HOMEPORTSERVICEFAMILIESTASKFORCE09
Service Families Task Force (SFTF)
by Lt Col Justin Stanhope-White
T
he Service Families Task Force (SFTF) has how they are accommodated. In this respect,
had much success and continues to the Royal Navy is something of a role model
address issues affecting Service families. SFTF for the other two Services: having the Port
was created in 1998 to address the problems Area scheme, LSAP available at age 23 and
caused by Service families’ mobility that were the fact that levels of home ownership are
not within MOD’s control. However, it is now fairly close to that in civilian life. The Defence
accepted that SFTF deals with all family Housing Strategy aims to meet changing
issues; it has, in effect, become the ‘front of aspirations through a ‘mixed economy’
house’ for any family issue. The consideration comprising high quality Service family
of, and wider support to, families’ issues is accommodation in the right locations to
now firmly embedded within the personnel support mobility and choice for those
policy process. Ministers and officials across individuals who choose greater stability.
government are now aware of the unique The Strategy will be delivered through a
position and challenges faced by the families mix of private finance, rentals, hirings and
of Service personnel. capital expenditure, together with the
provision of more help and advice for Service written, and specialist welfare officers have
The SFTF Families Forum, Chaired by the personnel on their housing options and been established to help families who
Under Secretary of State for Defence, Ivor facilitating moves into the housing market require assistance.
Caplin MP, and attended by NFF Chair Kim for Service personnel who wish to make
Richardson, was held in early June. The that choice.
meeting highlighted the work of the revitalised Service Children
Tri-Service Families Working Group, which is There are several key pieces of legislation that
addressing the following issues on behalf of Education will come into effect in 2004 regarding
Service families: Funding and support for schools with a large children: the Children Bill being the most
number of Service children remains an issue. important. The planned and subsequent
Although funding for schooling in UK is a legislation will impact on the existing tri-Service
Communication with families DfES responsibility, talks have been held with policies affecting children. Given the
Communication with families was first raised the DfES to raise the profile of the issue and importance of the emerging legislation, and
by NFF at the Tri-Service Families Working seek ways to improve it. SFTF is actively the existence of initiatives about childcare,
Group in April this year and is now SFTF’s involved in this work: we have introduced the SFTF is working towards producing, for
top issue. It highlights that most of the Tri-Service School Liaison Policy, which was publication in 2005, a tri-Service policy on
concerns being raised by the families could reviewed in January this year and is showing childcare. This will incorporate and detail the
be reduced by early receipt of information or signs of improving the passage of information MOD’s vision and strategy in facilitating and
signposting on a subject. The information and between local education authorities and the providing childcare in the UK and overseas,
advice exists throughout the Service and Services regarding many aspects of our types of childcare provision, and rewritten
through HIVEs but is not getting to families in children’s education. policy to account for legislation and childcare
their own home, be it a quarter or a private initiatives.
dwelling. A policy for communication with
families is being investigated by SFTF, taking Foreign and
account of current legislation, the Data Commonwealth Families NHS Dental Registration
Protection Act and Service needs. However, There are several issues being addressed Service families continue to have difficulty in
interim measures being considered are an that concern foreign and Commonwealth registering with NHS dentists. This is a national
increase in publicity of the SFTF Website, spouses. These issues concern, in the main, problem – a Department of Health team is
enhanced and developed functionality/ travel, visa and entry problems. A guide for addressing the issue in England. SFTF is
connectivity of HIVE and Service websites and families arriving from overseas has been currently examining, using existing information
other Service provided information sources. and data, the extent of the problem across the
Services and will report its findings later
this year.
Housing
The second most important issue raised is
housing, an area where SFTF continues to Conclusion
work closely with SP Pol Housing staff to The work that SFTF undertakes is vital and,
ensure that families’ concerns are represented. as described above, much is ongoing, in
The MOD remains committed to the provision which NFF is fully involved. SFTF is optimistic
of good quality accommodation for Service that further progress will be made over the
personnel, but individuals’ expectations are coming year which should be of benefit to all
changing and many seek greater choice as to Service families. G
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21