Research and consultancy with the police and fire service with a particular emphasis on formal and informal cultures, modernisation, entreprenerial thinking, change management, resistance, racism, sexism and equality. Women fire fighters, women in the fire service police, policing and equality in the police and fire service - the fitting-in website where academia and the fire service can meet to discuss fire service culture and other matters- a resource for research and consultancy for the fire and rescue service and firefighters and police and policing- Organised by Dr Dave Baigent this site provides a place to share and publish your own research, to look at what others have written about the fire and police service and to ask about our commercial offerings.
Academics are not the experts,
managers in the emergency services are the experts.
What fitting-in can do is help managers to use their expertise.
Theory without practice is a waste - practice without theory may just be dumb.
Home
Audit Commission Report 'Rising to the Challenge'
Ethos Reports that may help in implementing the'Pheonix' suggestion from the Audit Commission
Government's new Equality and Diversity Strategy
One Decade On - Survey on women firefighters
C&LG firefighters survey 08
Workshops on fire service culture
Cultural Audits
Educational Workshops
Consultancy
Snapshot Audits
Research
Problem solving by fitting-in
Support for degrees and masters qualifications
Elite briefing/workshops
Impact Assessments
Equality Action Plans
Draft papers for reading
Recent index of contributions
Reports
Main Index
Contact us
Older index of contributions
CV & References
Have you seen Ethos?
Minister's speech
Audit Commission on equality
Melbourne DiversityConference
How do I send my writing to fitting-in for publication
What does fitting-in publish
How do I do research - some basic tips
Writing a bibliography
Home
Testimonials/References
Reports from Government
Diversity Strategy
Public Service Degree online or face to face
Stats
Contact us
Wiki
Fitting-in seeks to work with the experts – those leaders of the fire and rescue service who were chosen for their decision-making skills
Australia's response to an equality plan by Melbourne Fire Brigades
Retained duty system: - would a cultural audit benefit your service?
Snapshot Audits: - two researchers, three days of research, a verbal and written report for as little as £3000 - contact us for more details
This concept was originally developed for the MFRS -- so if you are interested in looking at an old problem from a new point of view or thinking about making changes then perhaps we can provide research based assistance or a solution - contact us for an immediate response
Local Government Association Annual Conference - Dave has just returned from this exceptionally important conference where he was invited to a Presentation on fire service culture at two workshops -
If anyone wants to follow up on this or would like to talk about how we can provide you with a similar package with outcomes then do not hesitate to get in touch dave.baigent@fitting-in.com
We are still working with leaders in the Swedish Fire Service and they have said
"Fitting-in with their unique insight into real world fire service culture and a firm theoretical base in academia provided the MSB (The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency) with invaluable expert advice and assistance in developing a national action plan targeted at increasing equality and diversity in the Swedish fire service.
Working with Swedish Chief Officers and the Civil Contigencies agency April 2009 (see their report)
Since 2001 Fitting-in has also provided a free space for the fire and rescue service and academia to meet and share research. This free service continues and people are invited to send their work to be published on this site.
'Rising to the Challenge': - Can we discuss with you how fitting-in may be able to help you with the points raised by the Audit Commission's report? -
No longer “long on rhetoric and short on answers,” fitting-in are now there to assist the leaders of the Fire and Rescue Service in providing answers.
We are out of the ivory tower and using our developing perspective on fire service culture, leadership, management and change management, education, research and training (gained in moving the 360 degrees from firefighter to academic and now back again to practitioners).
Fitting-in offers an extensive research, educational and training portfolio, snapshot audits and elite-briefing led workshops each designed to act as levers for change?
Snapshot Audits: - three days of research a verbal and written report for as little as £3000: they are a new concept developed especially for the MFRS that led to them saying:
"The Service are delighted with the research and reports produced by "Fitting-in. We believe that your original hypothesis and work undertaken in Merseyside has resulted in a ground breaking piece of work that can only serve to inform the wider fire and rescue communities."
Les Skarratts (FBU Secretary) Dave Baigent ACO Bill Evans Contents Ethos Contents Ethos 2
Ethos research undertaken by Fitting-in, with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and the FBU, suggested that if people were offered a choice and if cooperation could be achieved in warming up one part of the cultural sea, then it could be possible to start a chain reaction that could transform the service. Ethos 2 suggested how that could be done and the draft Ethos 3 report added to the model for cultural change.
If you want to look afresh at an old difficulty, respond to something new or carry out an impact assessment, then ask how fast we can turn around our research in an efficient, rigorous and economic way.
Fitting-in can also cater for your traditional research needs and you may wish to tap into our expertise - contact us to see what we can offer
Elite Workshops:- are stand alone one day packages for senior managers and authority members on a whole raft of areas.
Subjects covered include fire service culture(s), the employment of women as firefighters, change management, initial training. We can offer a whole host of education and training packages. These workshops have a primary aim of seeking solutions and will be customised to your requirements - they can also be used as team building days for your senior managers.
We also offer a workshop for people who are having difficulty in understanding how equality works and what diversity means; people who may need to spend some time reviewing their attitudes
Looking for agreement on budget cuts?: - It is part of New Labour's ideology to continually push for more efficiency by using the budget as a lever for change.
The pressure on FRS budgets is therefore likely to continue. Whilst FRS's will no doubt have planned for such an outcome we have something to offer.
We can meet with your strategic thinkers about how they think the budget can be managed. Then we will facilitate a workshop based around our findings (their ideas) with a view to gaining a consensus on the way forward.
Further support will always be available through research and consultancy for any projects undertaken as a result of any work we carry out for you.
References: see what Merseyside Fire and Rescue, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services, Swedish Fire Service and Tom Carroll (Past president of CFOA ) and others have said.
We are just back from working with leaders in the Swedish Fire Service and they have said:
"Fitting-in with their unique insight into real world fire service culture and a firm theoretical base in academia provided the MSB (The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency) with invaluable expert advice and assistance in developing a national action plan targeted at increasing equality and diversity in the Swedish fire service."
This is what Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service had to say about the Ethos research, communications and training project:
"The Service are delighted with the research and reports produced by "Fitting-in. We believe that your original hypothesis and work undertaken in Merseyside has resulted in a ground breaking piece of work that can only serve to inform the wider fire and rescue communities."
References: see what Merseyside Fire and Rescue, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services and Tom Carroll (retired Chief Fire Officer and Past president of CFOA ) and others have said.
For further information or just to talk about what fitting-in can provide ring Dr Dave Baigent (GradIFireE) 07802 495 329 or email
Academic theory without practice is a waste - practice without theory may just be dumb
Bringing research in the fire service straight to you
Site under reconstruction 17-4-10 please contact us with any errors
Contact us