Draft Strategic Plan 2022-25

We asked for views on our draft Strategic Plan 2022-25. We asked people what they thought about our set of seven proposed priorities, and invited them to share any general views they had about the draft Strategic Plan as a whole.

You Said

The public consultation exercise generated a total of 132 survey responses through the online survey. The majority of respondents either Strongly Agreed, or Agreed with all of the Outcomes in the draft Strategic Plan. The figures were 51.1% and 34.4% respectively, giving a total of 85.5% of all respondents supporting the draft Strategic Plan.

Respondents were given the opportunity to provide further feedback on each of our Outcomes. They were also asked if they wished to make any general comments, allowing them to give more expansive answers on issues they felt were of importance, and which were perhaps not covered sufficiently in the seven Outcomes.  

These free text responses were examined and the most common themes identified. This was done through careful textual analysis and by applying a simple coding frame. The following key themes were raised:  

• Respondents are supportive of the need for partnership working, with many taking the opportunity to recognise the benefits of existing partnerships.
• The ongoing development of the role of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is supported, with respondents highlighting additional opportunities to work with partners to contribute to wider health and wellbeing outcomes.  
• Our commitment to climate change was supported by respondents at both a high-level strategic context and from a partnership perspective when discussing responding to incidents caused by climate change.   
• Although supportive of our ambitions, respondents highlighted the need to provide appropriate / fit-for-purpose technology and equipment; and adequate training and support for frontline staff.  
• Respondents were supportive of our desire to share data / information with partners stakeholders.  
• In the context of current spending pressures, there is widespread recognition that resources are becoming increasingly stretched, and a recognition of the challenges this will bring.   

The free-text comments included in the report, both positive and constructive in nature, were considered closely. 

In most circumstances, suggested changes to be made to the Plan, because of comments from respondents, were minor text changes to strengthen or clarify a point that has already been made within the draft Strategic Plan 2022-25. Examples of this include:  

• Further explanation on the meaning of ‘harm’ 
• More reference to the need to ensure staff are trained 
• Strengthening our commitment adopting a place-based model 
• A clearer statement that staff at all levels will be encouraged and supported to suggest and develop innovative ways of working 
• More emphasis that community and firefighter safety is paramount 
• Acknowledgement of the importance of good mental health 
• The need to mention staff empowerment 

 Each of the above suggestions were included in the final version of the Strategic Plan 2022-25 that was published in October 2022.