Cordia and Strathclyde fire and rescue agree unique partnership

Cordia has agreed a unique partnership with Strathclyde Fire and Rescue (SF&R) to help them identify citizens urgently requiring home fire safety advice.

Through the partnership, which is already under way, Cordia's 3,000 strong workforce of home carers will contact the fire service whenever they identify a client whose circumstances indicate a vulnerability a client whose circumstances indicate a vulnerability to the risk of fire.

Strathclyde Fire & rescue then contacts the homeowner to arrange a visit, carry an inspection, offer potentially life- saving advice and fit smoke detection where required.

This is the first partnership involving Strathclyde Fire & Rescue which involves a third party, the home carer, being present during the inspection - which offers extra peace of mind to the homeowner.

The fire service hopes it will help them reach those Glaswegians in most need of a safety visit but who are traditionally difficult to reach.

Additionally, training for Cordia's home care workforce, to assist in recognising fire risks and tell-tale signs of previous fire incidents, will also be provided by SF&R personnel to compliment their home safety training programme.

Group Commander Eddie Renfrew, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue, said: "In recent years, we have recognised the need to work pro actively to prevent the needless loss of life through domestic fires.

"Part of our vision towards making out communities safe places to live, work and visit is to provide every household within our Communities with free home safety visits where we will give advice and fit a 10 year smoke detector where required.

"Our referral partnership with Cordia has allowed us to provide this service to a vulnerable sector of the community that has, for various reasons, been hard to reach."

Fergus Chambers, Managing Director of Cordia (Services) LLP, said "I'm delighted that Cordia has been able to work in partnership with Strathclyde Fire and Rescue.

"The opportunity to provide access to vulnerable client homes is one that isn't often available to the fire service and as trusted care workers, we were delighted to help make this happen."