HOMEPORTINFORMATION07
Rebalancing Lives
by Captain Simon Ancona
O
ur vision is that there must be a policy practices to the department to become as tough defending
goal within Fleet to reduce the burden back it up. people issues as we have become in balancing
on ships, submarines and other units when in This means books or driving output goals. If nothing else, I
the UK, thereby creating better work/life that people would like it to be used as a checklist of
balance for personnel. I head the team taking need to be considerations or to ensure matters of
this vision forward. held importance are suitably graded. I believe the
accountable tool has much wider possibilities across different
Getting the Balance Right for how their functional areas, ensuring the proper treatment
The aim of the Rebalancing Lives (RBL) team is to actions affect of people as a resource.
make the balance between work and personal personnel.
life better for our people primarily alongside, Everyone Making a Difference
disembarked or ashore. I have named the should realise that it is our people who are most Although much work has been done and is
enemies as disruption, uncertainty, drudgery and important and that the impact on personnel of underway, RBL will not deliver a ‘seismic’
boredom, wasteful working and unreasonable any activity should be as central to HQ culture change overnight. I cannot wave a wand over
pace or weight of work. To reduce work given, I as money and activity. With these requirements manning shortages and areas of serious
have asked that all people help in looking hard in mind, the Personnel Penalty Score (PPS) tool gapping and it would be unfortunate if
at what we do and devising ways of shedding the has been developed which predicts a score to unrealistic hopes were to turn to
unnecessary so that our people are better off. give an accurate measure of the severity or disappointment and scepticism. In the medium
Teams have been processing an impressive benefit to people of a particular decision. It is to long term the work will take effect, and I am
number of inputs from ships, and many ideas of hoped that it will be widely used and help drive confident that most initiatives will make a
reducing unnecessary work have become reality. the change in ethos and management, allowing considerable difference. G
RBL is even ready to spend money on good
Psst! Want to buy a house
ideas, but not as a fund for mess cushions and
playstations! Money has been spent on serious with someone else’s money?
initiatives which have helped to improve work/life
balance by saving work-time, which is then
available to be used constructively as down time W
ell, maybe that’s not entirely true, but it schemes (LCHO) that may apply to you if you
got your attention! In fact there are are in the last six months or so: Shared
(not a saver to create space for more work). several ways that you can access extra Ownership and HomeBuy.
Whether it be studies into improving IT or financing for home purchase, one while you
cleaning methods, the introduction of a remote are still serving and two others when you are Shared Ownership involves a part purchase of
watch-keeping system for minor war vessels, leaving or have left. So let’s start with the a property with a rental charge payable on the
improvements to learning centres, improved money you can access from the Military. part you don’t buy. As the properties are built
access to sport and adventurous training or by Housing Associations, the rent will be at a
overall support alongside, there is an effort in The Long Service Advance of Pay for Home level similar to Council rent levels. This could
almost every quarter to make things better. Purchase scheme (LSAP) has been running for enable you to get a foot on the housing
some time now and can provide an interest ladder, even when prices are double what you
Flexible Working free advance of pay of up to £8,500. This can can afford – just buy half a house!
The ‘core working week’ has proved a be used as part of your deposit and, in many
resounding success and has been widely cases, to help with the expenses of buying. Homebuy is a 75% purchase with the Housing
adopted. Many ships are now dividing the ship’s You then repay the money direct from your Association funding the other 25% as an
company in two groups – those who live aboard, salary over 10 years with any residue taken interest free loan, which is only paid back
who often travel home at weekends, and those from your terminal gratuity when you leave. when you sell the property. Shared Ownership
living ashore locally. Those living ashore can There are obviously rules concerning this and HomeBuy are both in short supply (well I
finish as early as 3.30pm daily (midday on scheme. Navy personnel need to be over 23 never said the Chancellor was generous!). So,
Friday), giving them more time with their families. years old and on an Open Engagement, but if get your name down on a Council or Housing
The on-board group start their week after lunch you wish to buy a house for your family to live Association waiting list a.s.a.p. and find out
on a Monday and finish on Thursday night but in why not consider this option. After all, what’s available.
work longer hours onboard, effectively freeing interest free money is not available that often.
them for long weekends. Ships have different If you are interested in any of the schemes ask
variations on this routine but most have found it The other options go one step further and us here at JSHAO for more details and see
reduces frustrations significantly. actually allow you to spend the Chancellor of whose money you can spend!
the Exchequer’s money. Yes, that’s right, the
People, People, People Tax-man is putting his hand in his pocket for Jae Burgin
One particular area of interest to me is one of a change! Senior Housing Adviser
the most important and difficult: to re-establish a Joint Services Housing Advice Office
people centred ethos and the management There are two Low Cost Home Ownership 01722 436575 (94331 2575) G
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