Guidance

VAPC east Midlands: meeting minutes 19 June 2023

Updated 12 March 2024

Date

Monday 19 June 2023

Location

Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (RFCA), Nottingham

Present:

• Barry Smith (Chair)
• Richard Hurwood (Vice-Chair/Health Lead)
• Karen Cox
• Ian Crowe (IC)
• Ron Moonesinghe (RM)
• Thomas Smith (Housing Lead)
• Michael Whitehead (Communications Lead)
• Brendan Daly (Co-opted Member)
• Paul Drury (Co-opted Member)
• David Houghton (Secretary)

In attendance:

• Louise Briggs (MOD DTS)

Apologies

• Gary Holden
• Andrew Holt (CJS Lead)
• Stav Melides (Industry Lead)
• John Berry (Alumnus)
• Bill Dixon-Dodds (Alumnus)
• Jon Price (MOD VWS)
• Michael Smith (MOD VWS)

1. Welcome

The Chair welcomed Members to the hybrid meeting (with some Members attending in person, and others joining ‘virtually’ online), and extended his thanks to Paul Desborough and his team at the EM RFCA for supporting the meeting.

2. Apologies for absence

The Chair accepted pre-notified apologies from those who were unable to attend the meeting (either in-person or virtually).

3. Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest that would affect the work of the Committee.

4. DTS and VWS update

The MOD DTS representative presented an update on DTS and VWS’ current activity in the EM region, noting that completion of the Independent Review of Welfare Services is scheduled for July 2023. A review of DTS is also nearing completion, and it was advised that this will likely recommend that DTS be provided with additional resources.

The meeting discussed the recent Veterans Services Staff Conference, which focused on training and up-skilling initiatives (drawing on external best practice) and the establishment of a Project Board to assess options for the replacement of the current Veterans’ Welfare Casework System (VWCS). While the latter initiative will also draw on external best practice, Members highlighted their concerns about the possible use of Access Mosaic (formerly Servelec Mosaic) to manage future casework, given the reputation of Mosaic in parts of the third sector.

Members discussed the potential implications of the award of the Op FORTITUDE pathway to Riverside, which includes a grant of £499,471. It was noted that VWS will be represented on Riverside’s Board to try and ensure that the referral of individuals between the organisations is as effective as possible.

The issue of inheritance tax for veterans whose death is related to their previous Service was raised. The MOD DTS representative will discuss this issue with VWS colleagues to ascertain whether this was a particular issue for some VWS client interactions.

More broadly, it was highlighted that VWS are seeing more housing and homelessness issues in their client interactions, and more cases where clients are seeking financial support due to current cost of living issues. Members also discussed a greater use of advice provided in online military-related forums by veterans seeking recompense from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS), rather than veterans simply relying on advice from welfare managers. However, there does not appear to be any evidence that this is a growing trend, but a continuance of normal activity.

5. Minutes of last meeting and actions

The minutes of the last meeting were accepted.

Updates on Actions from the meeting held on 13 February 2023 were provided during the individual Member reports/updates at Item 7.

6. Out Brief from Ministerial Engagement and Subsequent Chair of Chairs Activity

The Chair highlighted the panoply of current formal reviews linked to the provision of veterans service and support to veterans, including: AFCS Quinquennial Review; VWS’ Review; Independent Review of VAPCs, etc. The outcomes of all the reviews are scheduled to be submitted to the Minister before Parliament’s Summer Recess, which begins on 20 July 2023. Post-submission of the various reviews, recommendations will be worked through and costings/lines-to-take developed. The Meeting also noted that the VAPC-related Private Members Bill is scheduled to return to the House of Commons around 12 July 2023.

Members discussed the continuing work being undertaken by the pan-VAPCs’ Strategy Group, noting that the finalised strategy will inevitably need to take into account the outcomes of the various reviews and, in particular, the VAPC-related reviews. The meeting also discussed the imminent workshop that will try to identify what elements of veterans’ needs are linked to issues created by their Service, and what elements of their needs arise due to post-Service ‘lifestyle’ issues.

Members discussed their continuing disappointment and frustration with the slow pace of the roll-out of the system to issue veterans’ ID cards to all entitled individuals. Members were unanimous and clear in their view that the roll-out of the ID cards should not be delayed further by single Services or Service Association attempts to ‘personalise’ the cards, e.g. by adding information such as an individual’s rank. Members felt that such information on ID cards for veterans is unnecessary and irrelevant.

7. Individual member reports - updates

Policy and governance

Members allocated/assigned to individual EM County Armed Forces Covenant Partnership Boards (AFCPB) provided updates on continuing work, emerging issues and new initiatives from their respective AFCPBs. In general, Members felt that the productivity of AFCPBs across the EM had declined slightly in the last year (e.g. a recent lack of focus on Covenant partnership issues/interactions in the Nottinghamshire AFCPB), but noted the key role VAPC Members have to drive improvements within the AFCPBs.

The meeting was briefed on the work of Project TLS which had been seen by a Member during a recent visit to HMP Five Wells. Members were also briefed on the work being done at the University of Leicester to develop a computer-based system to identify individuals suffering from PTSD. The study will run until May 2025, and draws on expertise from other nations including Australia, Canada and the USA. It was noted that the University has also instigated a programme to provide routes into health careers for Service leavers via a specialist pathway.

