Executive Summary
A Scottish Fire Services Learning and Development Strategy was first produced in October 2003. It gave recognition to the Integrated Personal Development System ( IPDS) as a cornerstone of the Fire Service modernisation agenda and sought to utilise the IPDS as a framework that would allow the Service to implement "best practice" human resource development processes.
The external environment from which the 2003 Learning and Development Strategy emerged has changed as a direct result of the enactment of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the subsequent publication of a Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland. Other influencing factors include the Local Government in Scotland Act (2003), the Civil Contingencies Act (2004), the revision of the Chief Fire Officers Association in Scotland [ CFOA(S)] Business Plan, the emergence of a Learning and Development Strategy for England and most recently the report published by the Scottish Executive - Transforming Public Services: The Next Phase of Reform.
Against this background of modernisation and transformation, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Services, as with other public sector bodies, are required to review how their services are delivered with an emphasis on driving up quality, encouraging innovation, improving efficiency and productivity and collaborative working with other organisations. It is important that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Services Learning and Development Strategy is clearly aligned with the challenges and demands being faced by the Service, therefore, following consultation with Chief Fire Officers, the Scottish Executive ( SE) and CFOA(S) agreed to work in partnership to review the 2003 Learning and Development Strategy.
The learning and development interventions associated with the implementation of the IPDS continue to provide a solid basis from which a revised Learning and Development Strategy can be delivered. However, the IPDS should not be viewed as a strategic goal in its' own right, but as part of a wider Human Resource Management and Development Strategy - designed to allow the Scottish Fire and Rescue Services to make their full contribution to the wider public sector agenda.