Page 64 - DFB-2023-Annual-Report-Low-Res

QUALITY MANAGEMENT
Dublin Fire Brigade’s Quality Management System
is managed by a dedicated Quality office based in
DFB HQ. As a part of the ongoing maintenance of the
Quality Management System, a surveillance audit was
conducted by the National Standards Authority of
Ireland (NSAI) in October 2023 to ensure compliance
with the Quality Management Standard, ISO 9001:2015.
The auditor visited numerous work locations and spoke
with many staff members. The audit was successfully
concluded and paved the way for ongoing certification
to the standard into the future.
The DFB Quality Office is also responsible for the
management of Internal ISO9001 Quality Audits. These
audits are conducted independently and take place
on a scheduled basis, throughout all sections within
Dublin Fire Brigade over the three year certification
cycle. Feedback from these audits is analysed to ensure
that the appropriate standards are being maintained
throughout the Brigade and this process allows for Dublin welcome and points to a keen understanding of
Fire Brigade to monitor the operation and effectiveness
of all of its processes, benchmarked against the Quality
Management Standard.
Process Mapping is in place for all key functional areas
within DFB and assist us in the identification of inputs, a small number of cases our staff were required,
outputs, controls, risks and the monitoring of Key
Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each DFB section.
In 2023, the DFB Quality Office conducted stakeholder
surveys for the Fire, EMS and Call taking and Dispatch
functions of Dublin Fire Brigade. These surveys were
hosted on the Dublin City Council feedback platform
and publicised through the DFB X (Twitter) platform.
The results of the surveys were communicated to DFB
senior managers and assist each section to improve
DFB service-user satisfaction.
Nineteen (19) Corrective Action Reports (CARs)
were submitted by members of staff during 2023.
The Corrective Action Reports process allows staff
to directly identify issues to the Quality Office and
demonstrates the commitment of our staff to Quality
within Dublin Fire Brigade. Each CAR is assigned to the
appropriate senior manager for review, and many have
resulted in new or amended processes being adopted.
64 Bhriogáid Dóiteáin Bhaile Átha Cliath DUBLIN FIRE BRIGADE
CHILD SAFEGUARDING
Dublin Fire Brigade is committed to following best
practice in child safeguarding and to fulfilling all
of its statutory obligations under the Children
First Act 2015. All Paramedics and Advanced
Paramedics in Dublin Fire Brigade are classed as
‘Mandated Persons’ under the Act due to their
registration with the Pre-Hospital Emergency
Care Council (PHECC).
Our Child Safeguarding Coordinator, with
guidance from Dublin City Council’s Safeguarding
Officer for Children and Vulnerable Adults, leads
a team of ‘Designated Liaison Persons’ (DLPs).
These are trained peers who are available across
our four Watches to assist members of our staff
who may have experienced incidents causing
concern. During 2023 we began plans to develop
this team. A request for expressions of interest
in DLP training was oversubscribed. This is indeed
staff members’ responsibility and willingness
to become involved in such a sensitive and
important area. During 2023, twenty-nine (29)
reports were made by members of Dublin Fire
Brigade to Túsla, The Child and Family Agency. In
at very short notice, to attend at the District
Court where urgent protection was required for
children at risk.
As mandated by the Children First Act
2015, copies of our Dublin Fire Brigade Child
Safeguarding Statement and Risk Assessment
are available at every fire station and DFB work
location. The document can be accessed on the
Dublin City Council website at https://www.
dublincity.ie/residential/dublin-fire-brigade/
legislation/child-safeguarding-statement-and-
risk-assessment or from this QR code.