Kent Fire and Rescue Service is proud to hold an Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award under the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. This means that we support the armed forces community and our values are in accordance with the Armed Forces Covenant. Read more on our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion page

Kent Fire and Rescue Service was awarded Pride in Care quality standard in June 2022 for its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). 

Awarded by national charity, Opening Doors, the standard is given to organisations that commit to strengthening their inclusion of LGBTQ+ people over 50.

The Stone Wall Diversity Champion Programme is '...the leading employers’ programme for ensuring all LGBTQ+ staff are free to be themselves in the workplace'. As a Diversity Champion KFRS 'welcomes, respects and represents LGBTQ+ employees'.

The Medway Wellbeing Workplace Award recognises an organisation’s commitment to the wellbeing of its members. KFRS are proud to have received a Gold award in recognition of our commitment to our members wellbeing, comprehensive wellbeing programme, proactive approach and  range of initiatives and information provide to our members.

In adopting this charter, we commit to ensuring that Kent Fire and Rescue Service learn the lessons of the Hillsborough disaster and its aftermath, so that the perspective of the bereaved families is not lost.

We commit to becoming an organisation which strives to:

1. In the event of a public tragedy, activate its emergency plan and deploy its resources to rescue victims, to support the bereaved and to protect the vulnerable.
2. Place the public interest above our own reputation.
3. Approach forms of public scrutiny - including public inquiries and inquests - with candour, in an open, honest and transparent way, making full disclosure of relevant documents, materials and facts. Our objective is to assist the search for the truth. We accept that we should learn from the findings of external scrutiny and from past mistakes.
4. Avoid seeking to defend the indefensible or to dismiss or disparage those who may have suffered where we have fallen short.
5. Ensure all members of staff treat members of the public and each other with mutual respect and with courtesy. Where we fall short, we should apologise straightforwardly and genuinely.
6. Recognise that we are accountable and open to challenge. We will ensure that processes are in place to allow the public to hold us to account for the work we do and for the way in which we do it. We do not knowingly mislead the public or the media.

The NFCC represents the UK fire and rescue service, particularly in relation to improvement and developement

The Institution of Fire Engineers is the professional body for members of the fire service. It works to enhance knowledge and understanding and to help make the world a safer place

With members of all genders, Women in the Fire Service UK works to '...influence the equality agenda, taking active roles in research... supporting positive action initiatives, working with the government in nationwide campaigns for recruitment...' .

The AFSA is a member-led organisation which supports its members in working to achieve equality, diversity and inclusion, being of service to communities and championing the fire service. 

As a professional trade organisation for the fire sprinkler industry, the BAFSA's main objectives include '...include providing authoritative information on the benefits of sprinkler systems and how sprinklers can play a significant role in saving life and property from the devastating effects of fire'.

The Firefighters Charity provides 'specialist, lifelong support for members of the UK fire services community'.

The UK Quality Standard for good practice in volunteer management is award by Investing in Volunteers. KFRS was awarded the standard in March 2022. The service has a three year plan to build on its work to secure the standard again in 2025.

• AAT: the leading professional body for accounting technicians | AAT
• Chartered Institute of Public Finance
• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants 
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
• Association of Tax Technicians
• Association of Corporate Treasurers

The ICS is an '...independent professional membership body for customer service, working across all sectors to drive business performance through service excellence'. Kent Fire and Rescue Service has been a member of the ICS since 2016, which provides access to services and tools to assess our performance and identify areas for improvement. KFRS is proud to have been awarded ServiceMark accreditation by the ICS in 2021 as recognition of its outstanding customer service.

Service with Respect is a campaign led by the Institute of Customer Service to ‘change the law to protect customer-facing workers from abuse’. KFRS is proud to support this campaign to protect both our staff and customers.

XpertHR provide '...expert insight and practical tools to help organisations achieve greater efficiency, reduce risk and increase employee engagement'. 

South East Employers offers: '...independent employment and organisational development advice, support, consultancy services and partnering arrangements to organisations in the south east'.

Part of the NHS Devon Partnership NHS Trust Mindful Employer provides '... employers with easy access to the information and support necessary to help them lead from the front on matters of workplace mental health and wellbeing'.

Oscar Kilo '...provides support and guidance for police forces across England and Wales to improve and build organisational wellbeing'.

Disability Confident is backed by the government and aimed at '... creating a movement of change, encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people'.

KFRS is a Disability Confident Committed Employer, applying the principles of Disability Confident to our recruitment processes, reasonable adjustments, supporting existing employees who acquire a disability, and providing an activity that makes a difference for disabled people.

Granted a Royal Charter in 2020, the CIPD is the professional body for Human Resources and people development. Their vision is to '...to create a world of work that's more human. By changing hearts and minds about the purpose of work, the value of people and the role of people professionals, we'll help ensure that work creates value for everyone'.

As the organisation for health and safety professionals the IOSH works to promote 'a safe and healthy world of work.'

The Business Disability Forum is a not-for-profit organisation that works '... to transform the life chances of disabled people working through and with business to create a disability smart world'

CIPS is a  global professional organisation for procurement and supply professionals

Lantra is the National Training Organisation for The Land Based Industries, providing training and qualifications

The IAM is the UK's 'largest independent road safety charity ...making our roads safer by improving driver and rider skills through coaching and education'. 

The Improvement and Efficiency Social Enterprise is a public sector information provider 'created by local authorities as a shared resource to transform public services and retain experience within the sector'. Membership gives us access to expertise within the sector on a 'not-for-profit' basis.