Enclosure

SUPPORT - SPEAKING NOTES - D SP Pol (Medical Adviser)

1. The agreed priorities of the workstream are:

2. The new model of working will devise and deliver projects and activities within these priorities using a project management working model. This means identifying:

3. A final important attribute is feasibility - all suggestions need a reality check.

4. To maximise our efforts in this workstream, some assumptions underpin the work.

(i) Work needs to be Veterans-focussed and to take place within the context of the AFOPS strategy. We need to define boundaries/constraints and to be particularly aware of the high risk interface areas where civilian and armed forces life meet.

(ii) We should avoid replication - working in chimneys - re-inventing wheels.

(iii) To achieve this, preliminary work ahead of commencing projects is key. We need to look wide and scope activities.

(iv) We need to base projects and activities on evidence.

(v) Activities should then be coherent within the Initiative, the MoD, across government and the wider UK community and beyond - ultimately supporting inclusivity

(vi) an important enabler in this work is effective communications.

5. This workstream is broadly concerned with issues of social welfare, and so scoping work has included making contact and establishing good working relationships with other government departments, devolved assemblies who have the lead in the particular areas, for example the Department of Health (DoH), Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Social Exclusion Unit (ODPM SEU) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The aim has been to become informed about current relevant activity and identify possible joint thinking and projects.

6. Some initial ideas that meet the principle and assumptions have emerged under four themes.

A. Mental Health issues

The MoD takes mental health issues very seriously, and it is currently an NHS priority. Specific topics of common interest to both Departments include, in the wake of 9/11, psychological. Another common focus is population group. The DoH/NHS has identified young men as a target population. Just as in the armed forces, stigma, perceived discrimination may prevent young men in the civilian population appropriately accessing help.

Suggestions for possible joint MoD/DoH projects include work to bridge the culture gap between service and civilian life.

(i) NHS providing information about available services in the civilian community - how to register with a GP - what to expect in terms of care and treatment.
(ii) MoD addressing awareness of armed forces matters to front-line health professionals including the new NHS outreach teams.

Possible Research areas now being worked up include studies on Suicide/Deliberate Self Harm and Delayed onset/presentation PTSD.

B. Work is Good for your Health

Modern thinking on disability and anti-discrimination law means that the emphasis is now capability enhancement and empowerment of people with disabilities.

There are two major government initiatives with which we are closely involved:

Details are available separately. Essentially, these projects are not about forcing disabled people into work. Rather they aim to provide support and rehabilitation for people to enter and retain paid work and in that way, to regain their place in their families and communities.

C. Support/Grit for the Road

Social vulnerability and prevention of social exclusion is another priority of the workstream. On behalf of DCDS (Pers) a major review of welfare support within and beyond service is planned.

This will provide opportunity to identify needs, relating them to resources and capabilities, find any gaps and ultimately provide efficient effective solutions.

Perhaps even more importantly it will allow us to examine ethos and help to adopt attitudes and approaches based on partnership with clients and in tune with today's world. Our motto might be "hand up not just hand out ".

D. The Boys of the Old Brigade

Lastly, we are about to move into project mode identifying outcomes, milestones and a timescale in William Vineall's study on the Costs of long term care.