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Falls partnership shortlisted for two prestigious awards

Community Wellbeing Officers
Partnership working with EEAST

AN community partnership initiative that helps those who have fallen in their homes has been shortlisted for two national awards.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) along with its partners from the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has secured the shortlist spot for its Community Wellbeing Officer (CWO) scheme.  

It has been been shortlisted as a finalist for both the National Fire Chief’s Council Provider Partnership Working Prevention Award 2024 and in the Emergency Services Collaboration of the Year in the Excellence in Fire and Emergency Awards 2024 for its role in the partnership along with Essex and Cambridgeshire fire services.  

The CWO initiative was launched in November 2023 in Bedfordshire and is designed to bring health response and fire prevention together. Four CWOs work across Bedfordshire responding to non-emergency calls passed from the ambulance service, from people who have fallen.  

There is an increased risk of fire in a home where someone has fallen. When emergency calls come in for non-injury falls, EEAST dispatchers can task CWOs to respond where available. This usually means the patient gets help more quickly, and while on scene the CWOs will provide fire prevention advice – from fitting new smoke alarms to discussing potential fire hazards with the patient.  

Since the project’s launch in November last year, CWOs in Bedfordshire have responded to 528 calls, and in more than 90 per cent of those incidents they were first on scene.  

Andy Hopkinson, Bedfordshire’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “Since the CWO we have been able to help some of the most vulnerable people in our community. It has also been a pleasure to support our partners in ensuring that those that have fallen at home are seen and treated quickly, relieving pressure on the whole NHS system.  

“We are delighted to learn that the work of the Community Wellbeing Officers has been recognised and shortlisted for these prestigious awards, and it is a huge boost to our CWO team.”