Y o u a n d t h e R A F Surveys Squadron Leader Dougie Bon from RAF Community Support discusses the Families Survey T
he RAF has been conducting Families Surveys since 1995 with the intention of gathering the opinions of the families of serving RAF personnel. Disappointing, only
824 (20.6%) of 4,000 surveys delivered last year were returned, showing a significant drop compared with previous years.
Concerned, we looked again at the survey in detail, with the result that the questions on the 2009 survey far better reflects today’s RAF, while still allowing a comparison to be made with the RAF of 5/10/15 years ago. We hope families will now consider it worthy of their attention when it is brought home.
Who completes the survey? Surveys are sent via a random selection of married Service personnel to the spouse/partner for completion. Currently, MoD policy is to only recognise legal partnerships ie those who are married or together by civil registration. The views of single Service personnel are independently captured by the Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey.
Construction The Families Survey is produced by the occupational psychologists at Air
Command with inputs from RAF Community Support, the sponsors. Questions are designed to identify trends and areas of concern to the family. It is important to remember that it is the view of the non-serving partner that is important here, as they may well be different from that of the serving family member, and that the questions have been ‘crafted’ to reflect this. Responses are anonymous.
The final analysis allows comparisons with previous surveys and provides a good insight into how the RAF is moving with society. It informs the highest management of the opinions of family members and forms a vital body of evidence used in the decision- making process for new personnel policies.
Changes for 2009 The 2009 survey, we hope, is more user-friendly and easier to complete. Questions have been carefully reworked to make sure that all questions are ‘intelligent’ and encourage unambiguous responses. The ‘free response box’ is still available, as we appreciate not everything can be gauged by tick boxes.
Work on the survey delayed the March 09 distribution, so for this year all 4,000 questionnaires will be sent out in September and reported on in March 10. Although this means we miss out on the ‘seasonal view’, be assured that time completing it will be time well spent.
How the surveys influence change?
As an example of just what can be done, the last 2-3 years’ results identified a widespread problem amongst non-serving family members claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance following a move on posting. The evidence allowed us to inform the debate and put in train robust arguments that something needed to change.
The Service Personnel Command Paper team took up the issue with the Department of Work and Pensions and the rules have changed. Now, any spouse forced to leave a job as a direct result of their husbands/wifes posting is fully entitled to claim Job Seeker ’s Allowance.
Similarly, with accommodation; Information from the survey indicated that there were problems with the approach and practices employed by Defence Estates and Modern Housing Solutions. As a result, both organisations received some pointed criticism and a full review has now been undertaken in both areas. Customer care has improved, as has the standard of Move In/Out processes. Survey responses also prompted the trial to reintroduce the Move Out cleaning service.
We all have busy lives, but please, if you receive a survey this September, take the time to complete and return it. Also please spread the word that comments made and views aired are taken seriously!
To see summaries of previous RAF Families Surveys go to:www.
rafcom.co.uk.
28 Autumn 2009
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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