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Surrey Safer Food Partnership

 Surrey Safer Food Partnership (SSFP) is a collaborative initiative between 10 local authorities in Surrey and CMi plc, to improve standards of food safety through implementation of Safer Food Better Business (SFBB) in 929 small catering businesses across the County. The initiative also includes Surrey's Trading Standards Service promoting "healthy eating" at each of the 44 planned seminars to be held during 2007/8

Aims and Objectives

The aim of the Surrey Safer Food Partnership is to implement Safer Food Better Business (SFBB) in up to 929 small catering businesses, and to work in partnership with other stakeholders such as Trading Standards to promote the "healthy eating" agenda. Two target groups are identified:

• Phase 1: mainly Category Cs lacking a cohesive Article 5 hygiene management system.
• Phase 2: Category Bs and those lacking commitment to and / or semblance of a hygiene management system.

A small number of ethnic themed seminars will be included utilising the relevant SFBB pack together with interpreter support where required. Seminars will include complementary initiatives, such as healthy menu choice considerations, promoted by Trading Standards. Limited assessment of SFBB’s influence in a “scores on the doors” initiative that one partner authority may implement will also be included. Food allergens awareness is another closely related topic which links Environmental Health with Trading Standards for which information will be provided to compliment the SFBB safe method sheet.

Trading Standards will be providing a 'Business Pack' to each trader that includes FSA, and SCC information on "Healthy Eating", plus other information relevant to their business such as food standards legislation, and contact details for sourcing local produce.

Benefits to local businesses include a free training resource that could not otherwise be provided at this level, and to the public through anticipated improvements in poorer performing businesses. Other benefits include reductions in inspection frequencies or time spent with businesses covering basic hygiene and food standards matters, thus enabling greater focus on health education, targeted interventions and obstinate or rogue traders. Better standards overall will also have a positive influence on risk management assessments within Partner authorities.

As a countywide initiative the Partnership hopes to derive benefit in developing the local skill base among food business operators and food handlers, improving the local standing of businesses in terms of reputation and reliability, and enhancing the image of Partner authorities as a result of obtaining this resource for local businesses. Partners will also develop useful, transferable skills in partnership working and project management

Partners

• Elmbridge Borough Council,
• Epsom & Ewell Borough Council
• Guildford Borough Council
• Mole Valley District Council
• Reigate And Banstead Borough Council
• Runnymede Borough Council
• Spelthorne Borough Council
• Surrey Heath Borough Council
• Waverley Borough Council
• Woking Borough Council

and CMi plc. 

The Food Standards Agency provided funding for the project

Methodology

Surrey Safer Food Partnership (SSFP) supported and favoured an orthodox approach similar to that adopted in SFBB pilots. SSFP contracted CMi to recruit coaches (as distinct from enforcers) and implement SFBB locally. CMi arranged a programme of 44 half day seminars in conjunction with the partnership authorities with places at each for up to 25 attendees. Seminars commenced in January 2007 and will run through to February 2008.At each seminar, businesses will be urged to take up the offer of one-to-one coaching. Trading Standards have two portable stand up banners promoting 'Salt reduction' and 'Healthy menu options' which will be displayed at each seminar. They will also provide a 'Business Pack' to compliment the 'SFBB pack for caterers' which will be given out at the start of each seminar. Trading Standards plan to interact with attendees during the half time break and at the end of the seminars to discuss ways in which businesses can cut down on the amount of salt and saturated fats they add to their food, etc.

Each Partner authority has carefully considered its own local situation and circumstances in determining the number of businesses to include. Partner authorities have each indicated what level of involvement they will have in the scheme by the number of businesses included. Each authority will be responsible for providing sufficient details of those businesses to enable CMi to contact and arrange training for them. Partner authorities will aim to schedule evaluation visits to premises within two to three months of coaching using the evaluation pro forma

Promotion

Each authority was be responsible for providing sufficient details of the businesses to be targeted to enable CMi to contact and arrange training for them. The partnership also printed 1,500 flyers promoting the free training. Contact was made with each of the targeted businesses through a combination of telephone contact, visiting businesses in person, and follow up letters with an "SFBB flyer".· Each delegate and business to receive a certificate of attendance

Resources

The FSA funded a large share of the project with each authority providing funding 'in kind' in terms of hours, eveluation etc.. Trading Standards funded stand up banners and business packs. Partner authorities arranged, either individually or jointly, suitable venues for seminars and provided the requisite presentation equipment – laptop, power beam and screen – on each occasion. SSFP will be represented at its local seminars by an officer of the host and / or neighbouring authority where jointly arranged. Officer participation at seminars will be at local discretion in consultation with the CMi coach. Trading Standards provided an officer to attend each seminar.

Evaluation

Evaluation forms are completed by attendees at each seminar. On site evaluation will also take place in 70% of premises during the third month after the coaching session to give businesses sufficient time to demonstrate implementation of SFBB to the officer. Ideally, evaluation processes will tie in with the inspection programme where this can be arranged. Where not, specific evaluation visits will be made at the third month wherever possible. Overall a minimum of 555 of businesses will be evaluated for the project in this way.

The Project Management Board is be in regular contact with one another and will meet monthly to review progress and make its report. The Board may determine minor administrative matters but otherwise decisions will be made in consultation with all Partners where practical and necessary to do so. Urgent matters will be referred through the Project Lead Contractor in its capacity as coordinator. Aside from formal meetings communication will continue on a day-to-day basis through established channels, most frequently by e-mail and telephone.

Quality of delivery will be determined primarily via the evaluation process. Whilst some Partner authorities will wish to do more, SSFP will evaluate a minimum of 555 of businesses through a physical inspection using the SFBB Progress Evaluation Form. Attendance at early seminars will enable officers to gauge the quality of these events and any concerns about training and / or coaching will be referred to CMi to resolve to the satisfaction of the Partner authorities.

Lessons Learned

• Business targeting is now being monitored more closely to avoid over-subscription due to 'extra's' arriving.
• Authorities have found that a further phone-call to each business a day or two before the event generally ensures a good attendance.
• Where considering an ethnic audience (even given that the majority may speak English fairly well) a translator is a very useful addition. 
• Having a translator on hand is particularly helpful when filling in seminar evaluation forms, for example, as many delegates struggle to comprehend written questions and/or scoring methodology.  

Future Developments

Hopefully, the project will raise standards throughout the catering industry in Surrey. We are hoping that businesses will report that the workshop / coaching system has helped / will help improve their food safety management systems, and make them more aware of the "healthy eating" agenda. As the project is still ongoing, it's too early to evaluate whether the partnership intend to continue the project at this stage.

Contact Details

• Trading Standards "Healthy Eating" banners