Our Purpose, Vision and Mission
In 2018, the Strategic Leadership Board (SLB) came together to set the direction for the organisation for the coming years. In order to help identify this direction we set out to review the answer to these questions about the Service:
- Who are we?
- Why are we here?
- What do we want to do?
- What do we do every day?
- What do we believe in?
Our Purpose: Why we are here
Since 2011, the HWFRS ‘Core Purpose’ has been ‘to provide our communities with sustainable, high quality firefighting, rescue and preventative services’ and this has served us well.
In 2018, the Fire and Rescue Service National Framework was updated and contained the quote:
‘Fire and rescue services play a crucial role in making our communities safer, whether it be preventing and protecting people from fire and other risks, or responding swiftly and effectively to the incidents and emergencies that occur.’
Rt Hon Nick Hurd MP, Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service, (2018). Foreword: Fire and Rescue National Framework for England. London: Home Office.
The Strategic Leadership Board felt that this extract from the National Framework document provided a good basis to answer the statement: ‘Why we are here’:
‘Keeping people safe from fire and other risks. Responding efficiently and effectively to incidents and emergencies.’
Our Vision: What we want to do
The vision of an organisation is what we aim to achieve. It is aspirational and is what we want to achieve ‘someday’.
The Vision is intrinsic to Saving More Lives and was set as:
‘Saving More Lives: Building on our successes to continue to make a difference, improve lives, and help secure resilient communities.’
Our Mission: What we do every day
If the Vision is what we aim to achieve ‘someday’, then the Mission is what we will do every day to try and achieve the Vision. Based on the core Purpose, Values and Vision, the mission for HWFRS is:
‘As one professional team we will work hard every day to deliver high quality, sustainable services to our communities.’
Our Core Code of Ethics
How we deliver our services to achieve our core purpose is guided by the Core Code of Ethics for Fire and Rescue Services in England, which has been jointly developed by the National Fire Chiefs Council, the Local Government Association and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners.
The Code sets out five ethical principles, which provide the basis for promoting good behaviour and challenging inappropriate behaviour.
By adopting the Code as our guiding set of values, we are committed to championing ethical behaviours that help to improve organisational culture and workforce diversity, ensuring that communities are supported in the best way.
Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) is committed to the ethical principles of the Code and strives to apply them in all we do, therefore, those principles are reflected in this policy.
Putting our communities first
We put the interest of the public, the community and service users first.
Integrity
We act with integrity including being open, honest and consistent in everything we do.
Dignity and respect
We make decisions objectively based on evidence, without discrimination or bias.
Leadership
As positive role models, we are accountable for everything we do and challenge all behaviour that falls short of the highest standards.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We stand against all forms of discrimination, create equal opportunities, promote equality, foster good relations and celebrate difference.
Our Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct clarifies the expectations of the Fire Authority and ensures all employees, volunteers and those working on behalf of, or representing the Authority understand the standards of conduct required. The Code of Conduct reflects the Code of Ethics Fire Standard and National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Code of Ethics for Fire and Rescue Services in England, which establishes Fire sector-wide expectations on governance, behaviour and integrity and also the Core Code of Ethics Fire Standard.
Our Service Code of Conduct can be found here.
Our Culture
At Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service we take pride in working as one professional team every day to deliver high quality, sustainable services to our communities. Our culture is rooted in our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of the communities we serve. We believe in being an inclusive and safe place to work where all staff are valued, supported and able to thrive in an environment free from bullying, harassment, discrimination, abuse and harm. We deliver services that are inclusive, safe and professional, and inspire public confidence and trust.
Our Culture Statement of Intent has been developed to define our desired Service culture – where everyone feels safe and included and, where unacceptable behaviour is dealt with and appropriate action taken. It aims to:
- Make our cultural strategic intent more explicit, reinforcing expected behaviours and conduct, and the expectation to call out behaviour that falls below our professional standards.
- Provide a clear foundation to shape, guide and sustain our strategic goals and priorities, enabling a more inclusive and positive workplace to be developed and nurtured.
- Provide a baseline to ensure anything we do is aligned to support our desired culture, making Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and ethics the fabric of Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.
Our Culture Statement of Intent can be read here.
Our 2023 Cultural Audit details can be read here.
