Partnerships

By working with other agencies we can help people to live safer, more independent lives – whether they are living with frailty, dementia, mental health concerns, a disability or old age.

We will accept referrals from any partner agency to arrange for one of our home safety officers to make a home fire safety visit where they consider someone is vulnerable to the risk of fire.

A typical free home fire safety visit takes around 45 minutes and currently includes:

  • engaging with people to understand their lifestyle, behaviours and motivations
  • highlighting any risks from fire to the home owner
  • advising people how to reduce fire risks and encouraging safer behaviours
  • fitting smoke alarms where necessary
  • providing specialist equipment where necessary (e.g. fire proof blankets, deaf alarms etc.)
  • identifying and reducing risk of trips and falls
  • screening and making referrals to other agencies for support
  • offering advice about keeping warm in the winter.

Our home safety officers can make referrals to other agencies where they identify further support is needed, for example to Age UK and other charities, local authority social care, social services, health trainers, care navigators, etc.

Making a referral

To make a referral to us, use our online form and select Agency referral (including KFRS staff and volunteers) in question 1. Alternatively, you can view or download a copy of the partner agency referral form in Microsoft Word format. Please fill in as much detail as possible and send it to:

Kent Fire and Rescue Service, The Godlands, Straw Mill Hill, Tovil, Maidstone, Kent ME15 6XB; or email priority.referral@kent.fire-uk.org or securely to DMHRC.Fire-Kent@nhs.net.

For more information, our home safety team can be contacted at priority.referral@kent.fire-uk.org or call 0800 923 7000.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service may be able to work with you

Education

In addition to safe and well visits there are a number of other areas where Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) may be able to help add value. We currently visit the majority of schools and engage with pupils several times about fire safety and road safety as they progress through primary and secondary school.

Community engagement

KFRS attends or hosts a number of public events throughout the county, mainly in the summer months. This includes open days at our own fire stations which attract thousands of families. We work with partners at many of these events to promote services such as smoking cessation and healthy weight initiatives.

Sharing facilities

KFRS has 56 operational fire stations throughout Kent and Medway, in addition to its headquarters and training centre in Maidstone and the new road safety centre at Rochester. It provides facilities at some of these premises for partners, including Kent Police, community wardens, SECAmb crews and community groups. It is exploring further opportunities to share its premises where this would bring benefits to the community or offer efficiency savings. Please contact us if you would like to explore the potential of using one of our facilities for a public service.