| |
| | |
| Page | Para |
NAO Recommendation
(As detailed on pages 47/48 & page 73)
| Actions Required
| Target
completion
date |
| | |
| |
| | Technical Inspections
| | |
| 25 | 2.12 |
Monitor frequency with which technical inspections are carried out, to ensure full compliance with the recently revised inspection regime for telecommunications equipment.
| Technical inspection programme on schedule.
| 1/5/1998 |
| | | Monthly reports to MCA Management Board.
| 31/5/1998 |
| | Telephones
| | |
| 26 | 2.14 | HMCG should conduct a survey to monitor whether callers have difficulty contacting co-ordination centres, particularly on direct lines.
| Frequent management review of tape recorded 999 telephone lines, particularly when doubt arises over efficacy.
| 1/5/1998 |
| | | Conduct an independent 'customers' survey & report in 1998-99 MCA Annual Report.
| 31/3/1999 |
| | Number and location
| | |
| 27 | 2.15 | If proposed closure of 4 rescue centres & co-location of 2 others goes ahead, review in due course its impact on: the workloads for each centre and watch officers; flexibility in the use of staff; and effectiveness of search and rescue co-ordination.
| Ministers have yet to make decision on 5-Year Strategy following consultation.
| After decision |
| | | Commission report as required.
| |
| | Preparedness
| | |
| 32/33 | 2.25 |
Ensure compliance with required regime of formal inspections of co-ordination centres operational readiness and watch officers general familiarity with their search and rescue area.
| Conduct baseline survey. | 1/5/1998
|
| | | Set up reporting database. Correct deficiencies.
| 31/5/1998 |
| | | Monthly report to MCA Management Board
| 31/5/1998 |
| | Coastal Rescue Teams
| | |
| 36 | 2.31 | Identify coverage provided by coastal response teams.
| Produce detailed District maps. | 31/7/1998
|
| | Monitor proportion of teams which are not up to nominal strength.
| Conduct baseline survey. | 31/3/1998
|
| | Number of incidents when teams are below strength and extent to which this impaired effectiveness.
| Monthly report to MCA Management Board. |
31/5/1998 |
| | I warranted take steps to bolster the numbers of volunteers.
| District report as part of casualty reports (CG15b).
| 1/5/1998 |
| | | Management Information System (MIS).
| 1/4/1999 |
| | | Heighten recruitment initiatives.
| Ongoing |
| 36/37 | 2.32 |
HMCG should provide training for coastal response teamsbased on the acquisition and use of the requisite skills ratherthan a minimum number of hours.
| Revise training policy. | 1/7/1998
|
| | | Introduce 'Certification' regime for key activities (driving, boats, cliff etc.).
| Early 1999 |
| 37 | 2.33 | Information collected on % of teams fully trainedEnsure formal inspections carried out with requiredfrequency.
| Conduct baseline survey for review. |
1/5/1998 |
| | | Updated monthly reports to MCA Management Board.
| 31/5/1998 |
| | HM Coastguard Vehicles
| | |
| 38 | 2.37 | HMCG investigate feasibility of contracting out more aspects of the management of its vehicle fleet.
| Consider ways to improve quality & efficiency, including sponsorship, and revise contract renewal specification.
| 1/12/1998 |
| | Helicopters
| | |
| 40 | 2.42 | Once results of MOD review are known, HMCG should consider scope for rationalising helicopter coverage along south coast so as to reach decisions in good time before contract renewal of Solent & Portland in 2003.
| Conduct review of coverage prior to re-letting Coastguard contract.
| After MOD decision |
| | Planning for Major Emergencies
| | |
| 43/44 | 2.47 |
HMCG should provide better guidance on emergency planning, based on the guidance and plans of other relevant and ensure compliance by co-ordination centres.
| Conduct baseline survey of current state of HMCG emergency plans.
| 1/4/1998 |
| | | Issue Standardised plan formats, to incorporate best practice.
| 1/8/1998 |
| 44/45 | 2.48 |
HMCG should issue guidance to all co-ordination centres on dealing with loss of a centre and major radio breakdowns, to ensure a common approach across the service.
| Conduct baseline survey of current state of HMCG emergency plans.
| 1/4/1998 |
| | | Issue Standardised plan formats, to incorporate best practice, and establish check procedure as part of Operational Readiness Inspections.
| 1/8/1998 |
| 45 | 2.49 | HMCG should review its debriefing arrangements following major SAR & exercises in consultation with local advisory committee members and rescuers.
| Issue revised instructions. | 1/3/1998
|
| | | Establish SAR exercise internal review procedures in operational instructions.
| 1/5/1998 |
| | | SAR exercise brief to be standard agenda item on Local SAR committees.
| 31/3/1999 |
| | |
| |
| | |
| |
| 46 | 2.50 | HMCG should ensure all co-ordination centres participate in the required number of major exercises.
| Revise definition of Major Exercise. |
8/9/1997 |
| | |
| |
| | |
| |
| | | Monthly report of Major exercises to MCA Management Board.
| 31/5/1998 |
| | Measuring and Reporting Capability
| | |
| 47 | 2.51 | HMCG should introduce an improved set of capability indicatory as described in Appendix 2.
| Performance indicators revised and improved.
| 1/4/1998 |
| | | Implement as part of Management Information System.
| 1/1/1999 |
| | PART 3: RESPONDING TO REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE
| | |
| | Speed of Answering
| | |
| 55/56 | 3.8 |
HMCG should obtain better assurance that calls are handled immediately and handle such calls appropriately, by carrying out a survey of those who have requested assistance by radio or the telephone.
| Conduct an independent survey and report in 1998-99 MCA Annual Report.
| 31/3/1999 |
| | | Integrated Coastguard Communications System (ICCS project-telephone element to be revised to enable telephone call surveys; but in the meantime:
| 31/3/2002 |
| | | We are investigating with BT the cost and benefits of monthly reports of HMCG '999' responses.
| 30/6/1998 |
| | Effective Communications
| | |
| 5.6 | 3.10 |
HMCG should further enhance its guidance on call handling by including more explicit rules on the aspects of effective communication which are currently not covered, and by ensuring that where relevant the guidance is applied to both telephone and radio communications.
| Issue improved guidance. | 1/6/1998
|
| | False Alarms
| | |
| 68 | 3.31 | HMCG should analyse cause of false alarms to assess whether action could be taken to reduce the number of false alarms where rescue resources are sent.
| We are conducting baseline analysis of false alarms and will introduce guidelines, as appropriate.
| 1/8/1998 |
| | Monitoring and Reporting Performance
| | |
| 71 | 3.34 | HMCG should provide reviewing officers with an aide-memoire along the lines of fig 33, to improve consistency of review and to obtain better management information about the quality of work at co-ordination centres. Such improvements should permit a reduction in the number of reviews of each incident.
| Aide-memoire to be published as amendment to the Coastguard operational procedures.
| 31/3/1998 |
| | Performance Measurement and Reporting
| | |
| 72 | 3.36 | HMCG should introduce an improved set of response indicators as described in Appendix 2.
| Performance Indicators revised and improved.
| 1/4/1998 |
| | | Implement as part of Management Information System.
| 1/1/1999 |
