Warwickshire County Council
We, the undersigned, commit to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community. We recognise the value Serving Personnel, both Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our business and our country.
The Armed Forces Covenant
An enduring covenant between the people of the United Kingdom, Her Majesty’s Government and all those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of the Crown and their families
The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Our Armed Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return, the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families. They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment.
Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.
This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant.
Section 1: Principles of the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant
1.1 We Warwickshire County Council will endeavour in our business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:
- no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen;
- and in some circumstances that special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.
Section 2: Demonstrating our commitment
2.1 Warwickshire County Council recognises the value serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business. We will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, by pledging to the following:
- Armed Forces Friendly
- UK Service Veterans And Leavers
- UK Service Spouses And Partners
- Flexible Leave For Spouses
- UK Reservists
- UK Cadets
- Armed Forces Day
- Reserve Forces Day
- Discounts
- Armed Forces Charities
- UK Wounded, Injured And Sick
We also pledge the following:
Public Health Identifying health disadvantages experienced by the Armed Forces community (Serving families at Gamecock Barracks and DM Kineton, Reservists and veterans living in our communities), and advising integrated care system partners on evidence based reduction opportunities Recognising that Armed Forces families are transient communities in health equity terms and advising on, and advocating for, the making of appropriate adjustments or developments in integrated care system services for them Education Working with schools to: o Ensure that arrangements for School Admissions remove disadvantage for Service children. o Support children entitled to the Service Pupil Premium to improve their wellbeing and educational attainment o Recognise that it may be beneficial for Service children to take a holiday during term time and encourage Service families to discuss potential holidays with the head teacher outlining the exceptional circumstances, such as the nature of the Service persons role and commitments. For example, planned or short notice deployment. Recognising that Service Children with SEND may need additional support moving into/out of Warwickshire and take notice of the SEND Code of Practice as it relates to Service Children Adult Social Care Continue our strength-based approach to the assessment and support of adults with care and support needs, which will ensure the individual needs of veterans with Armed Forces status, and their carers, are appropriately considered and met. Encourage Care Home providers to complete the Veteran Friendly Care Home accreditation Framework developed by the Royal British Legion, Royal Star and Garter Encourage other care providers to sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant Support access to charitable support services to enable the best provision for veterans and their partners Leading the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Armed Forces Covenant Partnership (CSW AFC) Facilitating the development and operation of the CSW AFC partnership, including Chairing the partnership through the Councils Elected Member Armed Forces Champion as well as providing secretariat support Engaging partner agencies and developing a programme of work to meet the expectations and requirements of the Covenant and Covenant Duty across the partnership area Being an exemplar in our work and supporting partners in implementing the Covenant and Covenant Duty Supporting the Veterans Contact Point charity and their work across the partnership area; in part through the use of a County Council building at a peppercorn rent on a long term lease Raising awareness of the Armed Forces Covenant/Covenant Duty (internally and externally) and demonstrating support to the Armed Forces community through events such as Armed Forces Week/Day and other promotional activity Ensuring all new starters to the Council undertake e-learning on the Armed Forces Covenant as part of their Corporate Induction programme and providing enhanced Covenant training to specific staff groups such as those working in Customer Services Employment support to members of the Armed Forces Community Promoting the fact that we are an Armed Forces-friendly organisation, to our staff, customers, suppliers, contractors and wider public Subject to business need, the Council is committed to granting to Reservist employees or Adult Cadet Instructors: Up to 10 days paid leave per year for the annual camp or other training specific to their Reserve or Adult Cadet Instructor role; and Up to 10 days unpaid leave in total within a 3-year period, and each successive 3-year period thereafter, for additional specialist training to enhance their role or for progression within the Reserve or Cadet Forces. The Council will release employees for mobilisation in all but exceptional circumstances and will provide support before and after mobilisation to achieve a smooth reintegration to work. The Council will give an interview under its Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) where the essential criteria for a post are met by external candidates who are: o Serving Armed Forces personnel during the 12 weeks prior to their discharge date from the Armed Forces; o Ex-Armed Forces personnel within 3 years of their discharge date; or o Where the Armed Forces were their last long-term employer. The Council offers 2-4-week unpaid work experience placements for those who are leaving the Armed Forces, and welcomes interest from those who are Wounded, Injured, or Sick (WIS) The Council will work with employers within Warwickshire to promote the Covenant and advocate businesses sign up to the Covenant and provide employment opportunities and support to the Armed Forces community The Council recognises those who have experience from being a military cadet in its Apprenticeship scheme
2.2 We will publicise these commitments through our literature and/or on our website, setting out how we will seek to honour them and inviting feedback from the Service community and our customers on how we are doing.