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05 Oct 23. Armed Forces Pensions Disputes – Numbers and Analysis.
As the Armed Forces Pensions Scheme (AFPS) Administrators for the Ministry of Defence (MOD), we aim to get decisions right first-time, every time.
Visual representation of facts and figures
However, there are occasions where customers believe we have come to the wrong decision, or that they have suffered maladministration. If this is the case, customers can submit formal appeals or complaints to the Scheme.
We have produced a report to explain the appeal and dispute procedures to customers and this is now available on GOV.UK, with statistics from the last Scheme Year and including details of the lessons learned from appeals which were concluded during the year.
Armed Forces Pension Disputes – Numbers and Analysis – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The evidence demonstrates that the Scheme administers a transparent, supportive, and reliable appeals process, backed up by a low rate of appeals across all case types and a low rate of overturning of original decisions. Routes of appeal are well communicated and accessible for all customers; supporting them with accessible forms, gathering evidence on their behalf and keeping them notified of progress. The statistics demonstrate strong, robust decision making in what are complex and sensitive cases. The Scheme has learned valuable lessons from the data analysed in this paper, and specifically
from cases in which the Scheme’s original decision or position was changed on appeal. As Scheme administrators we recognise the need to continually improve our provision of service to members who dispute decisions or outcomes and will continue to give attention to how we can best support our members to provide even more comprehensive and useful evidence in support of future appeals.
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
05 Oct 23. Civvy-sweet: Redeployable is the new smart career platform matching the UK’s exceptional ex-military with the UK’s exceptional employers.
- Redeployable’s smart technology matches the right person with the right skills to the right roles
- The digital platform standardises job listings and and matches them with candidate profiles, cutting the need for CVs, cover letters and recruiters
- Founder, Ben Read, says hiring through Redeployable will not only solve the current skills shortage, but connect exceptional talent with exceptional employers
New recruitment platform, Redeployable, which specialises in placing ex-military candidates into civilian roles, has made its debut in the UK market. The smart career platform is a game-changer in the recruitment arena, offering a people-focused but technology driven approach to connecting employers and candidates searching for the very best.
Simplifying the process
Redeployable simplifies what can be a complex transition from military to civilian life. The platform standardises job descriptions so that veterans leaving the army can translate their skills into highly marketable business competencies. It’s a technology solution that delivers to very human needs – removing the potential for error, opinion or unconscious bias – to ensure that people, skills and roles perfectly align.
The platform seeks to remedy the significant shortfall of highly skilled workers across all tech enabled sectors in the UK – an imbalance between talent supply and demand that costs UK employers an estimated £4.4bn every year. Redeployable is different because it carefully pre-vets all companies and candidates to ensure skills and requirements match before they meet.
Trusted relationships
Redeployable invests in forging trusted relationships with an extensive and growing employer network, from the biggest brands to the most exciting and specialised start-ups. Employers can compare candidates’ skills like-for-like, with technology that automates the connection between users.
Redeployable is offering its ex-military partner members the opportunity to act as community mentors – knowing the pitfalls to avoid and the guidance, tips and hacks to fast-track a successful new career. Mentors will attend Redeployable events and provide friendly, knowledgeable, and actionable advice in a familiar and supportive environment. These events will include parties where people get to meet others just like them, and speed networking and guest speaker programmes, where people can further hone their job-seeking skills.
Redeployable futures
Plans for Redeployable are as ambitious as the talent it serves, over the next five years, the company’s mission is to use its technologies to match thousands of exceptional people and employers – to transform opportunities for both.
Ben Read, Founder of Redeployable says: “HM Armed Forces is a unique and hugely diverse talent pool – the RBL estimates 1.1 m strong in the UK alone. These are people who are committed, adaptable and resilient. Whatever stage of the post-military journey – whether service leavers fresh out of the forces, career switchers wanting a change in direction or career progressors looking to build on success, – Redeployable showcases their extraordinary skills to employers who, in turn, are looking for the best of the best.”
Ben adds: “Forces personnel are trained to deploy at a moment’s notice, turn chaos into clarity in seconds and complete complex missions efficiently and effectively. These are the priceless skills that companies are looking for as the ex-military redeploys to civilian life.”
For more information visit www.redeployable.io and for press enquiries contact .
About Redeployable
Redeployable was founded in 2022 by ex-REME aircraft engineer Ben Read who, in his own words, “…started an amazing career after leaving the British Army through a mixture of determination, ambition… and pure luck.” He realised that his experience of carving out a rewarding and well-paid post-military career could benefit others – and that smart technologies could remove luck from the equation.
