Proposal to scope potential research on the views and needs
of the Armed Forces Community
Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to ask the Board to consider and approve progression of
a scoping exercise for potential research amongst the Armed Forces Community in
Surrey. Dependent upon the results of this work, the exercise may result in a later
proposal to the Board to approve research.
Conflicts of Interest
Please note that this proposal arises from opportunities perceived and connections
made from the Chair’s participation in other groups and organisations in the County particularly the Surrey Civilian Military Partnership Board, Surrey Community Action
and Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People. Thus there is clear potential
for the Chair to be conflicted. This should be noted and taken into account by Board
members in considering this proposal.
Background
A report titled, “Health Needs Assessment of the Armed forces Community” produced
in March 2013 by Surrey Public Health on behalf of NHS Surrey and Surrey County
Council, included the following in its first paragraph:
“The Armed Forces Community is made up of serving members of the
Armed Forces, reservists, veterans and their respective families. This
group is poorly understood and accounted for among the local civilian
agency structures. There is very limited local data available to give an
accurate picture of this population group in Surrey . . .”
In recent years, there has been increasing awareness and activity to promote better
civilian understanding between the Armed Forces Community (AFC), with much
emphasis on the Military Covenant. The Armed Forces Covenant is the expression
of the moral obligation that the Government and the nation owe to the Armed Forces
Community. It acknowledges that members of the Armed Forces sacrifice some
freedoms and often face dangerous situations. It recognises that families play a vital
role in supporting the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces.
There are two key principles in the Armed Forces Covenant. Firstly, that the Armed
Forces Community faces no disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial
services. Secondly, that special consideration should be given when required, such
as to the injured or the bereaved.
The Armed Forces Covenant is therefore a promise made by the Government to
ensure that the Armed Forces face no disadvantage as a result of their Service.
In Surrey, a Civilian Military Partnership Board has been established and is led by the
Chairman of Surrey County Council. Its structure includes three Task Groups that
drive the main areas of activity. One of these, the Transition Task Group, aims to
ensure that the AFC in the County know where to go to get services and that the
providers of those services are better made aware of the needs of the AFC and are
prompted to make necessary changes to improve service provision.
The AFC includes not only serving personnel, who have many services provided
‘inside the wire’, i.e. on military bases and provided by the MoD, (excluded from the
work of the Transition Group) but also their families, veterans, dependents and
others who receive services ‘outside the wire’, i.e. normal civilian services. These
normal civilian services may include Housing, Health, Education, Employment and
Welfare. Transition encompasses personnel leaving the services and entering
civilian life. It also includes ‘Rebasing’, where military location changes bring new
personnel and their families into the County.
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Proposal
Evidence from many sources demonstrates that there are shortfalls in service
provision to the AFC, with many problems indicated. However, Surrey specific data,
particularly from the AFC consumers themselves, is very limited and fragmented.
This scoping proposal seeks to establish how this evidence gap can be filled.
To this end, a number of organisations have been involved in initial discussions and
are interested in taking things forward. These included Surrey Community Action,
The Army Families Federation and SSAFA - and a response is awaited from Public
Health. Other relevant parties will be approached if and when the Board approves
this proposal.
An emerging view from the early discussions is that, given the indications that AFC
issues occur across a range of services, research with this target audience might be
able to fulfil multiple needs, i.e. to gain the AFC ‘Voice’ across Housing, Health,
Education, Employment and Welfare services.
A next step will be to meet with researchers and similar from interested organisations
to examine and map out how research might sensibly and economically be
conducted.
Funding
The scoping will include an investigation of funding sources for research. There are a
number that might be available, including the LIBOR Fund and the Veterans
Challenge Fund. Healthwatch Surrey funding for the scoping should be limited to
time and travel costs to meetings.
Timescales
The scoping exercise is not included within our current work programme. Timings
will, therefore, need to be discussed with the delivery team and the work scheduled.
It is envisaged that the emphasis for scoping will be on speed as well as quality and
efficiency.
Benefits
Better understanding of the AFC issues and concerns in Health and Social Care, and
the potential to prompt system improvements. The opportunity exists to lead this
work, potentially enhancing Healthwatch Surrey’s positioning and value perception
amongst partner organisations. It may also provide an opportunity to acquire
additional funding, outside that coming from the SCC Healthwatch contract.
Recommendation
The Board is asked to consider the proposal and to approve progression of a scoping
exercise for potential research amongst the Armed Forces Community in Surrey.
Peter Gordon
11 July 2014
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