Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Date: Friday 25/09/09

The South East Fire Improvement Equality and Diversity Conference

Actions Speak Louder Than Words at the South East Fire Improvement Partnership

It is all too easy to hold a conference in order to loudly blow down your own brass instrument and those of your esteemed colleagues. Telling bored delegates how much you have achieved and enjoying your tired round of applause.

However, a different approach albeit less direct, might show your organisation in a far better light. The approach that says – don’t listen to us, just take in the view.

The South East Fire Improvement Partnership (SEFIP) did exactly that at their 2009 Equality and Diversity Conference held this week in Milton Keynes. The conference was a demonstration in partnership working and in the facilitation of change, debate and innovation.

Delegates did not need the SEFIP to tell them that they were an organisation dedicated to supporting and enabling improvements and efficiencies in the fire and rescue services.

Instead, delegates found themselves, like it or not, in the heart of an operation that found fire officers and local authorities representatives from all over the south east taking part in a knowledge sharing experience in which everyone could learn something new, together.

Representatives from fire and rescue services throughout the region were informed and challenged by creative and inspiring presentations from varied equality and diversity organisations, ensuring that everyone could take back the same key messages to their service. This was the epitomisation of “singing from the same hymn sheet”, the central ethos of improvement through partnership.

Andy Oaker from the National Disabled Fire Association challenged delegates to review seemingly unsuitable applications for various job descriptions resulting in many shamed faces as Thomas Edison, Bill Gates and Mr Oaker himself found themselves without employment in the fire service.

Beverley Price and Anh Nguyen from The National Autistic Society educated the crowd on how to communicate effectively and emphatically with anyone in the autism spectrum. Ann Millington, HR Director at Kent Fire and Rescue Service, and acting Deputy Chief Officer, gave a very coherent presentation on Impact Assessments and how to act on the information gathered.

Delegates also worked in teams to pull together plans to tackle a fictional scenario, simultaneously putting into practise the lessons of the day whilst networking and sharing skills with other professionals.

On leaving the conference, there was a strong feeling among delegates of a day well spent. A great deal of information was disseminated, and everyone present was able to experience the benefits of partnership working first hand. Actions, most certainly, speak louder than words.