HOUSING/ACCOMMODATION (does) Matter(s)
A
nother aspect of our work for evidence gathering, focuses on Service Accommodation.
Stan Brathwaite has been the accommodation specialist within the team for the past three and a half years, and in that time he has engaged with hundreds of families and single personnel in an advisory capacity.
There is so much concern and interest expressed about accommodation that Stan is going to run a regular column in Envoy to share independent advice and respond to commonly asked questions. He’s not promising the earth or raising expectations but at least helping understanding and providing us with the evidence we need to take to those providing accommodation – be it the contractors maintaining SFA or the policy makers inside the MoD.
Here’s what Stan has to say… My brief is to collect the evidence and views of RAF personnel and their families on accommodation issues – for both SFA and SLA – and present them to senior representatives of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), Carillion Amey (CA), HQ Air Community Support and Annington Homes. Whilst I also help communicate important information from these organisations to you in a straightforward and timely way, I very much see my primary role as highlighting to them what we see and hear about ‘in the real world’, based on the evidence you provide. Whilst our input may not directly change policy, there are plenty of examples where it does help influence policy for the better – the change in the approach to treating damp and mould as more than just the occupants’ lifestyle is one example.
Thought Provoking
The accommodation policies defined in the Joint Service Publication 464 (JSP 464) are
www.raf-ff.org.uk
Accommodation Officer (AO) – previously the DIO Housing Officer.
described by many of you as archaic and at odds with modern family life. Others are more understanding of the regulations as they stand. Let us know what you think: Send your views to us via
enquires@raf-ff.org.uk for the attention of the Housing Specialist. Remember, we will always respect your feedback and treat confidentially.
The new Contractor By the time this Winter edition of the Envoy goes to press, the new National Housing Prime contractor, CarillionAmey (CA) will have taken over responsibility for the ‘day-to- day’ operations of Housing Allocations and Maintenance in Scotland and Northern Ireland. This took effect from the 1st November 14 and in England and Wales on the 1st December 14. They aspire to ‘business as usual’ however we would hope that once the contract is bedded in, we would witness an increase in satisfied occupants of SFAs. On Your behalf we wish them, CarillionAmey and their staff, the very best in this venture.
Up and coming changes, terminology, definitions and buzzwords: CarillionAmey – abbreviated to CA – has taken on the allocations functionality of the DIO HASC and maintenance responsibilities of Modern Housing Solutions.
SFA – Service Families Accommodation. SLA – Single Living Accommodation.
CA Help-desk – The UK-wide ‘One Stop’ Defence housing service, located at Speke near Liverpool – This is a 24/7 operation for anything and everything related to SFAs – Telephone 0800 707 6000.
Local Customer Service Centres – previously the Customer Access Point (CAP).
Combined Accommodation Assessment System (CAAS) – This system will replace the current highly contentious 4-Tier Grading process. From what we have seen, it will be a fairer system. If you get the opportunity to attend a briefing on CAAS, I would urge you to do so. More on CAAS in the next edition of Envoy
Last Word
It is my intent to ask you to submit interesting articles for publication in the Envoy. The articles can be of your personal experiences in SFAs (or Married Quarters). Don’t worry, our Envoy Editor, Caroline Woodward, will make any editorial changes for presentational purposes, but will in no way dilute the gist of your input. The Articles can be light-hearted, or serious as you wish. The author of articles published will receive a beautiful bouquet of flowers or if flowers are not to your liking, a gift token.
Envoy Winter 2014 17
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