National Adult Social Care Recruitment Campaign - Made with Care

23red is the partnerships agency working with DHSC on their national adult social care recruitment campaign Made with Care.

The campaign aims to highlight the amazing opportunities which the care sector can provide for a fulfilling career, showcasing the amazing difference you can make every day and demonstrating that it is easy for people without any previous experience to get started.

As part of their work DHSC have recognised that a career in care could work incredibly well for those leaving the armed services and the partners of those currently serving in the armed forces.

As such we have been working with Forces Employment Charity and the Career Transition Partnership to create a suite of resources which can help to showcase the benefits of a career in care and direct people to the national campaign site where they can find out more about the roles on offer and search for relevant jobs in their area.​

The resources, including posters, leaflets and social media assets, are free to download and will hopefully provide useful support for those currently looking for flexible careers or considering their next step.

Defence Discount Service: Veterans Privilege Card Video

Defence Discount Service have introduced a new video to support veterans with signing up for a Defence Discount Service Privilege card. To watch the video, please go to this YouTube link: ​https://youtu.be/KMIHDeVl3Jo?si=WVF-WFCVde-oZIV6

Family Action Job Vacancy: Practice Development Support Office - Part Time & Home Based

Practice Development Support Office - Part Time & Home Based - Family Action (family-action.org.uk)​

• ​Starting at £24,724 FTE per annum, raising to £27,232 FTE per annum
• Additionally, £480 home-based allowance FTE per annum
• Permanent Contract
• UK home based with some travel
• Part time – 22.2 hours per week
• To apply: fill out the Application Form & send to: completed.application20@family-action.org.uk
• To learn more about the role and requirements, read the job advert and the job description and person specification
• Closing date: Friday 12th of April at 5pm
• ID: 1126

Non-UK Nationals: Lower minimum income requirement agreed for the Armed Forces

  

On 4 December 2023, the Government announced that the MIR would be increased to align with the new minimum general salary threshold for skilled workers, which is currently £38,700, with an initial increase to £29,000 in Spring 2024. This will no longer include an additional income requirement where a child is included in the application.

The Ministry of Defence has worked with the Home Office on options to mitigate the potential impact on recruitment and retention the increase may have, and it has been agreed that the MIR will be aligned with the salary threshold for Other Ranks on completion of training, which is currently £23,496. Officers earn £31,304 until completion of Initial Officer Training when their pay increases to £37,425. The MIR for HM Armed Forces will be reviewed in line with the annual pay award.

The Government introduced the MIR in July 2012 for partners and children of British and settled persons, and in December 2013 for a partner and child(ren) of HM Armed Forces, including the Brigade of Gurkhas, under Appendix HM Armed Forces to the Immigration Rules.

The full Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules can be found at: HC 590 – Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (publishing.service.gov.uk)​
A Q&A document has been prepared and can be accessed HERE

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Final round of Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Communities programme brings total grant funding to over £11.8 million in two-years

Final round of Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Communities programme brings total grant funding to over £11.8 million in two years

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (The Trust) is delighted to announce that they have awarded over £2.8 million to 32 targeted projects that will deliver real change within Armed Forces communities in the final round of the Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Communities programme.

Accommodation Survey - ARMY 2024

Modernised Accommodation Offer Review – don't miss the opportunity to have your say!

The MOD is undertaking a review of the Modernised Accommodation Offer (formerly New Accommodation Offer), following the pause in rollout of elements relating to Service Families Accommodation (SFA).

As part of the review, we want to gain a clearer picture of your personal circumstances and your future accommodation choices. We will use this data to improve our understanding of the potential demand for family accommodation, including where, how and with whom Service personnel would like to live. It will help us to create an improved accommodation offer for the Armed Forces.

For information about the survey please click here

We hope that you will complete the survey – every response matters. Thank you in advance for your help!

eRedbook - Child Health Record

The eRedbook is the electronic version of the paper Red Book - Personal Child Health Record.
Families who have a child under 5 years and pregnant ladies can download an App and register for the eRedbook.

For more information and details of how to register, please visit:

https://www.ssafa.org.uk/get-help/ssafa-community-health-overseas/eredbook

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Service Pupil support with new round of funding

Great news for schools supporting Service children in the UK! The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has announced a new round of the Service Pupil Support Programme.

Part of the MOD’s Armed Forces Families Fund (AF3), the Service Pupil Support Programme will award grants of £5,000 to £80,000 to projects supporting Service children along their educational pathway.

Contact House Directory

 Did you know that Army HIVE holds and maintains a directory of all Contact Housing available across the UK and Overseas?

For a copy, or for contact details for a location, do g​et in touch with any HIVE or drop us a message at:

rc-pers-hivecomms-0mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations (TSARs) JSP 464 updated to reflect Modernised Accommodation Offer

 The following changes have been made to incorporate the elements of the Modernised Accommodation Offer (MAO) that are being implemented from 11th March:

JSP 464 Vol 1 Part 1 V 30

• Ch 12: Forces Help to Buy Scheme – Section XII Para 1251. Refund of Legal Expenses (New Buyers) policy

JSP 464 Vol 3 Pt 1 V 24 

• Ch 3: Single Living Accommodation and the Substitute Equivalents - Charges 
• SLA Waivers 0303c. Amendment to Over 37 Provision.
• SLA Waivers 0303 y. Inclusion of the Dual Accommodation Waiver.

Details of the amendments are at this link and the full policy document can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-464-tri-service-accommodation-regulations-tsars

NHS 'Get Your Blood Pressure Checked' Campaign Launches in UK

The NHS ‘Get Your Blood Pressure Checked’ campaign launched today, and has the following primary messages: 

● High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. 

