CONSULTANTS will be paid £200,000 to train fire brigade leaders how to lead. Senior management will join exercises and games to learn about team roles, and undergo psychometric profiling.
But the move, which comes as 50 frontline fire crew jobs are cut in Greater Manchester, has been attacked by a union chief.
Kevin Brown, from the Fire Brigades Union, said: "We recognise the requirement for senior officers to be equipped with the skills to cope with fire ground situations and provide leadership.
"But at a time when jobs are being cut we should be looking very carefully at how resources are being used.
World class
"We already have a world class national fire training college in Moreton-In-Marsh in Gloucestershire where we send officers.
"A number of managers from Greater Manchester brigade work as trainers at Moreton-In-Marsh, so why spend money on consultants?"
Greater Manchester Fire Authority has invited companies to tender for a three-year contract.
The successful firm will provide `bespoke strategic leadership and team development events/ programmes' and offer `opportunities to incorporate engaging indoor and outdoor activities for a blended learning experience'.
If the project is successful it will be extended to other brigades in the north west including Cheshire, Lancashire, and Cumbria in a contract worth another £100,000.
The training would be for ranks from deputy borough commander up to County Fire Officer.
Sickness
Greater Manchester brigade bosses insist it would be money well spent as it could improve efficiency, reduce sickness and make front line crews more `engaged' with management.
County Fire Officer Barry Dixon said: "This year we have invested almost £1.4m in the training and development of our staff at all levels.
"The largest proportion is being invested in operational-based training for our frontline firefighting personnel. But, importantly, investment is also being made in developing our managers.
"I am confident that the public recognises that well trained and developed managers are essential in a quality service.
"This tendering process will identify a suitable provider for team and leadership development within the service, allowing us to respond quickly to the emerging needs of our leaders and management teams.
"The current climate demands that our service is flexible and adaptable, therefore equipping our people with the skills, knowledge and tools to meet these demands is of paramount importance."
neal.keeling@men-news.co.uk
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The Police and Fire Service budgets have been allowed to get out of control. Not so much value for money from Council Tax contribution, just money.
"CONSULTANTS will be paid £200,000 to train fire brigade leaders how to lead. Senior management will join exercises and games to learn about team roles, and undergo psychometric profiling."
Just a minute.
If someone has been appointed as the leader of an organisation should they not already know how to lead without paying a fortune to consultants for playing games?
Psychometric profiling.
Does that mean measuring the shape of the mind?
Is that to ensure that people are of sound enough mind to carry out their duties? Should not that have been done before their appointment if it needs to be done at all?
Two (or less) week's wages for many premier leaugue footballers. We need a well trained Fire and Rescue Serivce and this does not come cheap.
If you cant lead, then don’t try to be a leader.
If the officer has come through the ranks then he/she should already have shown leadership skills.
Whatever happened to 'Competency through Experience'?
Kevin Brown is absolutely correct, Moreton-in-Marsh is a world-class training establishment providing training in brigade management and fireground command. Unfortunately, it appears todays brigade managers have fallen prey to the 'must have a consultant' theory of management, justifying it on the grounds of improved efficiency, blah, blah, blah. I believe this also reflects the way brigade managers are selected from the operational firefighting staff, being required to jump through PQA hoops at assessment centres that don't always get the most able, competent person, just the one who can trot out the right buzzwords and key phrases.
I worry, seriously, for the future of todays fire service.
Waste of money as stated earlier by ex pat Brit, we have the finest training establishment at moreton- in -marsh which is attended by fire brigades world wide and is the acknowleged as the worlds finest fire training establishment, who train all ranks in not only management but all modern firefighting methods in a 12 week course at moreton a firefighter will proberly get more experience and knowledge than he wiould normally get in 25 years in a brigade. The fire serviced does not need overpaid consultants to tell them how to run a service.
this stinks.
maybe the MEN can investigate who owns the consultancy and who made the decision within the Fire Service....i think that might be an interesting story!
It is dead easy too lead! just stand in the front. for my consultation I would like a cardboard cutout of a fire engine.
Moreton-in-Marsh has always been good enough before so why the sudden change? In my days in the brigade, leadership was learned on the job and we had respect for a our leaders. Those days are long gone, for to get to senior rank these days it isn't a matter of how good you are but just what you are prepared to do to get that promotion!. It's an indicment on 'modernisation' of the British Fire Service, once the best in the world, that we now have to have civilian consultants to teach us to lead. The way some senior officers behave should be brought into question, of that there is no doubt, but it's all rather too 'stable door' for my liking.
What do you expect when you let these people loose with a large amount of cash. All these men were employed a firemen, a few promotions later they're expected to be able to 'manage' a fire service. How long would they last as 'managers' in the real world?