Guidance

Tri-service disability and additional needs policy (JSP 820)

Published 18 July 2019

This guidance was withdrawn on 8 March 2023

This publication is withdrawn as it is not current.

Please access the Forces Additional Needs and Disability Forum’s publication Additional needs and disability: a guide for service families.

How to use this JSP

JSP 820 is intended as a practical guide on the application of policy in support of those service personnel and their families who may have a disability or additional need. It is designed to be used by staff responsible for the delivery of that support. This JSP contains the policy and direction on disability and additional needs welfare support and guidance on the processes involved and best practice to apply.

The JSP is structured in two parts:

• Part 1: Directive, which provides the direction that must be followed in accordance with statute or policy mandated by defence or on defence by central government.
• Part 2: Guidance, which provides the guidance and best practice that will assist the user to comply with the directive detailed in Part 1.

Advice, feedback and contacts

JSP 820 is owned by People: Service Personnel Welfare Support. For further information on this guide, or to provide feedback please contact:

People- Service Personnel Welfare Support
Families and Welfare
Phone: 020 7218 7759

Part 1: Directive

JSP 820 is the authoritative policy and guidance on the support available to service personnel and their dependants who may have disabilities or additional needs.

1. Introduction

References

A. The Children Act 1989 and 2004.
B. The Education Act 1996.
C. The Chronically Sick and Disabled Person Act 1970.
D. The National Assistance Act 1948.
E. The National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.
F. Equality Act 2010.
G. JSP 898 Catalogue of Defence Policies with Impact on Training and Education.
H. JSP 342 Education of Service Children.
I. JSP 752 Tri-Service Regulation for Allowances.
J. JSP 464 Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations (TSARs).
K. JSP 800 Defence Movements and Transportation Regulations.
L. Naval Service Policy - BR3 Part 5 Chapter 24 Para 2422
M. Army Policy: AGAI Vol 3 Chapter 108
N. RAF Policy: AP3392 Vol 2 Leaflet 2411

Policy

1). The MOD has a duty to ensure that national legislation is adhered to within the UK. It is MOD practice to implement the spirit of UK legislation within overseas commands wherever it is appropriate and practicable to do so. Arrangements exist within the single services to assist personnel and their dependants who have disabilities and/or additional needs including health and social care. Registering a disability or additional need within a service person’s dependent family will allow the single service to provide this assistance. The aim of this policy is to give guidance on the range and types of assistance available and to emphasise the role of the single services. Although this policy gives general guidance it must be read alongside specific single service policies that take into account the different service needs.

2). Within the UK, all service personnel and their dependants, who are UK citizens and/or have recourse to public funds, are entitled to access the same support and services, including medical, educational or social services, provided by Local Authorities (LA) as any other UK citizen. The MOD does not replicate these services in the UK. However, the MOD does accept that where differences occur as a result of service in the Armed Forces, there is a need for sympathetic consideration of problems, and for assistance to be provided where possible.

3). Within overseas commands, it may not always be possible to replicate the level of support normally available in the UK. Subsequently, an individual may be refused an accompanied assignment to some locations due to the MOD’s inability to meet the needs of the Service person and/or their dependants.

Objectives

4). The objectives of the Tri-Service Disability and Additional Needs Policy are to:

a. ensure all service personnel who have, or have a dependant with, a disability or additional needs, register the fact with the appropriate Service career management organisation.

b. within overseas commands, implement the spirit of UK legislation, wherever possible, applicable and practicable to do so.

c. ensure that the single services provide appropriate career management for service personnel who have registered a disability or additional need. The aim is to promote the maximum flexibility for service personnel (and by implication their dependants) to live their lives whilst meeting their service obligations.

d. promote the support provided by the services in addition to existing LA support provided in the UK.

e. inform the separate single Service Additional Needs and Disability Policies which, in combination with this tri-service policy, provide comprehensive direction.

Responsibilities

5). Service personnel who have, or have dependants, with disabilities and/or additional needs are to register the fact with their service appointing authorities in accordance with single service instructions.

Every effort will be made to avoid an impact on their career development; however the service need and the need to ensure appropriate support for the individual and/or their dependants who may in some circumstances make some impact unavoidable.

There may be limitations to the level of support that can be offered in overseas locations to service personnel and/or their dependants that have additional needs or disabilities. Consequently there will be certain decisions concerning career and location that the service person will have to make with regard to such limitations.