The meeting discussed how, ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Royal Anglian Regiment’s return from their last major deployment to Afghanistan, information could be circulated to former Members of the Regiment to highlight the potential support available to individuals for whom the anniversary raises mental health issues. Members recalled the Sunday Times magazine article of 15 January 2022 (discussed at the EM VAPC Meeting held on 7 February 2022) that stated,

55 soldiers from one regiment (2 Rifles) died in Afghanistan, 22 took their own lives back home.

Members were asked to send suggestions to the Health Lead for methods of disseminating the already-prepared support information.

Members noted that the Lincolnshire ICB is considering running a pilot programme for Op CLARITY. IC informed the meeting that the Covenant Team were engaging with the ICB and Clinical Director regarding this potential initiative.

Communications

The Communications Lead highlighted long-standing, continuing issues regarding the provision of a shared communications area that would undoubtedly improve the dissemination, use and security of information within both individual and wider VAPCs. The lack of such a Government-funded/supported system remains a source of great frustration for all Members.

Health

Beyond the health-related issues discussed at Items 7.1.2, 7.1.3 and 7.1.4, Members were briefed on the imminent opening of LLR ICB AF SPOC on 24 June 2023, which will be available to Serving personnel, veterans and carers, and will run as an 18-month long Phase 2 pilot study to assess the effectiveness of such a service.

Members returned to the issue of ending the current Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) system of accreditation in 2026, discussed at the EM VAPC Meeting on 13 February 2023. IC continues to investigate how the VAPCs could influence the post-accreditation system process.

Welfare

The meeting was informed that a review of the ‘Map of Need’ was underway, along with a review of the RBL’s Veterans Gateway. Members noted that some believe the system is not performing as well as it could, but that any potential inefficiencies may be due to a lack of RBL resources allocated to it.

ELC

The meeting noted that a whole-scale review of elective education is being undertaken by the MOD, led by the Talent, Skills, Learning & Development (TSLD) Policy and Assurance Group (PAG). As part of that review, a ‘mapping’ of military qualifications against the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) will also be undertaken.

Transition

The meeting noted and commended the work undertaken by the Lincolnshire Rotary Satellite Club to mentor veterans.

Veterans interaction with CJS

Members were briefed that the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has supported an initiative by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to establish a Working Group to bring representatives from all regional police forces together. The group’s aim is to develop and implement structures and policies along the lines of those already in use by GMP, and to address the needs of veterans, diverting them away from the CJS with commensurate social and financial benefits.

Based on the support from the NPCC, GMP will host a conference on 9 September 2023 to present to other regional police forces the work they have done. Although all regional police forces have been made aware of the conference, there is little confirmed attendance from EM forces. Members, especially those who are Members of regional AFCPBs, were therefore requested to publicise the conference through/to their contacts within their respective AFCPBs.

Health and wellbeing hubs

It was noted that the frequency and utility of hubs across the region continues to show signs of improving.

Housing

Members discussed the pan-EM Regional Veterans’ Housing Forum agreed as a priority at the strategy meeting on 12 Dec 2022, and reemphasised the importance of applying pressure on the various EM Council Housing Executives/Departments to ensure that suitably informed and empowered representatives from each Council attend the Forum at RAFC Cranwell, which is now provisionally scheduled for mid-November 2023. The Forum will focus on identifying best practice within the EM and potential novel solutions to the provision of housing for veterans, including drawing on initiatives such as the Skegness Gateway.

The Meeting noted that a ‘Project Officer’ (PO) from the Committee will be needed to work with RAFC Cranwell and colleagues to bring together arrangements for the November 2023 Forum. Members were requested to advise the Chair if they believe that they could take on the PO role.

Post-meeting note

RM has volunteered to act as the PO for the November 2023 Housing Forum.

Recruitment update

The Meeting was informed that an advertisement seeking 8 new EM VAPC Members will be issued in July 2023.

Training

Members noted that training for VAPC Members forms a potential work-stream within the pan-VAPCs Strategy Review.

8. Discussion About April 2023 Veterans’ Customer Advisory Group (CAG) Meeting

The Meeting discussed the outcomes (circulated previously to Members) from the Veterans’ CAG held on 18 April 2023. Members noted the proposals to replace the current Independent Complaints Panel (ICP) and would certainly welcome more details about such proposals.

Members noted and agreed with the view that it would be inappropriate for VAPCs (as a Government Arm’s Length Body) to join COBSEO, but supported increased liaison/discussions between VAPCs and COBSEO.

9. Discussion About Inputs to Annual Report to Minister

Members discussed inputs to the imminent pan-VAPCs Annual Report. The Chair emphasised the need to focus inputs primarily around the two Ministerial Priority questions circulated previously to Members (i.e. Ministerial Priority 1: How local Armed Forces charities are operating and what impact they are making, including with statutory providers and with one another. Ministerial Priority 2: Understanding the level of awareness of Covenant and the Armed Forces Community at the local and regional level, in particular among those captured by the new Covenant Duty).

The input provided by IC (and circulated previously to Members) in response to Ministerial Priority 2 was highlighted as a very useful template for additional inputs to the EM element of the Annual Report. The Chair requested that Members provide their inputs to him by mid-July 2023, to give him sufficient time to collate inputs and identify key ‘golden threads’ for the final Report.

Any other business

Members noted that the growing number of veterans’-related support ‘Operations’/Projects (e.g. Op FORTITUDE, Project CLARITY, Op COURAGE, Op RESTORE, Op NOVA, Op COMMUNITY) may require those seeking support to be guided to the appropriate support initiative.

Date of next meeting

The next meeting will be a face-to-face meeting, and is planned to take place at 10.30am on 16 October 2023 at the Officers’ Mess, Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Grantham.