Optimising Business Performance
  
 

Business Specific Solutions
Solution - Fire & Rescue Debriefing

This debrief system is currently being used by Fire Services in the UK to collect information on incidents and to use it as a tool to improve operational performance. As it is developed using the Metastorm Business Process Management toolset, it has many advantages over ‘traditionally’ developed systems - the key one being flexibility. It is relatively easy to customise an application to reflect changing needs and this reduces the timescale of development and overall cost of delivery and support.
The system can be used to manage debriefs for Minor and Major incidents. Minor debriefs are started by any individual. The application allows anyone whose status is ‘watch’ or ‘officer’ to start the process. Once started, non critical debriefs will remain available for others who were involved in the incident to add their comments. Their comments are consolidated with the original debrief’s comments and documents. Major Debriefs are started by Control. A major debrief is defined as an incident where 4 or more pumping appliances attend (although major debriefs can be requested for any incident if required).

The contributors are selected from a list of all users of the system which can be filtered by station, and other configurable criteria. When the initial form is submitted each of the chosen contributors will receive an eMail with a link back to a set of forms they are required to complete to provide information for the debrief. Contributors are required to log in to the system before being able to complete the forms.

Contributors must respond within timescales set within the system; reminders are sent as the deadline for submission approaches. Even if a contributor has no significant information to provide the debrief must be returned before the process can complete. Contributors can be removed from the debrief by Control if required.
At the end of the process the Head of Operations can decide whether or not the debrief should be published. Published debriefs have service wide implications and everyone must read the report with no exceptions, so the system monitors and records those who have read the report. When published an eMail is sent to individuals notifying them of publication and requesting that the report is read within 30 days. A reminder is sent after 20 days. The report is archived after 30 days.

 

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