A failure to register may, in the case of an overseas assignment, lead to subsequent repatriation with consequent disruption to the service person and their family. Service personnel are to inform relevant housing authorities of their needs as soon as possible or ahead of a move of accommodation.

6. MOD and services

The MOD and the services will:

a. provide a focus for additional needs, special educational needs and disability advice and an appropriate forum at which such needs can be discussed.

b. ensure that where individuals register, assignment authorities consult overseas command J1/N1/G1/A1 branches in order to ensure that suitable support can be provided prior to an assignment order being promulgated.

c. provide appropriate support in overseas commands where it is practicable to do so.

d. seek to avoid an impact on a service person’s career as a result of a disability or additional need.

2. MOD support

Assignment, Promotion and Career Management

1). Assignment

Personnel who have disabilities or additional needs or have responsibility for dependants with disabilities or additional needs will be treated equitably with regard to promotion and future employment. They will not attract favourable treatment, nor will they be subject to rigid rules.

However, individual circumstances will be taken into account by the relevant assigning authorities. Suitable assignments will be selected within operational and manning constraints. However, once an assignment order has been issued the only recourse will be an individual’s right to apply for deferment or cancellation in accordance with single service regulations. Therefore, it is essential that service authorities receive early notification of the existence of disabilities and/or additional needs in order to judge the suitability of future assignments.

2). Promotion

The attention of promotion boards will not be drawn to the fact that a service person has disabilities and/or additional needs, or is responsible for a dependant with disabilities and/or additional needs. Candidates for promotion will be graded on the basis of their ability and on their future employability in the next rank.

3). Future service

It is possible that the disabilities or additional needs of a service person may constrain that service person’s ability to meet their service obligations. Where there is evidence of this, single services must inform the service person that it may not be possible to offer service beyond the end of their current engagement.

Accommodation

4). Policy for service personnel with dependants who have disabilities or additional needs and require adaptations to be made to service accommodation is set out in JSP 464 Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations (TSARs) Part 1, Chapter 7, Section III for UK, and Part 2, Chapter 6, Section III for NI and Overseas.

Education

Please note this Education section is currently under review. Additional information may be found in JSP 342, Education of Service Children and Young People, and JSP 770, Tri-Service Operational and Non-Operational Welfare Policy.

5). Service personnel.

Policy for service personnel identified as having Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) can be found JSP 822.

6). Service children

Army parents who have children with Special and Additional Educational Needs (SAEN), it is mandatory in all circumstances to register SAEN children with both the chain of command and the Childrens Education Advisory Service (CEAS).

Parents who serve in the other services, and have children with SAEN, are strongly encouraged to register their children, particularly if they are offered an overseas assignment.

7). If a child is not already registered with CEAS and the service person wishes to pursue an overseas assignment, their child’s SAEN must be declared at the time when the assignment is offered. If the SAEN is not declared, it may be necessary to return the family to the UK, or to reach agreement with the relevant military unit for the service family to be assigned to an area where it is known that appropriate provision exists.

8). Continuity of Education Allowance

Service parents wishing to apply for Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) must first approach CEAS for advice in accordance with the regulations set out in JSP 752, Chapter 9, Section 1.

The aim of CEA is to assist service personnel to achieve continuity of education for their children that would otherwise be denied in the maintained day school sector if their children accompanied them on frequent assignments both at home and overseas.

9). An additional allowance for those already claiming CEA, to assist with the cost of additional SAEN assistance is available in accordance with JSP 752 Chapter 9, Section 3. An appropriate educational psychologist’s report confirming the child’s SAEN and the need for the school to provide additional support is required, and any initial enquires about CEA and SAEN must be made to CEAS.

Medical Screening Prior to Moving Overseas

10). The MOD aims to provide care of parity to the NHS in England, where practical. However, this is not always possible and across the various overseas locations the standard and availability of healthcare varies greatly.

Whilst every effort is made to make suitable provisions for those that have disabilities and additional needs, it may not be possible to achieve this. In general, personnel undergoing a course of medical investigations or enduring secondary healthcare treatments should not be posted overseas.

11). Prior to an overseas assignment or move5, service personnel are required to inform their chain of command or assigning authority of any family medical conditions or needs, which may require additional support. This is to ensure that service personnel and dependants only move to locations where the necessary clinical support can be provided.

