Multi-agency learning: Fire control

This control measure should be read in conjunction with Operational learning

Identifying learning

Fire control personnel – including fire control commanders and fire control managers – are better able to identify opportunities to improve fire control processes and procedures when they are involved in multi-agency exercises and real incidents. The learning opportunities they identify may also be beneficial to other agencies, particularly fire and rescue services and fire controls who face similar issues. This may include identifying:

• Emerging hazards or trends, requiring:
  • Changes to procedures, such as changes to call prompts during the management of emergency calls
  • The need for additional training and development
• Benefits of adopting emerging technology in fire control, such as video streaming technology
• Examples of good and innovative practice

The National Operational Learning (NOL) process allows fire control commanders and fire control managers to share their experiences and learning with all other fire and rescue services and fire controls in the UK. Learning is shared through the nominated single point of contact (SPoC) in their organisation. The National Operational Learning: Good practice guide for fire and rescue services has been developed to support the NOL process.

Joint Organisational Learning (JOL) is a key part of The Joint Doctrine: The Interoperability Framework. It facilitates multi-agency learning and is accessible to all Category 1 and Category 2 agencies through JOL Online.

JOL Online allows fire control commanders and fire control managers to share learning and notable practices involving multi-agency working and interoperability through their SPoC.

Fire and rescue services benefit from shared learning when they establish effective processes on NOL and JOL and share their own emergency control operations experience with others. The information they share may help other agencies, fire and rescue services and fire controls to:

• Become aware of new and emerging hazards
• Reduce the risk of foreseeable hazards
• Benefit from the sharing of:
  • Learning
  • Best practice
  • Recommended remedial actions

Fire and rescue services may find it beneficial to nominate a NOL and JOL SPoC for fire control, such as the fire control manager, who is in an informed position to:

• Collate and share learning through the NOL and JOL processes
• Receive learning relevant to fire control and support the implementation of improvements
• Share learning relevant to fire control with fire control personnel