The Chief Inspector's Plan 2025-2028

12.  When determining our programme of inspection we take into account the Scottish Government’s Scottish Fire and Rescue Framework, which contains strategic priorities for the Service.

13.  The Chief Inspector gives as much notice of an inspection as is reasonably practicable to the SFRS. From time to time the Inspectorate may carry out unannounced visits as part of an inspection programme. The Inspectorate has an agreed communication and feedback protocol with the SFRS.

14.  When we conduct our inspection activity, the SFRS must provide us with such assistance and co‑operation as we may require to carry out our functions, and must comply with any reasonable request that we make. When we publish a report, the SFRS must give consideration to the findings and take such measures, if any, as it thinks fit.

15.  Our Inspection Reports are generally laid before the Scottish Parliament. All Inspection Reports are published and can be viewed on the HMFSI website.

16.  HMFSI has undertaken a twin approach with thematic inspections and area based inspections. We have adapted to new ways of working to reduce travel. We will ensure that this is considered in all future inspection activities and lessons learned are used to improve our performance and make effective use of available resources.

17.  The Chief Inspector’s update 2021‑2024, available on the HMFSI website, gives an overview of our recent inspection activity.

Area Based Inspections

18.  The SFRS operates across three Service Delivery Areas (SDA) (East, West and North). Each SDA contains a number of Local Senior Officer Areas.

19.  Over the period 2021 to 2024 we have undertaken a full cycle, having completed an inspection of each of the three SDAs. These inspections considered performance across each Area against a range of key themes. This arrangement replaced a previous inspection regime based on local authority areas.

Thematic Inspections

20.  The basis for our programme of thematic inspections is the identification of a number of specific areas of business that have been assessed as being particularly significant.

21.  Our thematic inspections are an examination of a particular service‑wide theme, and generally seek to understand how the Service as a whole is managing the subject.

Co‑operation

22.  We have a statutory duty to co‑operate and co‑ordinate with the Auditor General. We also work with other Inspectorates and agencies across the public sector to share specific expertise and contribute to shared outcomes. We co‑ordinate our activities to reduce the burden of inspection and avoid unnecessary duplication. The relationship between the Inspectorate and the Auditor General is supported by a Memorandum of Understanding with Audit Scotland.

23.  HMFSI and Audit Scotland are members of the Strategic Public Services Scrutiny Network (SPSSN). The SPSSN is comprised of Scotland’s main public sector scrutiny bodies, and seeks to support the delivery of better coordinated, more proportionate and risk‑based scrutiny.