Forging the way ahead in training: the North East brigades are among the first to implement the new Integrated Personal Development System . DCFO Ian Hayton explained how IPDS is to be rolled out to the region - IPDS

The North East collaboration has been in effect for just over two years, one of the focus groups within the collaboration is the training group.

The training group has been considering the move toward competency-based training for some time. However, it was not until recently, with the advent of IPDS that the group recognised that training for competence is about more than just training. Competency is the key issue, it addresses all aspects of Fire Service work As such, DCFO Hayton believes that it is the agreed role maps that are central to IPDS and the goal of achieving demonstrable competency at all levels of the workforce.

Three months ago, the North East collaboration adopted the IPDS system formally, and DCFO Hayton is currently exploring ways of rolling out the system to the four brigades within the collaboration.

The reason for the collaboration's offer of guidelines, rather than a prescriptive model, is to allow each member brigade to find its own way to implement the system that is compatible with its make-up while still achieving the same end result. For example, the collaboration includes a metropolitan brigade and a rural brigade with two others that fall somewhere between these two extremes. As such, one might choose to record its data on a paper based system, while another might opt for a high-tech IT solution. However, both would still have reworded it in a way that conforms to the IPDS.

DCFO Hayton envisages a management framework for implementing IPDS that would comprise a board at regional level, supported by a steering group which would inform brigade implementation teams down to station level. The board and steering group would meet on a six-weekly basis, a similar frequency to that with which the regional training group meets.

The essential ingredient in this is, in DCFO Hayton's eyes, communication: How to communicate the advantages and the systems of IPDS to everyone within the region? How to foster a wider understanding of the aims and reasons behind the implementation of IPDS?

He also feels that this understanding should be a two-way channel. To this end, he envisages communiques within the collaboration, right down to station level. A crucial part of this communication is the use of website technology which allows comment to be received from all personnel.

The collaboration's implementation group will report back to the CACFOA Personnel and Training Group.

DCFO Hayton tells me that the implementation is one of the top two priorities on the collaboration's agenda, one that all the CFOs and councilors are fully committed to.

COPYRIGHT 2002 DMG World Media Ltd.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group