Supportability checking is undertaken through the Defence Passenger Reservation Cell (DPRC) for all travel, whether or not it is booked through DPRC, however before overseas travel can be booked through DPRC, medical screening paperwork must be completed by all dependants and their civilian doctors in order to identify medical conditions that may not be supportable overseas. It is essential for the dependants that this is completed promptly and accurately.

Raising Awareness

12). MOD and the single services are to ensure they regularly publish/publicise reminders to service personnel and their families of the requirement to register using the following form of words:

Additional Needs and Disability Registration

Service personnel who are being assigned overseas or are already overseas and have dependants with disabilities and/or additional needs are to register the fact with their service appointing authorities in accordance with single service instructions.

Every effort will be made to avoid an impact on their career development; however, the service need and the need to ensure appropriate support for the individual and/or their dependants who may in some circumstances make some impact unavoidable.

Principal elements of relevant legislation (annex A):

1). It is MOD policy to adopt and reflect English legislation within overseas commands wherever it is practicable to do so.

2). The principal acts which cover the responsibilities of appropriate authorities with regard to additional needs are outlined below, with each act placing various obligations upon the services. The principle areas on each are:

a. The Children Acts 1989 and 2004^ reflect the paramount responsibility for the services to safeguard the child’s welfare and to provide appropriate support services and cooperate with other bodies to improve the wellbeing of children. Under section 17 (10) Children Act 1989, children are considered to be ‘in need’ if:

(1) they are unlikely to achieve or maintain, or have the opportunity of achieving or maintaining, a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision of additional services by a local authority.

(2) their health or development is likely to be significantly impaired, or further impaired, without the provision of such service. (3) they are disabled.

^ In Scotland the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 applies.

b. The Education Act 1996 refers to ‘children with learning difficulties which call for special educational provision’ and requires LEA (and thus services overseas) to be able to identify and assess the special needs requirement and make educational provision for those children.

It also provides for the provision of information and support to parents as well as rights of appeal in respect of the educational provision and assessment. In particular there is now a right of access to those with Special Educational Needs to mainstream education.

c. The Chronically Sick and Disabled Person Act 1970, The National Assistance Act 1948 and The Community Care Act 1990 require the services to be aware of all affected persons in their community, to provide practical assistance in the form of welfare services and suitable housing, and to ensure that such persons are given access to schools to take advantage of educational facilities.

d. The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 amends elements of the Education Act 1996 by introducing additional measures to increase access to mainstream schools for children with Special Educational Needs, the provision of information and support to parents and a range of other measures that include increased parental rights of appeal, and it extends disability discrimination duties covered by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to cover every aspect of education.

e. The Equality Act 2010 consolidates previous anti-discrimination legislation, including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, to provide a simpler, more consistent and more effective framework for preventing discrimination. The act provides new and extended rights and responsibilities, examples in the context of disability include: associative discrimination, for example, direct discrimination against someone because they associate with another person who is disabled. Also, the concept of discrimination arising from disability, which occurs if a disabled person is treated unfavourably because of something arising in consequence of their disability.

Further advice and information on Special Educational Needs is available from the DfE website and specifically at Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Part 2: Guidance

Part 2 provides guidance in accordance with the policy set out above. The guidance is sponsored by the Defence Authority for Personnel. It provides policy-compliant business practices, which should be considered best practice in the absence of any contradicting instruction.

1. MOD Support

Accommodation

1). It is essential that the relevant housing authority (in the UK for families’ accommodation this is DIO) is made aware of the full details of disabilities, and facilities required, when applications are submitted for accommodation.

The Housing Allocation Service Centre (HASC) Housing Manager will take responsibility for managing any adaptations necessary to Service Families Accommodation (SFA). The MOD takes a sympathetic approach to the provision of suitably adapted accommodation and each case will be considered on its merits.

2). Once suitable accommodation has been allocated, any necessary modifications will be carried out by, and at the expense of, the relevant housing authorities. The modifications will be based on the requirements identified in occupational therapist reports produced by LA community care officers or Social Services advisers where available, or the equivalent MOD staff overseas, but must be supported by authoritative evidence.

Adaptations to houses can take some time to agree and complete therefore, in accordance with JSP 464, Part 1, Annex C to Chapter 7, personnel are to inform housing authorities of any requirement for adaptations as soon as possible. When possible, modified SFA/SLA should be retained in the adapted form for preferential allocation in the future.

2. Education

Please note this Education section is currently under review. Additional information may be found in JSP 342, Education of Service Children and Young People, and JSP 770, Tri-Service Operational and Non-Operational Welfare Policy.

