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Firefighters 'fear' using QR code to report bullying

BBC The outside of the fire service headquarters, which is shared with police, in Portishead. It is a large building with a revolving door at the front and two distinctive pointed roofs. Someone can be seen walking into the building, from a distance. BBC
A letter from staff to inspectors outlined concerns about people being identifiable through the system

Firefighters have told inspectors they are "scared" to use a QR code system put in place to report bullying and harassment, in case it identifies them.

In a letter to government inspectors, Avon Fire and Rescue Service (AFRS) staff said the term "being QR coded" was often used when talking about certain topics.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) revisited AFRS in September after a report found its performance inadequate last year.

AFRS chief fire officer Simon Shilton said he is "fully committed to ensuring we continue to make the improvements needed".

HMICFRS inspectors said that one of two “accelerated” causes of concern, the service's mobilisation system, which dispatches resources, had been fixed with a software upgrade and it was now “reliable and stable”.

And while improvements had been made to the other, AFRS’s risk information process, there was “still more to do”.

Inspectors said "good progress" had been made regarding fire prevention, and that AFRS had cleared its backlog of 249 overdue home fire safety visits, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Avon Fire & Rescue Service Simon Shilton is pictured smiling at the camera, wearing an Avon Fire and Rescue fleece, next to a large sign for the organisation. He has short dark hair, and is standing outside what appears to be the service's headquarters. Avon Fire & Rescue Service
AFRS chief fire officer Simon Shilton said the service is "fully committed" to making improvements

HMICFRS said: “During our revisit, we spoke to many staff who felt the service needs to improve the way it communicates what it is doing to address the cause of concern.

“Some staff that we spoke to said they have little confidence in the service’s commitment to improve.”

In August 2023, the organisation launched an independent reporting line run by an external organisation that allowed staff to report workplace issues such as harassment via a QR code.

The letter said: “We were told by staff that this initiative was poorly communicated initially.

“This resulted in fear and the term ‘being QR coded’ often being used.

“For example, some staff felt scared about speaking about certain topics as they feared that whatever they said may be ‘QR coded’."

'Tick box exercise'

A professional standards board which included staff, external advisers and a lawyer had been set up for disciplinary investigations but "most employees did not know about it", inspectors said.

“They also had reservations about how the service completes investigations and the length of time they take,” HMICFRS added.

“The service needs to review the support it provides to staff raising workforce concerns and those who may be subject to an investigation.

“Wellbeing support is offered in correspondence sent to the affected parties, but staff felt this was a ‘tick box exercise’."

'Progress made'

Mr Shilton said: “Our teams have worked incredibly hard, despite tight budgets and with limited resources, to implement the ambitious action plans developed after the initial inspection from HMICFRS last year.

“I’m pleased to see the inspectorate has acknowledged these efforts, particularly in closing the accelerated cause of concern surrounding the mobilisation system.

“It’s great to see them recognise the plans our teams have put in place, the work that has been done and the progress that has been made."

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