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A NEW Fire and Rescue Services Advisory Unit is to be set up in Scotland to replace the existing Fire Inspectorate, the Scottish Government has announced.
The move comes after Jeff Ord, the previous chief inspector of fire services in Scotland, left his post last November. It mirrors the situation in England, where Sir Ken Knight is now chief fire and rescue advisor, in place of the former HM Fire Service Inspectorate structure.
In a letter to fire and rescue authorities, the director-general of Justice and Communities, Robert Gordon, outlined the proposals for the Scottish Advisory Unit and its head. He explained that the unit will be part of Scottish Resilience, the Government’s fire and civil contingencies support service.
The unit’s main focus will be working with chief fire officers and their staff, both supporting and, where necessary, challenging them on professional issues. The unit will help brigades to assess operational preparedness and will take an overview on the application of integrated risk management plans. It will also provide independent advice to ministers.
The head of unit post will be advertised as a fixed-term appointment for three years. Applications will be invited from serving principal officers in the UK, with preference given to those with experience at brigade manager level.
The Advisory Unit will comprise a small permanent staff. This could be supplemented by means of short-term secondments for particular projects, inquiries or assessments.
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