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<p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) as a caring employer has a comprehensive range of
policies and resources in place to support families during the most difficult of times.</p><p>
</p><p>With regards to accommodation, Joint Service Publication 464: Tri-Service Accommodation
Regulations, makes provision for bereaved families to remain in Service Family Accommodation
(SFA) for up to two years following the death of a Service person. It is normal to
issue a 93 Day Notice to Vacate when two years is reached but retention of SFA may
be extended beyond the two-year period on a discretionary case by case basis.</p><p>
</p><p>The Purple Pack bereavement guide for families of service personnel who die
in service is provided by the MOD. A routine review of the pack is underway, with
a view to publication in summer 2024. The Purple Pack is supplemented and supported
by documentation provided by each of the Services, for example, the Army Families
Guide.</p><p> </p><p>The Purple Pack is provided for immediate adult family members.
Information is provided for adults to support and manage bereaved children, including
signposting to relevant charities and organisations.</p><p> </p><p>The Defence Bereaved
Families Group meets twice a year in Spring and Autumn. In the past five years it
has met ten times. The next meeting will be in September 2024, with the exact date
yet to be confirmed. The Minister for Defence People and Families does not routinely
attend the meeting, but he attended in September 2023 and regularly receives briefings
from the Chair and co-Chair.</p><p> </p><p>Visiting Officers (VO) are an integral
part of the support provided by Defence to bereaved families. VO are provided by each
Service and undertake training relevant to their role. The Royal Navy (RN) has 60
personnel trained as VO, the Army has 1,390 and the Royal Air Force (RAF) has 1,103.</p><p>
</p><p>Each Service runs training courses that meet their specific requirements, for
personnel designated as a VO. For example, all RN VO are either Specialist Welfare
Worker trained, having completed the Defence Specialist Welfare Worker Course (a Level
Five Social Care training course specifically for the care of service personnel and
their families), or Civil Service Social Workers registered with Social Work England
(or equivalent devolved UK registration). In addition, all must attend and pass the
RN Family & People Support VO training every three years.</p><p> </p><p>For the
Army, formal, in person training is provided for those conducting both Casualty Notification
Officer and VO duties. The training competency is extant for four years; if not appointed
within that time frame a one-day refresher course can be conducted to enable another
four years competency. The Army’s recommended minimum provision of VO is set at ten
for Regular major units, three for Regular minor units, and two for Reserve units.</p><p>
</p><p>The RAF VO competency is awarded after completion of a workshop and remains
current for four years after which volunteers must attend another briefing day to
renew it. Units are expected to aim for 2-5% of their trained strength to have the
VO competency.</p><p> </p><p>There is no fixed period of time during which a VO will
provide support to a bereaved family. This is dependent upon circumstances but normally
would not extend beyond an Inquest or Service Inquiry. Appropriate transition plans
will be put in place including arrangements for ongoing support to be provided through
a point of contact from either the relevant single Service aftercare cell or unit
HR staff.</p><p> </p><p>Via DBS’s Veterans Welfare Service (VWS), Defence also provides
support to the bereaved via its national network of welfare managers (WM). A WM is
assigned to families who experience a death in service and usually attends the initial
visit alongside the VO. Support from VWS then endures for as long as is required and
focuses on access to financial, welfare and wellbeing support as required, including
issues in relation to the Armed Forces Pension. WMs who support clients in such circumstances
are specifically trained and supervised as part of a VWS experts’ group. VWS is part
of the Defence Bereaved Families Group.</p><p> </p>
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