IMPROVING INCIDENT COMMAND DECISION MAKING
Phil Butler: the THINCS Behavioural Marker System
Phil Butler’s PhD field of study is within psychology. He is specifically studying incident commander decision making in the fire service in general. He believes that the review of the performance of incident commanders tends to focus on the technical aspects. It doesn’t tend to look at the non-technical skills deployed in incident command. Other industries have seen this as essential (nuclear power, pilots) but the UK fire and rescue services are somewhat behind in creating a system that tests for these.
Phil applied to the Fire Service Research and Training Trust for support through a Small Project Grant and he’s using it to refine his new THINCS behavioural marker system that will help to improve the development of UK FRS incident commanders by making them more resilient to human error.
We asked Phil, what made you approach the Trust?
I first became aware of the Trust at the 2017 Fire Related Research and Developments Conference, where I met John Lancaster, Secretary of the Trust, who was promoting it to the academic and fire and rescue service community. I noted John’s contact details and checked out the Trust’s website and funding criteria before introducing it to my Supervisor at Cardiff University, Professor. Rob Honey, as a potential funding source for my future research.
Since the conference in 2017, my research findings into the non-technical skills of incident commanders and the development of the THINCS (THe INcident Command Skills) behavioural marker system has attracted a lot of attention. I was extremely flattered at the beginning of 2018 when the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) asked me to conduct a large scale evaluation of THINCS and its mobile app. This led to the idea that it would be advantageous to all if I carried out the evaluation over 6 months whilst working to the NFCC. For example, I would be able to assist them with other incident command related projects.
The nature of my work would include research, and the design and delivery of THINCS-related training, in particular that for incident commanders and those who will assess them. I recognised that this work and the THINCS system itself met the criteria of the Trust, which led me to apply under the Small Project Grant scheme.
How was the process of applying for a grant?
The application process was straightforward. Initially, I discussed the nature of my application with John Lancaster, who was really helpful and convinced me that the Trust was the organisation to approach. So, I wrote my application in accordance with the guidelines available on the Trust’s website and submitted it in good time to be considered at the next Board of Trustees meeting. They generously agreed to fund my proposal subject to me working with their recently appointed consultant, Jim Owen, to refine it a little ahead of the funds becoming available. The support from Jim was fantastic. His insight into the Trust and its funding schemes were invaluable and made this process very easy.
Tell us what you are looking to achieve with the grant
The funding received from the Trust for the 6 month project will be instrumental towards achieving the aim of THINCS, i.e. to improve the development of UK FRS incident commanders by making them more resilient to human error.
My personal goal is to help reduce human error and the accidents associated with it, by improving the development, training and assessment of the essential non-technical, command skills of incident commanders, e.g. decision making and interpersonal communication. This may only be achieved with a reliable, valid and useful behavioural marker system that complements the technical assessments all incident commanders undertake.
A preliminary evaluation of THINCS indicated that it was just such a system, but the Trust’s funding will enable a large scale evaluation involving fire and rescue services from across the UK to be conducted to see if this can be replicated. It also provides a wonderful opportunity for the recently developed THINCS mobile app to be evaluated and for me to carry out work for the NFCC in relation to their national leadership strategy and units of competence for incident command.
Would you recommend any other individuals to apply?
Overall, I would strongly recommend the Trust to others as a source of funding. I know I am biased because the Trust’s aims align strongly with my own (and let’s face it they funded my project!). Yet, despite this, I can honestly say the support I have received from my initial enquiry, through the application process and during the running of the project has always been generous and helpful and provided by friendly, knowledgeable people.