● You could be one of millions living with high blood pressure without knowing it. 

● An estimated 4.2 million adults in England currently have undiagnosed high blood pressure.

● Left untreated, high blood pressure can significantly increase your risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and vascular dementia.

○ Cardiovascular disease (CVD) causes 1 in 4 deaths in England - around one death every four minutes.

● The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get a blood pressure test. 

○ It’s a free, simple and a non-invasive procedure conducted in privacy at your local pharmacy, and you don’t need to book in advance.  

● If you're aged 40 and over, you can get a free blood pressure check at a local pharmacy, unless you’ve already been diagnosed with high blood pressure or a doctor, nurse or pharmacist has checked your blood pressure in the past 6 months.

● High blood pressure can often be prevented or reduced by eating healthily, maintaining a healthy weight, taking regular exercise, drinking alcohol in moderation, and not smoking.

● Even if your blood pressure is high, then there are things you can do to treat it with lifestyle changes and/or medication.

Further messages are:

● Getting your blood pressure checked could save your life.

● High blood pressure is a serious condition that damages more than your blood vessels and heart, but also your brain, kidneys and eyes.

● If you have high blood pressure, reducing it even a small amount can help lower your risk of serious health conditions including; heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and vascular dementia.

● Some people from Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Black African and Black Caribbean heritage may have high blood pressure at a younger age and are more likely to have serious consequences, these groups are strongly encouraged to get their blood pressure checked.

● The campaign will help support the NHS Long Term Plan which focuses on tackling health inequalities and the prevention of ill health and aims to prevent 150,000 strokes, heart attacks and dementia cases over the next ten years, by raising awareness and diagnosis of high blood pressure.

Calls to Action

● Get your blood pressure checked for free at your pharmacy today

○ Search ‘Pharmacy Blood Pressure Check’


○ Or Find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Army Welfare Service: A Message to Domestic Abuse Victims/Survivors

 

Serve & Protect Credit Union: Credit & Borrowing Videos & Financial Blog

Credit and Borrowing Videos

​Accessing affordable credit should not be complicated. The team at Serve and Protect Credit Union are here to explain all things credit and borrowing 🙌

🔗 Watch Serve and Protect Credit Union's credit and borrowing videos here - https://sandpcu.co.uk/videos-credit-borrowing

Financial Blog
Does your credit score need some help? 🤔

Serve and Protect Credit Union are here with 10 simple tips to improve your credit score, giving you better options should you need financial support.

🔗 10 Tips to Improve your Credit Score
https://serveandprotectcu.co.uk/news/10-tips-to-improve-credit-score/

Armed Forces Pension Schemes: Pension Savings Tax Changes and the 2015 Pension remedy

A newsletter has been published on the Armed Forces Pension Schemes Gov.uk website, providing guidance on:

​1. Pensions Savings tax and the latest changes
2. Pensions Savings tax and the 2015 Pension Remedy

Links to supporting guidance and sources of further advice can be found on pages 13-15 of the publication.
Please go to this LINK to view the newsletter, or to Armed forces pensions - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)​ for all AFPS-related information and guidance.​

New Defence Domestic Abuse Action Plan

The MOD Domestic Abuse Action Plan 2024-29 is a five-year plan detailing the key actions defence is taking to tackle domestic abuse. The plan sets out how defence will prevent, intervene, and partner, to support those affected by domestic abuse and ensure those who perpetrate abuse are held accountable.

The defence approach includes the implementation of a coordinated community response model, data and research working groups and the development of a military domestic abuse practice network.

As an employer, defence has a moral and legal duty of care for our personnel. But we also recognise a responsibility that extends beyond that, as articulated in the Armed Forces Covenant, that those who serve or have served, and their families, should be treated fairly. This plan reiterates defence’s commitment to create and maintain an environment that does not tolerate domestic abuse and raises awareness of the work taking place to tackle domestic abuse within the defence community.

Access via the link:

No defence for abuse: Domestic Abuse Action Plan 2024-2029 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Defence Infrastructure Organisation: Service Family Accommodation Communications Update

 

A message from DIO Chief Executive, Mike Green:

“On Tuesday, I gave evidence to the House of Commons Defence Committee inquiry into service accommodation.
I welcome the scrutiny of our past performance and the opportunity it provides for us to share the improvements we are making.

I care deeply about the homes that DIO provides for you and your families, and during the evidence session, I was again able to offer my sincere apologies for the unacceptable living conditions that many of you have had to experience.
I am determined to resolve the problems that have affected Service family homes and over the last 18 months we have done all in our power to grip the issues.

Defence Children Services, Education Advisory Team (UK) - School Place Offers & Appeal Advice

School Admissions:
Which primary/ secondary school will my child attend?

There are some key dates coming up for families who have children due to start primary or secondary school in September 2024. Defence Children Services Education Advisory Team (UK) have prepared an information sheet, which offers advice to families about responding to the school places they have been offered for their children should it be needed. This guidance is relevant UK-wide.​

For further information please go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/defence-children-services-dcs​

Defence Discount Service: Veterans Research

NEW STUDY REVEALS THAT NEARLY FOUR IN FIVE VETERANS FEEL LACK OF RECOGNITION DESPITE SACRIFICING KEY LIFE EVENTS

New research conducted by Defence Discount Service has revealed that nearly four in five (75%) veterans feel they are not sufficiently recognised or rewarded by society for their service, despite many sacrificing key family events.
The study, which surveyed 11,500 veterans in the UK, found that while in service, 40% had missed key life events such as Christmas, anniversaries, weddings, funerals and even the birth of their own children.