Guidance

VAPC east Midlands: meeting minutes 7 February 2022

Updated 12 March 2024

Date

Monday 7 February 2022

Location

Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (RFCA), Nottingham

Present:

• Barry Smith (Chair)
• Richard Hurwood (Vice-Chair/Health Lead)
• Michael Whitehead (Communications Lead)
• Stav Melides (Industry Lead)
• David Taylor (Welfare Lead)
• Thomas Smith (Housing Lead)
• Gary Holden
• Andrew Holt
• David Houghton (Secretary)
• Gail Graggs (MOD VWS)
• Michael Smith (MOD VWS)
• Louise Briggs (MOD DTS)

Apologies

• Bill Dixon-Dodds
• Samantha Wileman
• David Hawley
• Neil Calvert

1. Welcome

The Chair welcomed Members to the first EM VAPC 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 RFCA for supporting the meeting.

The Chair noted that future EM VAPC meetings will generally alternate between face-to-face meetings and hybrid meetings.

2. Apologies for absence

The Chair accepted 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. VWS Update

MOD VWS representatives presented an update on their recent and continuing activity and engagement across the EM region. Of note, COVID-related restrictions placed on VWS staffs continue to limit their ability to undertake face-to-face interactions with veterans in need, with the overwhelming majority of VWS support being provided remotely. Members noted and supported the potential future utility of Community Hubs as a mechanism for VWS staffs to increase their face-to-face support to veterans as circumstances allow.

Members discussed the communications strategies/initiatives used by VWS to reach veterans, noting that some veterans still incorrectly perceive VWS as being simply a “tea and sympathy” organisation, or one that is “focussed on widows”. It was suggested that greater use of social media, including potentially making greater use of the MOD’s Veterans UK Facebook page to highlight positive outcomes achieved for veterans by VWS (and DTS), along with making the Facebook page more interactive and enhancing the degree of feedback provided to comments posted on the site, could help to address such misconceptions about the role and scope of the support provided by VWS.

5. DTS Update

The MOD DTS representative presented an update on DTSs’ current activity in the EM region, noting that DTS is currently handling approximately 80 cases in the EM, of which approximately 30 are ‘high intensity’ cases. While JSP 100 Defence Holistic Transition Policy mandates the level of service/support Service Personnel and Service Leavers can expect from DTS, it was noted that DTS is operating at, or close to, the limits of its currently available capacity.

Members raised and discussed the issue of demarcation and/or transfer of issues from DTS to VWS and noted the helpful and pragmatic synergistic approach taken by the two support teams, who often provided support in concert and who were able to exchange information readily through their use of a common IT system.

The need for DTS to engage proactively with regional military Units and third sector partners (e.g. NHS) was discussed, and it was noted that DTS continues to build its engagement with regional Units (e.g. 7th Infantry Brigade) and third sector organisations (e.g. Project Nova). Members noted, however, their belief that the work of DTS (and VWS) could be enhanced further by the MOD improving the engagement of the regional chain of commands with the vital work carried out by DTS and VWS. In particular it was highlighted that the Life Skills element of JSP 100 has still not been fully implemented. Given the current case load there is a fundamental issue to be addressed: either provide more DTS practitioners to deliver the required level of service or reduce the level of service offered.

6. Minutes of Last Meeting and Actions Arising

The minutes of the last meeting were accepted.

Updates on Actions from the meeting held on 18 Oct 21 were provided during the individual Member reports/updates at Item 8.

7. Out Brief from Ministerial Engagement & Subsequent Chair of Chairs Activity

Following the recent formal publication of the VAPCs’ Supplementary Terms of Reference (TOR), a useful telephone group conversation (joined by Chair EM VAPC) had been held with Min DPV. Members noted that the new TORs represented a 12 month ‘pilot’. At the end of the pilot, Min DPV will make a determination on the next steps for the VAPCs.

The mandated requirement within the TORs for each VAPC to submit a six month report (“initial findings and recommendations”) and, at the end of the 12-month pilot period, a second report (“final findings and recommendations”) was discussed. Members noted their view that for the 12-month report a covering, ‘top-level’, executive summary agreed (as much as possible) by all the VAPC Chairs would be essential in order to provide the Minister with focussed, key findings and recommendations.

Given the new TORs, Members discussed and agreed an EM VAPC-focussed follow-on Veterans Strategy and Associated Action Plan. The agreed Plan is at Enclosure 1 to these Minutes.

8. 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. While most AFCPBs had recently met face-to-face (or virtually) and continued to provide and develop their support for veterans, it was noted that the ability of the Lincolnshire AFCPB to draw together various strands of county/regional-wide support for veterans was being degraded by a lack of funding for the essential council-employed staff needed to lead the Lincolnshire AFCPB. It is unclear whether the plan for the City of Lincoln Council to lead the Lincolnshire AFCPB will improve this situation.

In contrast to the situation in Lincolnshire, funding provided by other Counties to support their respective AFCPBs (e.g. employment of a Community Hubs Facilitator in Northampton; a full-time AFC Officer in Nottinghamshire) highlighted best practice that was having a positive impact on the support veterans received elsewhere in the EM.

