FEDERATION NEWS
Appearing before the House of Commons
Defence Committee Dawn McCafferty, Chairman of the RAF Families Federation reports on her
session before the House of Commons Defence Committee Inquiry into the Support to Bereaved and those Seriously Injured whilst Serving.
A
s part of their exploration of the Armed Forces Covenant, the House of Commons Defence
Committee (HCDC) opened an Inquiry into the support provided to bereaved Service family members and to those who suffer serious injury whilst on operations. The three Service Families Federations were invited to give evidence on 30 Mar 11, the first of a series of sessions which will subsequently involve the three Services, key military charities, the SPVA and others who provide support in these circumstances. It was interesting to see the Families Federations offered the first evidence session.
By starting this Inquiry from the family’s perspective, the Committee is clearly committed to understanding the impact of either a death or a serious injury on the wider family. Whilst much of the support
provided, particularly from a clinical perspective, is focussed on the man or woman in uniform, it is clear that a military casualty impacts on many others, not least partners, children, parents, siblings and the wider family.
My key messages to the Inquiry included my observation that the RAF is clearly committed to delivering the best support it can to families facing such tragic, difficult and often life-changing circumstances. From my perspective, as an ex RAF Administrator, there has been a real focus of late in improving the support available, and I have been impressed by the increased training available to Casualty Notification and Visiting Officers, both of whom carry out what is arguably the hardest job in the RAF. I have been impressed, too, by the improved tracking systems in place to ensure that progress along the recovery pathway for those who are injured is monitored, ensuring that the appropriate agencies are involved at the right time.
Another key message was the need for life- long support, where required. A bereaved family may require support for many years after the death; the combined role of the MoD, SPVA Veterans Welfare Service, Widows’ Associations and the military charities are pivotal to the family never feeling abandoned by the Service or the Nation. For those badly injured, again support must be enduring and we need to ensure that we can deliver that support not just for the next few years or the next ten years, but for the next 40, 50 or 60 years as required.
Finally, I wanted to draw attention to the blurred boundaries of responsibility between the MoD, the Government and the charitable sector, particularly during the critical stage of transition when a Serviceperson and his/her family move from the military environment to a civilian one. A clarification of what each sector should provide in terms of support would undoubtedly help all involved in this critical area of welfare support.
I welcomed the opportunity to contribute to this Inquiry and hope that the Committee will provide a focus on all aspects of post casualty care, leading to a recognition of the good work that is already being done and an opportunity to enhance that support where possible.
If you have been bereaved or a member of your family has been seriously injured during service and you wish to contribute evidence to this Inquiry, feel free to pass your comments to the Federation team who will ensure they are passed onto the HCDC. For further information on the HCDC, see our website links at:
www.raf-ff.org.uk
www.raf-ff.org.uk Envoy Summer 2011 25
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