The Effective Command training and assessment tools are currently in use by several UK Fire Services for the training, assessment, and monitoring of command competence, at all levels of the service, in line with the National Occupational Guidance.

The Effective Command methodology readily aligns with numerous international Fire Service Role-maps or organisational Frameworks.

The tools have been aligned with the demonstrate competences as specified in the Incident Command qualifications, at all tiers of the service, and are endorsed by Skills For Justice (SFJ Awards). They have also been aligned to the United States trade association, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards for Fire Officers II, II, III, IV.

Through this alignment, data generated through the application of the Effective Command training methodology or assessment processes, can be used evidence for several professional qualifications. Most recently, and through a collaboration with Coventry University, Acquired Prior Learning (APL) credits are being awarded for delegates who complete certain Effective Command training programmes, these credits can be used towards the MSc Emergency Planning and Management at Coventry University, starting in September 2017.

County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service, United Kingdom

K Lamb Associates have been working with CDDFRS since November 2015 and have supported them on several projects. They are an avid supporter of the Effective Command ‘thinking Commander’ ethos and have utilised the Effective Command training tools at every level within their service.

"Excellent learning opportunities, support and advice from academic professionals who have walked the walk in the real world. Effective Command gives me the assurance that we have equipped our commanders with the skills and behaviours necessary to enable them to be an effective all hazards incident commander. The assessment method isn’t just based around buzz word bingo but is a self-reflective process that enables the candidate to understand why they made certain decisions and adapt these accordingly when required; helping to create the “thinking incident commander and not just firefighting by numbers."

Most recently KLA is in the middle of delivering a comprehensive incident command project of training and competence assessment, for all their officers from Station Manager up to the Chief Fire Officer. The project has provided a number of sessions which have focussed on the (National Operational Guidance (NOG) update, Joint Emergency services Interoperability Protocol (JESIP), Functional Officer roles, case-studies and scenario based training. The project has utilised their comprehensive simulation suite for incident command and decision making training, and used both XVR and ‘Hydra in the cloud’ simulation-based training systems.

Feedback from the sessions so far.

“Excellent content, very relevant to my role”

“Good command training from external providers, Effective Command is Effective”

“Informative input on psychology of decision making and incident command”

“Useful to get an update on Airwave”

“Good scenarios, nice to have different functional roles to focus on”