Service Personnel

1). Support of service personnel with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD). Provisions for those personnel in the armed forces identified as having SpLD can be found in JSP 898, Part 4, Chapter 6. This promotes and provides details of the systematic support available to those personnel in the armed forces with identified SpLD in order to maximise their learning potential and training.

Opportunities for SpLD screening and subsequent assessment are available to all within the armed forces and delivered by appropriately trained and qualified staff.

Service Children

2). A new JSP (342) is due for release shortly to provide policy on the education of service children. Much of the following guidance will be subsumed by JSP 342 once it is published.

Children with Special and Additional Educational Needs (SAEN)

3). The legislation and guidance, in all four administrations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, specifically in relation to the education of children and young people with SAEN, is constructed mainly with a static population in mind.

Children with SAEN from mobile service families can be disadvantaged if their enforced mobility leads to their needs not being adequately identified and met and/or to continual changes to the provision made available to them in different locations. In some cases, such children’s SAEN can be exacerbated or increased by mobility.

Children’s Education Advisory Service (CEAS)

4). The CEAS, part of the Directorate for Children and Young People (DCYP), was established to provide information, advice and support for service families about anything to do with their children’s education. A core part of CEAS’s work relates to the difficulties often experienced by service parents in securing what they consider to be adequate and appropriate educational provision for their children with SAEN.

5). CEAS offers a registration service for service parents who have children with SAEN to allow parents to regularly provide all relevant information about their child so that when advice, information or support is required, it can be made available on an informed basis.

CEAS is unable to assist such parents if they do not register their children. Registration of children with SAEN and the ongoing provision of all relevant and up to date information should enable CEAS to assist parents in the most appropriate way.

6). For Army parents who have children with SAEN, it is mandatory in all circumstances to register SAEN children with both the chain of command and CEAS. Parents who serve in the other services, and have children with SAEN, are strongly encouraged to register their children, particularly if they are offered an overseas assignment.

7). When service children with SAEN are registered with CEAS, the serving parent’s assignment authority is notified so that before offering or confirming a new assignment, CEAS is consulted about potential issues around the education of the child in the proposed new location.

Additionally, commanding officers and OC PSFs are notified when children from Army and RAF families respectively, are registered. Such steps are intended to prevent Service children with SAEN and their families from being placed in locations where it is unlikely that their needs would be met appropriately and/or in a timely fashion.

8). Whilst some service families may wish to register a child if they are concerned that they may have SAEN, registration is usually for children whose needs have been formally identified by schools and, if appropriate other statutory agencies, and for whom specific strategies, if not resources, have been deployed over a reviewable period, for example, School Action Plus in England.

Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA)

9). Service parents wishing to apply for CEA must first approach CEAS for advice in accordance with the regulations set out in JSP 752, Chapter 9, Section 1. The aim of CEA is to assist service personnel to achieve continuity of education for their children who would otherwise be denied in the maintained day school sector if their children accompanied them on frequent assignments both at home and overseas.

10). An additional allowance for those already claiming CEA, to assist with the cost of additional SAEN assistance is available in accordance with JSP 752 Chapter 9, Section 3. An appropriate educational psychologist’s report confirming the child’s SAEN and the need for the school to provide additional support is required, and any initial enquires about CEA and SAEN must be made to CEAS.

11). Parents who are serving overseas who have SAEN registered children in boarding school are entitled to one extra half term funded flight per year, in addition to the 3 main holiday flights. CEAS will coordinate escorts to accompany children with additional needs if they travel to or from overseas on school holidays.

SSAFA: the Armed Forces Charity provides a Family Escort Service to help families and their dependants, including those with additional needs, with travel to, from and within the UK. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Needs should be discussed with the SSAFA Family Escort Service coordinator.

12). Service personnel who have children with SAEN at special boarding schools paid for by LA funding are not prevented from being posted elsewhere in the UK or overseas. When a child is placed in such a school by a LA, funding will usually be continued by the new authority into whose area the service parent is posted. CEAS will advise and assist in this process.

13). When a child is placed in such a school by a LA and the parent is posted overseas, the LA which made the SEN statement may maintain it but is not required to by law. Joint funding with CEA may be an option on which CEAS can advise and negotiate but it is imperative that as much notice as possible is given. In law, the responsible LA is the one in which the boarding school is located whilst the parent is overseas.

