From today if you have an issue or concern at work, you can contact Speak Safe @ Fair Way.

Published: 29/04/2024 | National

Speak Safe @ Fair Way is a safe, external and independent service available to all our people (volunteers and contractors too).

Speak Safe @ Fair Way replaces the Behaviour and Conduct Office (BCO) and it works differently.

You can access the service to raise issues, seek advice and make a complaint, if you choose to do so. Fair Way will assess and triage initial issues and determine the next steps independently of Fire and Emergency.

Complex cases, including bullying, harassment and sexual harm, will be independently managed through Fair Way. Fair Way will not progress anything without your consent or notify Fire and Emergency without your permission.

If you’re experiencing or witnessing behaviour that doesn’t feel right and you’re not sure what to do, Speak Safe @ Fair Way can help. They’ll provide you with independent advice to help you work through what your options are. This new service is about more than complaints; it’s about supporting you so that together we can create a place where we can all feel safe, valued and appreciated.

Coinciding with this launch today, going forward, where there are allegations of serious misconduct, the role of decision-maker will be assigned at Deputy Chief Executive level only. This has been integrated into the new business processes supporting the service. This new process does not apply to current BCO cases where a decision maker has already been assigned.

If you’re involved with an existing BCO case, the BCO will be in touch with you regarding the plan for managing your case to resolution.

To find out more about the new service, come to a Meet the Practitioners online session to hear from Fair Way and Fire and Emergency about how Speak Safe @ Fair Way works. It’s your chance to get more information and ask questions too. There are different session times to choose from, to suit your roster and other commitments. Links to the sessions can be found here.

You can also read more about Speak Safe @ Fair Way on the portal: We’ve changed the way we manage complaints and Speak Safe @ Fair Way.

To get in touch with Fair Way directly:

We’re committed to ensuring a safe, positive and inclusive place for all our people. Inappropriate behaviour causing harm to others, including bullying and harassment, has no place in our stations or in any part of our organisation.