Case studies

A Perfect Combination: Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue

Background

The Service had applied for national improvement funding and commissioned the Improvement & Development Agency (IDeA) to help it develop the role of its senior management team. This work included a request to look at communications as it recognised that it would be integral in helping it to achieve its vision and goals. It also realised that effective communication would help it to improve public confidence and raise its positive profile and reputation.

It was clear that with such a large presence in the South West, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service had an important story to tell, not just to people in the area but to its employees, partner organisations, local, regional and national decision-makers and the media. A clear and sustainable communications strategy needed to be at the heart of this.

 As a result of doing some initial work with the senior management team with the IDeA, including a workshop, Vivid was asked to provide the Service with longer-term communications consultancy support to help it develop and deliver a communications strategy.

Aims and Objectives

  • To provide support and advice about what the key elements of a communications strategy should be (including a vision, template and examples)
  • To help gather evidence on which to build a strategy, including carrying out interviews and running focus groups
  • To provide practical help and advice in developing a strategy, including targets/Key Performance Indicators and an operational plan
  • To link the strategy to the Service's Corporate Plan and its goals to proactively reduce risk, to save life, protect property and the environment from fire and other emergencies; to be an employer of choice and to provide an effective, efficient and economic service
  • To provide advice about how it could be implemented and helping to implement it
  • To support assessment & evaluation of the strategy's implementation.

Strategy and Implementation

It was important for the strategy to be as inclusive as possible so our work including consulting a range of people. It also needed to be sustainable and value for money. Working closely with the Information & Communications Manager to ensure our skills were used to best effect and keeping the senior management team involved were key to this. Over a year, we worked with the Service, ensuring it could work on its own in between our work together.

Results

As a result, effective communications has a much greater profile and commitment across the Service. It has an agreed Communications Strategy which has been signed off by the senior management team and elected members. It is being implemented in line with a properly thought out implementation plan. The Communications Manager has a team in place where everyone is clear about their role and how they contribute to the overall team effort. In the current climate, the Service will continue to face challenges but its communications strategy means it has a solid foundation on which to move forward.


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