Service Children’s Education (SCE)

14). SCE is a tri-service agency responsible for the education of children of service families in a number of overseas locations. SCE supports inclusion and makes provision for children with a wide range of SAEN, however, SCE does not have any special schools, special units or pupil referral units, and cannot make provision for the complete range of special and/or additional needs. This is particularly so for children with severe, profound and complex needs that require specialist provision that is not available within SCE.

15). SCE procedures in relation to SAEN work in conjunction with those that apply in England. This ensures smooth transition for children arriving with already identified SAEN and enables direct access to SCE support systems. SCE also ensures that documentation is available at transfer to the new LA when a child returns from overseas, providing the best opportunity for a seamless transition into the child’s new school.

All SCE schools have a delegated budget to support children with SAEN, including those with statements. HQ SCE retains a small budget for very exceptional cases.

16). Schools are supported in meeting children’s SAEN by a team of Inclusion support teachers, senior educational psychologists and senior education social workers who are based in SCE Pupil and Family Services Centres located in Germany and Cyprus.

Admission of Children with SAEN to SCE Schools

17). Service parents seeking placements for their children in SCE schools and have statements of SEN, coordinated support plans, or who are placed at School Action plus or equivalent, are required to register any of these children with CEAS. Other children may be registered if in discussion with CEAS or on the advice of a teacher, psychologist or education officer it would be advisable to do so.

Registering allows early notification of proposed assignments to LAs and schools, including SCE, in order that preparatory work can be done to ensure provision is available for the child in the new area.

18). It is essential that parents of registered children provide CEAS with the most up to date information available on their child, so that decisions are not based on out of date information. Decisions on supportability are made by local commands, in consultation with SCE, health and social care services.

Parents are notified of decisions by J1 in Germany, or for Cyprus and Rest of World schools through the chain of command. Once a decision has been made, the family is supported by the chain of command and/or CEAS, either in pursuing their posting or if the child’s SAEN cannot be met in considering the alternatives.

19). When a service person with a registered child with SAEN is offered a posting in a SCE location, all available reports regarding the child’s needs are collated by CEAS and forwarded to HQ SCE to enable a decision about whether or not the child’s special and additional needs as described can be met in a SCE school and, if relevant, by the health and social care provision available in the proposed location.

20). If a child is not already registered with CEAS and the service person wishes to pursue an overseas assignment, their child’s SAEN must be declared at the time when the assignment is offered. If the SAEN is not declared, it may be necessary to return the family to the U.K, or to reach agreement with the relevant military unit for the service family to be assigned to an area where it is known that appropriate provision exists.

Therefore, it is vital that parents declare any SAEN their children may have prior to accepting assignments and act promptly on the advice they receive.

21). Where, following consultation, it is decided that a child cannot be admitted to an SCE school, parents have the right to request an internal review of the decision. UK education law does not permit parents seeking places for their children or who have secured places for them in overseas schools to bring a case to any independent tribunal.

Isolated Detachments (ISODETS) and Extra-Command Areas

22). Each service family with dependant children who have been offered an assignment to an ISODET or an extra-command area has difficult decisions to make regarding the continuing education of their children. Given the diverse locations to which some service personnel are assigned, SCE provision is not always available and the nature of educational provision available will vary enormously.

23). State-maintained, independent and international schools in overseas locations are not bound by U.K laws in respect of meeting the needs of children with SAEN and, whilst Service personnel assigned to ISODETS or extra-command areas may be able to claim some allowances to enable their children to avoid educational disadvantage, MOD is limited in respect of what it can provide.

Service parents with children requiring educational provision who are offered such assignments must seek advice from CEAS before accepting them, particularly if any of their children have identified SAEN.

24). Admission arrangements to schools in ISODETS and Extra-Command Areas (ECA) are determined locally, however if a child has SAEN, it is essential to provide a prospective school with all known information about them. The school will need to decide if it is able to make appropriate additional support provisions for the child.

Authority to claim MOD allowances with respect to education overseas, may be sought in accordance with JSP 752, Chapter 9, Sections 8 and 9.

3. Medical

Equipment

1. In the UK, special medical equipment for service dependants should be supplied by the local health authorities. Overseas it is the responsibility of the service medical authorities to ensure the provision of mobility and other aids to service personnel and their dependants with additional needs and disabilities.