Redeployable’s growing employer network currently includes Attensi, Carma, Close Brothers, Connectd, Descarters, Genomics, Grayce, MASS, Patchworks, Opencast, Orbit, Relative Insight, Rowden, Satcom Direct, Shipster, Shopworks, Sparklayer, The Electric, UKspace and Xero.
03 Oct 23. Expert meeting on the health conditions of Gulf War Veterans.
On 12 September 2023, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs hosted a meeting to interrogate the evidence around Gulf War Illnesses.
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, The Rt Hon Johnny Mercer MP convened a group of clinicians, leading-academics and veteran experts to interrogate the evidence around Gulf War Illnesses and to explore options for further work.
Experts from King’s College London, Newcastle University, the Royal British Legion, Combat Stress and NHS England discussed the existing and international body of evidence on Gulf War Illness, and how this can best inform treatment for veterans with service-related conditions.
The Minister sought advice on a number of specifics commonly raised by campaign groups, including vaccines, chemical weapons, and munitions. Based on a thorough review of the latest data and evidence, the group concluded that the current available research still does not yet identify a specific cause for Gulf War Illnesses.
There was unanimous agreement that the most impactful way to support Gulf War veterans with adverse health conditions is for them to present to their GP to seek appropriate treatment for their symptoms. It was noted that their GP could, if appropriate, refer them onto further support, for example via Op RESTORE or Op COURAGE, if they live in England.
The Minister confirmed that existing policy already entitles those who are ill as a result of their service in the Gulf to be eligible to apply for a War Pension.
The Minister gained agreement from the group to meet annually to ensure that new evidence continues to be considered in the future.
Experts present at the meeting:
- Antony Baines OBE – Executive Director of Services, Royal British Legion
- Professor Peter Blain CBE – Emeritus Professor
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University
- Dr Anne Braidwood CBE – Medical Advisor to Chief of Defence People
- Professor Neil Greenberg – Professor of Defence Mental Health, King’s College London, Former Royal Naval Clinician
- Professor Edgar Jones – Professor in the History of Medicine & Psychiatry, King’s College London,
- Dr Jonathan Leach OBE – NHS England Associate Medical Director for Armed Forces Former Army Clinician
- Professor Dominic Murphy – Head of Research Combat Stress
- Professor Sir Simon Wessley – Co Director of the KCMHR and formerly the Director of the PHE NIHR Health Protection Unit for Emergency Response and Preparedness (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
01 Oct 23. FCDO to recruit more armed forces veterans.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will implement new measures to increase the number of staff employed with military backgrounds.
The FCDO will implement new measures to increase the number of staff employed with military backgrounds.
Plans will encourage applications from veterans to the department and improve their chances of successful appointment. Roles are open to veterans in both the diplomatic service and in jobs across the UK. This will include FCDO representation at career fairs for veterans of the armed forces, and promotion to increase take-up of a guaranteed interview scheme for people who have served in the military.
Once recruited, plans are being developed to encourage career progression. This includes a bespoke mentoring scheme to support veterans to reach the Senior Civil Service.
Data on the number of veterans recruited will be published next year to demonstrate progress made against this ambition.
28 Sep 23. Veteran ID cards: First veterans receive cards as phase two rollout begins. The second phase of the long-awaited Veteran ID card rollout has arrived, to cover all long-standing former members of the British Armed Forces.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Johnny Mercer visited HMS Sultan in Gosport where the cards are being manufactured and issued the first of the phase two cards to four military veterans.
Since 2018, all service leavers have been entitled to a Veteran ID Card, but this new phase will provide cards to longer-standing veterans.
Mr Mercer said: “I’m pleased for the veterans. You can see what it means to them. You can see how long they’ve waited for it.
“That’s what it’s all about. This is not an issue that’s been burning away at me for a long time, but I know the veteran community is huge and it’s been delayed for a long time.
“I was determined to come in and make a commitment and get them into people’s hands this year.”
The Veteran ID cards allow former personnel to easily verify their service to the NHS, their local authority, and charities, helping them to access support and services.
The cards – which the Government aims to issue to every veteran in Great Britain – are also a memento of service and help maintain a tangible link to the Armed Forces. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
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SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing lifelong support to our Forces and their families since 1885. In 2020, our teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 79,000 people in need, the currently serving (both regulars and reserves), veterans from the Second World War and those who have served in more recent conflicts, as well as their families. SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person – any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us.
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/about-us
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us
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