Public Service Transformation: Organisational Change in a UK Fire and Rescue Service.

Following the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, there has been an impetus for transformational change in Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS). CFRS have undertaken a fundamental change with a strategic shift towards preventative work by implementing the Home Safety Assessments. The successful changes in this organisation challenge the understanding of how public sector organisations transform. The primary objective of this study was to explore the factors that have enabled the successful organisational changes. Methods: This research was conducted within a wider mixed-methods PhD study; the qualitative phase investigated the factors influencing the organisational changes. This research used semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 26 employees, with the data being analysed using a thematic analysis. Findings and conclusions: A number of factors that enabled organisational change in this organisation were identified. The development of a creative culture, where new ideas are valued and individuals are empowered to challenge the status quo, has helped to transform the community safety work being delivered. Yet, the continued evolution of this work has been interdependent on cultural change within the organisation and the metamorphosis of this preventive work has meant that members of this organisation are becoming specialists in working with vulnerable people in the community.