the required
competencies.

Unless otherwise stated, the information provided in response to this
request is made available under the Open Government Licence:
[1]http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/o...

If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been
handled, you can request an internal review within 40 working days of us
issuing the original response.  Please submit requests in writing,
including your grounds for a review, to the Data Protection Officer,
 Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service, Fire Service Headquarters, 12,
Geoff Monk Way, Birstall, Leicester, LE4 3BU or by telephone on 0116 287
2241 or email to [2][email address]

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint,
you have the right of appeal to the Information Commissioner at: The
Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF, telephone 0303 123 1113 (local rate) or 01625 545 745.
 Website [3]www.ico.org.uk. There is no charge for making an appeal.

Regards

Maria Fiorino

Coordinator

Service Information

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service

12 Geoff Monk Way

Birstall

Leicester

LE4 3BU

safer people, safer places

References

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1. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/o...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.ico.org.uk/