2. Authority for the purchase of mobility or other aids, when supported by the clinician concerned, will normally be granted where it can be confirmed that the NHS or LA would have provided them if the person concerned was in the UK.

4. Social Services

Overseas Commands

1). Overseas commands maintain different levels of expertise appropriate to the size of the command. In all cases J1/N1/G1/A1 staff should be consulted in the first instance. However, service families may find it useful to refer to Disability and Additional Needs - a guide for parents and carers, produced by the Forces Additional Needs and Disability Forum (FANDF).

British Forces Germany (BFG)

2). In BFG, there is an Additional Needs and Disability Co-ordinator (AN+DC) working with the British Forces Social Work Service (BFSWS). The AN+DC is contracted to work with children, young people and adults with disabilities and/or additional needs and can provide community care assessments. BFSWS holds the statutory register for children with a disability, however registration is voluntary.

Movement of children who are on the disability register will be referred to the receiving LA with the permission of the parent, and/or guardian where appropriate. SCE maintains a register of children with statements of SEN. Movement of these children will be notified to the receiving LA by SCE.

Joint Forces Command (JFC)

3). JFC currently holds responsibility for 3 areas in which a bespoke Social Work Service operates: Cyprus, Gibraltar and the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) (incorporating Ascension Island and The Falkland Islands).

a. Cyprus

Within the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs), SSAFA provides the local authority social work service and has statutory obligations and authority where Additional Needs supportability is concerned. SSAFA Social Work operates in partnership with other the command headquarters, public organisations, the voluntary sector, members of the services and their families, and the wider MOD community in Cyprus.

b. Gibraltar

The Joint Social Work Service (JSWS) provides a quasi-statutory and non-statutory social work service in Gibraltar. The constituent social work organisations, SSAFA and NPFS/RMW share the lead on providing personal welfare and support. Specifically, the social workers are able to offer advice and support in relation to Disability and Additional Needs.

c. BFSAI

SSAFA provides the local authority social work service through a designated social worker, located in the Falkland Islands, and has statutory obligations and authority in respect of supporting welfare and Additional Needs. SSAFA Social Work operates in partnership with the wider community and governments in BFSAI

5. Single service support

When service personnel require assistance, they can seek advice from their local unit/station administration or welfare staff. Unit administrative/welfare staff should seek guidance from formation, Garrison or Overseas Commands and/or single service welfare staff for further advice:

	Policy Advice	Welfare
Royal Navy and Royal Marines	Navy Command, Personal, Families and Community Support	Naval Personal and Family Support Royal Marines Welfare (NPFS/RMW)
Army	Army HQ, PS4(A)	Army Welfare Service
RAF	HQ Air Community Support	SSAFA (RAF)

6. Additional Sources of Support

MOD advisor

1). An MOD Additional Needs and Disability Advisor (ANDA) is partially funded by the MOD and established at SSAFA HQ in London. The ANDA is a fully qualified and experienced additional needs advisor who provides a focal point of contact for all Service families with disabilities and additional needs. The advisor is on hand to advise on MOD or single Service policy or casework staffs on matters relating to disability or additional needs.

Forces Additional Needs and Disability Forum (FANDF)

2). This group is a non-publicly funded body which is supported by SSAFA, to keep service families with disabilities and additional needs in touch with issues that affect them both inside and outside service life. It is directed by a member’s forum, whose membership is made up of service parents of children and/or adults who have a disability or additional need. The forum is facilitated by the ANDA and further information can be found in DIN 2008DIN01-037.

Charitable assistance

3). SSAFA professional and voluntary staff provide assistance and advice to families with disabilities and/or additional needs and should be involved wherever possible.

Army Families Federation also provide a special needs advisor. These organisations, single Service welfare organisations and HIVE can signpost to a range of other charitable organisations that may be able to offer advice and practical or financial assistance.

Contact details for all these supporting staff and organisations can be found in Contacts below.

Transitional welfare support

4). In some instances, service personnel or dependents of service personnel may have an enduring additional need which will continue beyond discharge from service. In-service, additional needs and disability are supported by the single Service Specialist Welfare Providers (SSWP), however post service, this provision transfers to Local Authorities. In order to support the transition of welfare provision, a Transitional Welfare Requirements Protocol between the SSWP and the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS).

Referrals between SSWP and VWS should be made at the earliest opportunity, preferably 8 weeks prior to discharge, and with consent from the service person. Referrals can be made for any type of discharge including administrative, medical or on normal discharge.

