Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. We can confirm that Essex County Fire & Rescue Service does hold the information you have requested.
Please see below the answer to your request.
Questions and final response:
1. How many reports did you receive from whistleblowers in 2019 and in 2020? Essex Fire and Rescue Service did not receive any reports that constituted whistleblowing in 2019 and 2020
2. How many people do you have in your organisation that are trained/permitted to take reports from whistleblowers? Our defined approach to raising concerns with the Authority can be found here pdf_1574682806.pdf (essex-fire.gov.uk) in our Speak up, speak our guidance. People who wish to discuss concerns they may have relating to the Authority are directed to our appointed Monitoring Officer who is the responsible person for taking and logging whistleblowing concerns. We also have two trained Officers within the Service that are able to identify concerns that may constitute whistleblowing and require processing in line with our whistleblowing policy.
3. What training have the people in question number 2 received in whistleblowing? The two Officers attended a Whistleblowing Masterclass facilitated by Protect (Whistleblowing Advice) Ltd in 2019.
4. What cost, if any, was there for this training? The training is provided as part of Whistleblowing support package that is provided to us by Protect (Whistleblowing Advice) Ltd. The complete support package costs £750 per anum.
5. Which organisation delivered each course? The training was delivered by Protect (Whistleblowing Advice) Ltd.
6. What is the name of the person that arranged this training and what is their email address? Tracy King, Assistant Director. Tracy.king@essex-fire.gov.uk
7. What methods do you have for whistleblowers to contact a person that is authorised to take their report and what are the specific details of these, i.e., email addresses, telephone numbers etc? The methods to contact our authorised person are as follows:-
In writing to The Monitoring Officer, The Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, Kelvedon Park, London Road, Rivenhall, Witham, CM8 3HB
By email: pippa.brent-isherwood@essex.pnn.police.uk
By Telephone: 01245 291613
We also make available a whistleblowing advice line to all staff which can be contacted either by telephone or email as follows:- Protect (formally Public Concern at Work) 020 3117 2520 or email whistle@protect-advice.org.uk
8. What are the email addresses for the people authorised to receive whistleblower reports? pippa.brent-isherwood@essex.pnn.police.uk
9. How many whistleblowers have left the organisation within 12 months of making a report? Zero.
10.How many whistleblowers have made an allegation of ‘detriment’ against your organisation? For numbers of allegations of detriment made against our organisation you would need to refer your enquiry to the Monitoring Officer, contact details provided above.
Thank you for your interest in Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, we hope this satisfies your request.