Interoperability – “The extent to which organisations can work together coherently as a matter of routine”
Against a backdrop of a number of national incidents and inquest recommendations and with recent focus being the safety of the UK during the 2012 Olympic Games, the past year has seen a welcome increase in focus from Government in this critically important topic.
With a determined approach from all emergency responders to address this, the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme (JESIP) has been established. This is supported by the Home Office, Department of Communities & Local Government, Department of Health and the Cabinet Office. Through a structured work programme, it is intended to support the work of emergency service partners and to address the challenges of working together effectively at complex incidents.
Running alongside the Emergency Services Show 2012, the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA), with the support of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), is delighted to coordinate the first ever National Interoperability Summit. We aim to bring together leaders and strategic managers from UK Category 1 and Category 2 responders to deliver a high profile national summit focussed on the current position and what the future holds for Emergency Service Interoperability at incidents in the UK.
What will we cover?
- Government aims and priorities with input from the Home Office and the Civil Contingencies Secretariat
- An overview of the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme (JESIP) to explain its structure and work programme
- Views ACPO, CFOA, and AACE on behalf of Police, Fire and Ambulance
- An Olympics de-brief providing a view of how the UK managed the world’s largest sporting event
- External challenge from the worlds of law, academia and the military
We aim to provide thought provoking and stimulating presentations to communicate current thinking, status and forward plans on Interoperability; to reflect on the outcomes of the largest national security challenge the UK has seen for many years and to encourage cross sector debate for the first time.
What will we learn from 2012? How will that shape the future for all the UK emergency responders and how can we build on the progress made in the past 18 months?
If you are a Chief or principal manager working in emergency response, make sure you attend this key event to find out the answers to these questions and more.
The event will run from midday on Wednesday 21 November to midday Thursday 22 November with all delegates also having free access to the exhibitions at the Emergency Service Show.
A draft programme is provided below with further details, booking information and speaker confirmations available on the CFOA website in the coming weeks, www.cfoa.org.uk/13391.
If you have any questions about the event, please email the events teams at events@cfoa.org.uk.
Draft Programme*
Conference Session One will take place from approximately 12.00-16.30hrs on 21 November followed by a dinner with After Dinner Speaker and overnight accommodation.
Conference Session Two will continue on Thursday 22 November from 09.00-13.00hrs. Lunch will be included on both days.
- Conference Opening and Welcome
- JESIP – The story so far…
- Government Position and Drivers
- Civil Contingencies Act
- Olympics de-brief
- External Challenge
- Legal Perspective and Observations
- Academic Input on Leadership in Multi Agency Incident Command Scenarios
- What can new technology do to enhance, evolve and support the work of JESIP?
- Perspectives from Emergency Responders and Respective Government Departments
- Police / Home Office / ACPO
- Ambulance / Dept of Health/ AACE
- Fire / DCLG/ CFOA
* Programme running order and content subject to change