Financial benefits and assistance

5). A full list of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits for eligible UK citizens or those with recourse to public funds are available on the DWP website or by contacting local Jobcentre Plus offices or see the Jobcentre Plus webpage.

Service Charity/Regimental/Corps Benevolence

6). Service Charity, Regimental or Corps Benevolence may be able to provide additional financial assistance where a need is identified. Units will be in a position to give appropriate contact information for such organisations; individuals are advised to contact welfare or administrative staff.

Special needs admission review procedure

please refer to the MOD’s Assessment of Supportability (MASO) appeals process.

Contacts

MOD Policy
Pers & Trg Service & Veterans Welfare
Level 6, Zone A
Main Building
Whitehall
London
SW1A 2HB

MOD Additional Needs and Disability Advisor SSAFA
Queen Elizabeth House
4 St Dunstan’s Hill
London
EC3R 8AD
Tel: +44 (0)20 7463 9234
Email: info@ssafa.org.uk
SSAFA website

Service Children’s Education
HQ SCE
JHQ
BFPO 40
Tel: +49 (0)2161 4725565
SCE School’s Website

Children’s Education Advisory Service Helpline
Building 190
Trenchard Lines
Upavon
Pewsey
Wilts
SN9 6BE
Tel: +44 (0)1980 618244
Email: enquiries@ceas.uk.com
CEAS Helpline website

Single services

RN & RM Policy
Diversity and Inclusion Policy Officer
Navy Command HQ
Leach Building MP3-1
Whale Island
Portsmouth PO2 8BY
Phone: 02392 625706

RN & RM Welfare Support
RN & RM Welfare website
East and Overseas NPFS/RMW
Swiftsure Block
HMS Nelson
HM Naval Base
Portsmouth
Hants
PO1 3HH
Phone: 02392 722712

North NPFS/RMW
Triton House
1-5 Churchill Square
Helensburgh
Argyll and Bute
G84 8HL
Phone: 01436 672798

West NPFS/RMW
Fenner Block
HMS DRAKE
HM Naval Base
Devonport
Plymouth
Devon
PL2 2BG
Phone: 01752 555041

Army Policy
Personnel Services 4 (Army)
IDL 428
Ramillies Building
Monxton Road
Andover
SP11 8HJ

Army Welfare Service
The Army Welfare Information Service
Building 183
Trenchard Lines
Upavon
Wiltshire
SN9 6BE
Phone: 01980 615975 or 0800 032 6443
Email: AWS-Welfareinformationservice@mod.uk
Army Welfare Service website

RAF Policy
Community Support Ground Floor
Hurricane Block
RAF High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP14 4UE

RAF Welfare Support
RAF Welfare Support website

SSAFA (RAF)
Queen Elizabeth House
4 St Dunstan’s Hill
London
EC3R 8AD
Phone numbers:
From the UK: 0800 731 4880
From Germany: 0800 1827 395
From Cyprus: 800 91065
From the Falkand Islands: # 6111
From anywhere in the world: (Call-back) +44 (0)1980 630854
Paradigm dial Homelink access number, then enter *201 at the PIN prompt
SSAFA website

Overseas commands

Additional Needs and Disability Co-ordinator (BFG)
British Forces Social Work Service
Forward Outpatients Building
Mercer Barracks
BFPO 36
Phone: (0)541 960 2171

For other overseas commands refer to the ‘Disability and Additional Needs: a guide for parents and carers’ booklet, which can be found on SSAFA’s useful resources webpage.

Defence Passenger Reserve Centre: Families Section
Phone: +44 (0)30 679 81013

Forces Additional Needs and Disability Forum
ANDA
Queen Elizabeth House
4 St Dunstan’s Hill
London
EC3R 8AD
Phone: 020 7463 9234
Email: info@ssafa.org.uk

Naval Families Federation
Castaway House
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO2 8RN
Tel: +44 (0)23 9265 4374
Naval Families Federation website

Army Families Federation
AFF
IDL 414
Floor 1, Zone 7
Ramillies Building
Marlborough Lines
Monxton Road
Andover
SP11 8HJ
Phone: +44 (0)1264 382324
Email: additionalneeds@aff.org.uk
AFF website

RAF Families Federation
13-15 St Georges Road
Wittering
Peterborough
PE8 6DL
Phone: +44 (0)1780 781650
Email: enquiries@raf-ff.org.uk
RAF Families Federation website