This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Background


For years the quality of service housing, its availability and the entitlement to it (or not) has been a hot topic of debate amongst RAF personnel and their families, and it remains by some distance the number one issue reported to the RAF Families Federation. Equally, the Air Member for Personnel Briefing Team (AMPBT), Chief of the Air Staff Warrant Officer (CASWO) and others have consistently reported on the concerns and opinions expressed about Service accommodation at the grass roots by all ranks. Further, during New Employment Model forums since 2013, audiences have consistently raised matters concerning housing as their most pressing issue. The MoD has made clear that affordable, good quality accommodation remains central to the offer but acknowledges that the current model is unsustainable at an acceptable standard of provision. As part of the consultation process for the Future Accommodation Model, the MoD team asked us to survey RAF family members – spouses and partners – for their views on the provision of service accommodation.


Observations


Our results show a clear overlap within childcare, spousal employment and our personnel’s family plans for now and the future and it is important that FAM is not viewed in isolation but is cognisant of these (and other) factors that influence our people’s lives. However, regarding this survey specifically, it is noteworthy from reading some of the pages of qualitative comments that some spouse/partners are not aware of current entitlement, the policy or how potential future options could be delivered. Many people struggle to ‘imagine’ delivery against a backdrop of this lack of understanding. In addition, it is clear that SSFA management is currently poorly delivered, leading to most if not all respondents replying negatively. Again, this has led our personnel to judge future options against the current poor performance. Interestingly, despite the underwhelming performance of DIO/CarrillionAmey, there is still a positive message with respect to the future need and provision of SFA. Finally, we did not choose these questions but we recognise some them are ‘leading’ and in other cases ‘closed’, promoting a certain response.


Summary


With the MoD pursuing a number of high profile initiatives aligned to the current ‘offer’ including FES, NONJ, and FAM it is obvious through our many forums, surveys and unit visits that RAF personnel and their families need to be engaged throughout. It will be interesting to see the response to the MoD survey for serving personnel and in particular the uptake, given the high interest shown by spouse/partners. What is certain is that our people will be thirsty for feedback and clarity about the detail as it becomes available.


Methodology


Normally, RAF Families Federation surveys are conducted at a single Service level in order to best reflect and capture specific evidence and enable solid, specific analysis aligned to RAF personnel and their families. However, it was requested that the survey on this occasion be of a joint nature. Analysis is delivered in two forms: Quantitative (percentage scores) and Qualitative (where the compiler can expand on the answer given).


Findings


1540 people participated in the RAF FF survey, of which circa 80% were married. Our report also summarises the 221 pages of comments provided by respondents.


Participation – Top Level Statistics - 60% ORs and 35% Commissioned - 77% have completed 6 - 20 years’ service - 80% are married or in a civil partnership with children. 16% without children


Home Ownership - 46% owned a property but only 9% were living in their own home


wwww.raf-ff.org.uk ww.raf-ff.org.uk 3


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  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28