ISSUES & EVIDENCE CAPTURED (continued)
Childcare We ran another childcare survey in 2016 and received nearly 1500 responses. Our report was briefed to SofS, and was instrumental in getting the topic included in both the MoD Families Strategy Action Plan and informing the DCYP draft MoD Childcare Policy. Issues we heard about included:
• Access to childcare facilities, especially at remote locations and overseas. • Cost of Childcare, especially the considerable disparity in costs by region. • Variations in provision and cost within the Devolved regions. • Variable governance arrangements and costs for childcare providers on bases.
Financial/Commercial Services
We worked extensively with the MoD Covenant team, with DRM and with individual companies on the reported disadvantages some RAF personnel experience with the provision of commercial services due to service in the RAF, especially as a result of overseas assignments. These included issues with obtaining mortgages, with insurance, qualifying periods for benefits, spouse employment and with mobile phone contracts. Collectively with the MoD Covenant Team and our colleague Federations, we have made considerable progress to remove disadvantage wherever possible. People coming to us with a problem now tend to be those who have not heard of the AF Covenant and are therefore unaware of how it can support them.
Medical/Dental
Again, much has been done through the AF Covenant to overcome many of the disadvantages experienced by RAF families. We work closely with the Dept for Health, the NHS and organisations like NHS England to help them develop policy and process changes and to develop training/awareness packages for their staff. However, we continue to hear from families who remain disadvantaged on issues related to, for example, dental care, continuity of care/treatment on posting of the SP and eligibility for IVF treatment.
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www.raf-ff.org.uk
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