The Report of the Review of the Retained Duty System

The Retained Duty System (RDS) has been facing major recruitment and retention challenges for many years. Where as many as 40 applicants are applying for each wholetime duty system firefighter post, there is a 20% shortfall in applications for the RDS. There is also a 10% annual turnover of RDS personnel.

In December 2003, the Fire and Rescue Service Minister, Phil Hope, announced an in-depth review to identify how these challenges might be overcome. This review was carried out by a Retained Review Team (RRT) comprising representatives from the Local Government Association, Chief Fire Officers' Association, Fire Brigades Union, Retained Firefighters Union, and the ODPM.

The review process included a service-wide survey to gather information about local issues affecting the RDS, an invitation to RDS firefighters to submit their views to the RRT. The team’s initial findings were presented to the Practitioners’ Forum in June 2004, followed by publication of the full report on 25 February 2005. The report, containing a total of 51 recommendations, identifies six key priorities:

Terminology: traditional terms such as “the retained” can reinforce prejudice against  RDS staff. The use of appropriate terminology is an important tool in dismantling cultural barriers.

Recognition: the contribution made by RDS staff should receive prominent acknowledgement, both internally and externally

Modernisation: firefighters working on the RDS are in a position to make a key contribution to the modernisation programme. For example, their close links to the local community could make a significant difference to Community Fire Safety work.

Integration: RDS personnel do the same work as Wholetime Duty System firefighters: the only difference is in their working patterns. The two duty systems should be integrated; not separated.

Recruitment and retention: tackling all the challenges and removing barriers

Process: guaranteeing the delivery of change by ensuring that RDS issues are integral to policy-making, and appointing stakeholder groups to monitor implementation of the report’s recommendations.

As a consequence of the RRT's report, the Practitioners’ Forum and the Business and Community and Safety Forum agreed to set up the RDS Task and Finish Group, which produced a plan for the implementation of the report recommendations.

The RRT’s report can be accessed on the ODPM website.