Guidance

VAPC west Midlands: meeting minutes 27 September 2019

Published 2 April 2020

Meeting held at Army Reserve Centre, Kidderminster, DY10 2BY

Present

Chris Joynson (interim chair)
Raymond Griffiths
Scott Thornton
Sandra Price
Rachel McGrath
John Atherton
Mike Green

Apologies

Mary Carter
Len Hardy
Mel Wain (secretary / co-opted member)
Patrick Tissington
Charlotte Harvey
Ian McIntyre

1 Introductory remarks

The interim chair explained the situation for those unable to attend the previous meeting, or who had not been informed otherwise, that the chair announced his intention to stand down at the end of July 2019. CJ had been invited to stand in as interim until a new chairperson is appointed. (lead: CJ)

2 Veterans Welfare Service Update

Sandra Price briefed the meeting explaining that:

• Five Welfare Managers operate across four geographical areas.
• The Welfare Managers welcome the opportunity to work with VAPC members.
• The VWS is actively involved in Armed Forces Covenants across the West Midlands, a relationship which is very useful in identifying veterans that are in need, or requiring specific support.
• Thirteen VWS staff will support the Defence Transition Service (DTS) of which 12 had been recruited. Their role will include assisting military personnel recognised at being at risk prior to discharge. Personnel will be triaged according to need. Those in greatest need will be referred to VWS.
• The guiding policy document for DTS (Joint Service Policy 100) will be issued in December 2019.
• The VWS has a Welfare Worker at Defence Rehabilitation Centre Stanford Hall who is currently dealing with five cases. The role will involve the integrated commissioning of services for severely injured service personnel with NHS services (IPC4Vs process).
• VWS attended the Op BANNER 50th Anniversary at the National Memorial Arboretum and received a significant number of referrals. Similar interest is expected for the Ride to the Wall event on 5 October.
• A new initiative at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital Oswestry focussing on lower limb arthritis will involve VWS being involved with a Tuesday morning clinic. Comment: Rachel McGrath will arrange with Veterans Welfare Service to accompany the Welfare Officer on a future visit.
• Claims are still being received in relation to Mesothelioma from veterans exposed to asbestos during their service. Welfare Managers are deployed quickly and within 5 days.
• Visits are conducted every Thu to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) and surgery sessions are being delivered at the Royal British Legion Battle Back Centre Lilleshall, HMP Stafford and in Hereford.

3 VAPC 3 VAPC Membership

• The committee currently stands at 15 members, though one of these is proving unresponsive to various attempts to contact. It is hoped that three VAPC current members who are time expired will re-apply for membership.
• The latest round for recruiting new members and chairs is likely to be extended as take up so far has been mixed.

4 Secretary

The current secretary is a Co-opted member of the committee. In order for her to continue in the role it will be necessary for her to apply for membership. She is aware of the position.

5 Current Position

The VAPC is going through a period of change following the chair unexpectedly standing down and prior to the appointment of a new chair, hopefully, by close of year. There will be a requirement for the incoming chair to reassess what the committee currently does and decide a future strategy, which will almost certainly involve greater engagement with regional Armed Forces Covenant teams and steering groups. Also, to optimise the expertise and talents of committee members.

6 Training

Three members currently require training: Rachel McGrath, Scott Thornton and Patrick Tissington. The requirement had been noted and every effort will be made to get them to one of the next Vets UK training events, which is likely to be in autumn 2020.

7 Casework

No active cases were passed on by the previous chair. Two cases were outstanding, but the assessment is that these have lapsed and do not require further attention, or follow up.

8 Any Other Business

Ray Griffiths stated that he believes he is due to retire and was unaware of the process for re-applying. The temporary chair agreed to forward the Veterans UK link for VAPC membership.

9 Meeting dates for 2020

• 28 February
• 26 June
• 20 October