Communications

The Communications Lead Member highlighted the potential cyber risk Members faced when using a personal email address (rather than a separate VAPC-related address) to conduct VAPC activities.

Health

The Vice-Chair/Health Lead Member reported that;

A report in the Sunday Times magazine on 15 Jan 22 stated that “55 soldiers from one regiment (2 Rifles) died in Afghanistan, 22 took their own lives back home”. The Health Lead noted that he was also aware of one veteran of 3 Rifles who is suffering complex mental health issues. The Health Lead advised that he had contacted Op COURAGE staffs to see what proactive, enhanced advertising of Op COURAGE is being offered to veterans of those regiments who had been on particularly testing tours of duty. In response, he had been advised that “Rifles [personnel] in general do not appear to be adversely affected (any more than others), and other regiments/corps are more affected amongst serving (where there are better records).”

Members agreed that the Health Lead should contact Ellen Martin, the national NHS management lead for Op COURAGE, for further information on this issue.

David Wood, Midlands Lead for the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) has a meeting scheduled with the CE of Kettering General Hospital (KGH) on 23 Mar 22. The Health Lead hopes to join that meeting to ascertain whether KGH may consider setting-up a veterans’ hearing clinic.

Professor Alan Finnegan, National Lead for VAPC on Health, has produced a free-to-view six-part learning module for NHS staff. This can be found at https://www1.chester.ac.uk/news/free-online-resource-launched-offers-training-help-support-veterans.

Leicester Race Course is hosting a Veterans Race Day on 1 Mar 22. Entrance is £10 to include a drink, and all those wearing regimental headdress will get a meal voucher. The Health Lead asked all Members to advertise this event as widely as possible.

Members discussed the level and scope of NHS (England) communications initiatives aimed at reaching/informing veterans. In response to a specific query from the Health Lead, Ellen Martin, Head of Armed Forces Health – Transformation, noted that the NHS used a number of communications channels to reach/inform veterans, including;

• Monthly advertising in Civvy Street, which includes a focus on Op COURAGE.
• A forthcoming marketing campaign to raise awareness of Op COURAGE, the services it provides and encourage veterans needing help to get in touch.
• Dedicated NHS Armed Forces Twitter account which includes tweets on the service.
• Monthly AF brief issued to stakeholders from the NHS, AF charities, Defence and others who have registered to receive it, which includes latest news/updates on Op COURAGE – a previous issue included our dedicated work to support veterans impacted by Afghanistan.
• Dedicated OP COURAGE page on the NHS website.
• Leaflets and flyers to promote the service and other initiatives.
• Local media advertising and sharing of case studies.

Notwithstanding the extensive NHS communications strategy outlined above, it was suggested that the use of informal networks (e.g. Army Rumour Service (AARSE) could enhance further the reach of the NHS communications. It was suggested that the Health Lead contact the NHS Armed Forces Health, Head of Communication to discuss the use of such informal/unofficial communications platforms.

Welfare

The Welfare Lead Member reported that work to compile a database of third sector capabilities to assess their ability and resilience in supporting veterans they are targeting has now been completed. While the database will, inevitably, remain a ‘work in progress’ as capabilities change/are reassessed, Members felt that the document (which will be circulated separately to Members) will be a useful resource and undertook to review and suggest additions to the database.

The utility of the database to support the work of VWS was discussed, and Members agreed that the Welfare Lead should liaise with VWS staffs to share and discuss the database.

Veteran Interaction with CJS in Derbyshire

It was reported that, with support from the University of Derby, a safe space where veterans can meet Project Nova caseworkers will be established on Campus at Chesterfield (TBC), followed by a similar safe space in Derby.

Mental Health of Veterans in Prison

Members noted that COVID-related restrictions have precluded access to prisons. It was hoped that the situation would change as COVID restrictions continued to eases.

It was highlighted that engagement continues with the Prison Radio Association to support the needs of veterans in prison across the EM.

Housing

The Housing Lead Member noted that engagement with Councils continues in order to try and determine if the good practice model from elsewhere in England of using Section 106 funding to create dedicated veteran housing is feasible. It remains unclear whether the use of Section 106 funding for such an initiative is possible for the upcoming sales of redundant MOD sites in our area but the Housing Lead agreed to continue to investigate the issue.

9. Recruitment of new members

The Chair informed Members that a campaign to recruit new EM VAPC Members would take place in the near future

10. AOB

The issue of the utility and value of seeking a visit by [David Richmond, Independent Veterans Advisor (IVA)] (https://uk.linkedin.com/in/david-richmond-cbe-86927926) to the EM to view and discuss various initiatives was raised and discussed. Members were fully supportive of seeking to secure such a visit, and agreed to consider what locations/initiatives the IVA could potentially visit.

12. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be a face-to-face meeting, and is planned to take place at 1030 hours on 16 May 22 at the Officers’ Mess, Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Grantham.