FEDERATION NEWS
FEDERATION WORK OF NOTE THIS QUARTER
Online Surveys The on-line surveys the Federation is now using to supplement the workshops conducted at unit level went live on 1 Jun and indications are that family members are happy to provide evidence by this route.
Meeting the Adjutant General An unprecedented tri-Service Federation meeting with Gen Manns, the Adjutant General, revealed he had a very good grasp of family-related issues from an Army perspective and was keen to compare and contrast these with the issues being reported by Naval and RAF families. Whilst common themes were identified, the nuances between the three Services and their respective families were identified in what proved to be a very useful meeting.
Launch of NHS Armed Forces Network As follow-up work to the Service Personnel Command Paper commitments on health- related issues impacting on Service families, the NHS held a Conference hosted by the Royal British Legion, to launch its new network of advocates across England. The Federation welcomed the opportunity to learn more about this initiative and are pleased to see a team of contacts within each PCT to whom we can turn to for advice when required.
Armed Forces Covenant The publication of the Armed Forces Covenant and its documents marked a significant step in identifying the level of commitment the current Administration is prepared to give to the Armed Forces community. We look forward to seeing similar publications from the Devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales and will continue to contribute as external members to the re-named Covenant Reference Group.
A meeting of the Group at RAF Benson identified a way forward for the staffing of the first annual report, required under the Armed Forces Bill, and we will be contributing our views as to what should be covered in the report, how it is evidenced and how we measure progress against the commitments made.
Whilst fine words and public launch ceremonies across the counties are all well and good, we await the ‘proof of the pudding’, and
18 Envoy Autumn 2011
will be very interested to hear from families living in these areas as to whether there is a tangible difference in the level of support and recognition being offered to them by local authorities and the community.
Issues that we discuss on a regular basis with the Reference Group members include, inter alia: cross boundary support to children with Special Educational Needs; transfer of IVF entitlements across PCT boundaries; and the impact of overseas service on families, ranging from car insurance no claims premiums, to BFPO addresses and access to benefits, training and employment for non- serving family members.
Review of CEA (Board) The Federation has been invited to an advance briefing on the outcome of the CEA (Board) Review but, owing to Ministerial diaries, this announcement in the House has been delayed more than once. We intend to publish the outcome of the Review on the website and expect a high level of interest in this report.
CEA (Board) policy is creating significant stress for a number of families who have engaged with us this quarter and we remain concerned about the impact some of the more complex appeals cases is having on families faced with large debts incurred, as far as we can tell, in good faith.
Future Accommodation Project We continue to monitor progress being made by the MoD Future Accommodation Project team and are pleased to be contributing to the evidence being considered as part of the customer requirement.
The New Employment Model We are aware that other MoD teams are working up New Employment Model work strands that could have an impact on personnel and their families in terms of stability/mobility, pay and benefits, etc. We stand ready to contribute to these.
Next Generation Estates Contract We continue to monitor developments within the DIO as they work towards the NGEC. We were invited to observe an NGEC Industry Day at Brampton and have been invited to sit as an interested party at the NGEC
Consultation Group to ensure that the new contract takes full account of what we term the ‘customer journey’.
We are keen to ensure the many lessons learned since the letting of the original housing maintenance contract with MHS are taken on board and that the new contract capitalises on the opportunity to deliver enhanced customer service to the many Service personnel and their families occupying Service-provided accommodation.
A meeting with senior DIO staffs ensured we were fully briefed on current progress and future plans, and all three Federations welcome such regular and open contact with the DIO senior housing staffs. The introduction of single-Service six monthly briefings at HQ Air have also been welcomed, enabling the Federations to meet with the RAF Housing Colonel, CEstO and DIO/MHS staffs to discuss RAF-specific housing projects.
Themes Arising as Evidence In addition to the issues recorded on our main Database, we also provided advice and guidance to other families who sought general information. At any one time, the Federation team have on average 70 live evidence cases. Some can be dealt with relatively quickly, others take months, if not years, to monitor through to a satisfactory outcome for the family concerned.
To read the full report on the Federation website go to
www.raf-ff.org.uk and type ‘quarterly update’ into the search facility.
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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