Quality of Life report
Introduction Once again the responses we have received to our Quality of Life Survey have proved to be consistent with our previous year’s report but, importantly, we sense that our people are less accepting and more frustrated with the issues that concern them most than they have been in the recent past. We have sensed a real and palpable weariness of perceived ‘more jam tomorrow’ policies and decisions, and a growing demand for honesty and tangible improvement.
The 3 issues we hear most about are: Accommodation Childcare and its impact Manpower versus Operational Tempo
Accommodation remains by far the number one issue reported to the RAF Families Federation: CarillionAmey performance has been so poor that the company’s reputation is now irrevocably damaged – culminating in a savaging from the Public Accounts Committee earlier this year. Despite statistics showing recent improvement, the ‘lived experience’ of far too many SFA occupants remains very poor, causing stress and frustration that, for some families, is the final straw. Our people are genuinely angry about the current provision and unsurprisingly feel unprotected and ill-treated – by both the company and by DIO. Furthermore, the revised Combined Accommodation Assessment Scheme (CAAS) was introduced for SFA in April and, whilst there have been significant glitches with grading, the main complaint has been the wholly inappropriate decision to implement charge increases for the majority of occupants at a time of appalling contract performance by CarillionAmey. This has just exacerbated the sense of anger around the whole accommodation offer and that increases in charges are not being matched equitably by tangible improvements in quality and service. Many of the issues apply also to single personnel in SLA: Quality still remains patchy and the divisive lottery of grade 4 and grade 1 accommodation allocated on the same unit is not uncommon.
Similarly, we have heard more in the last 12 months than ever before about issues with infrastructure on units in poor condition and not being maintained: Leaking roofs, no heating for months at a time, broken toilets left unrepaired and limited access to facilities such as gymnasiums and clubs caused by poor maintenance have all eroded (for many) a real sense of feeling valued. Importantly, new recruits - well-qualified, intelligent young people with high expectations of a technically sophisticated Air Force - have been especially quick to express surprise and disappointment. As one young aircraft technician offered during a recent visit ‘5th generation aircraft, 5th generation Hangars and 1st generation barrack blocks’.
Finally, on accommodation, there is increasing nervousness about the Future Accommodation Model (FAM), which has the potential to change radically the way that accommodation is provided in the future. Our people are worried too about the potential impact on other aspects of Service life that FAM could bring, ranging from welfare support to the loss of ‘patch life’. FAM has been presented as offering greater freedom of choice and more flexibility about how people choose to live. But it’s also clear that the current system is viewed by MoD as unaffordable and unsustainable and that FAM represents a means to cut costs. Against this backdrop, FAM developments continue to make personnel nervous rather than optimistic and many are already concerned that SFA will be largely unavailable.
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