Ensuring recruits are aware of support
systems
NAVY
For Phase 1 trainees at HMS Raleigh the
programme includes visits to the medical centre and chaplaincy
in week 1 for briefings. They also have divisional briefings and
interviews that reinforce these messages. There is consistent
access to chaplains during the course for spiritual and personal
development lessons. The Commodore's Supervisory Care and Equal
Opportunities Policy is widely available and can be found on virtually
every notice board in the establishment.
On entering Phase 2 trainees are once again
apprised of the duty of care regime, the message being reinforced
by briefings by divisional staff and the OC.
At the Maritime Warfare School, for example,
as part of the first morning's induction trainees are made aware
of support systems available and are encouraged to make use of
them. Cards are issued, containing contact information for all
support systems including duty staff, chaplaincy, equal opportunities
officer, and the confidential helpline. Posters and other briefing
material providing details of contacts are also displayed.
On passing out from Phase 2 trainees are briefed
on life aboard ship, and will have been fully trained in the Divisional
system. They will also be aware of the Chaplaincy and other welfare
services available in the wider Navy. Any rating that may have
been placed on a Naval General Training warning will, on completion
of Phase 2, be loaned to a Portsmouth ship to undertake a period
of employment to correct shortcomings. Such arrangements are rare
and require increased divisional support to succeed. But such
individuals generally do well on-board and are removed from the
warning before being permanently drafted.
Royal Marines (CTCRM):
All recruits at the Commando Training Centre
Royal Marines receive a welfare brief in their first week of training.
This includes:
— Structure of welfare within CTC/RM.
— The welfare/social worker.
— The Recruits Advice and Support (RAS)
system (this meets every lunchtime and evening).
— The 24-hour emergency system with
contact telephone numbers (also on the Covenant Card).
— How compassionate actions are carried
out.
A recruit leaves CTCRM as a Marine having completed
both Phase 1 and 2 of training and having received a full Ratings
and Other Ranks Reporting System (RORRS) report, which is sent
on to his receiving unit. Within training the recruits receive
a number of briefs about how to access the available support services:
Week 1. The recruits are briefed on the
RM welfare system, looking at how they can access it through training
and the broader picture outside CTC.
Week 28. The Padre gives a talk on "Life
in a Unit" that reiterates the support that is available
to marines in a unit and how to access it.
Week 29. A further session with the Padres
looking at the "Wider World".
ARMY
Every recruit is issued with the booklet "Basically
Fair" on arrival at his or her initial training establishment.
This is a personal guide to the Army's Equality and Diversity
(E&D) Policy and talks about what the Army's E&D Policy
means, why a policy exists, what constitutes unfair treatment
and how to go about dealing with unfair treatment. This includes
using the internal chain of command as well as discussing access
to Employment Tribunals. Recruits also receive the Welfare Card,
which details contact numbers of local and Service-wide support
agencies.
In order to impress upon recruits the importance
placed on E&D all recruits undergo three separate lessons
as part of the Level 1 training package within the first four
weeks of arriving at their initial training establishment. This
is designed to run in conjunction with Basically Fair. Briefly,
the three lessons cover:
(a) Recognising Situations of Unfair Treatment—Recruits
learn to recognise the Army's E&D Policy and the obligation
of every individual to conform to it, recognise how the policy
is important in maintaining the values and standards of the Army
and learn to recognise the terminology related to E&D.
(b) Knowing what to do when there is Unfair Treatment—Recruits
learn to recognise the E&D complaints procedure and how to
deal with a situation of unfair treatment, including, the formal
and informal complaints procedure. At this time, recruits are
briefed on the confidential services on offer to all personnel
including the Chaplains, the welfare support officer, the Army
Welfare Services and the Confidential Support Line.
(c) Recognising the Obligations to Behave Appropriately—Uses
a video to reinforce the messages learnt at lessons 1 and 2 to
help validate the recruits' learning. The video case study uses
the example of bullying as unfair treatment.
In addition, various posters are displayed on
notice boards around the units giving contact and helpline details.
Examples are attached.
Trained officers and soldiers receive annual
training in E&D matters. Both officer and soldier Commanders
have also had their training objectives incorporated into Officer
Career Development Courses and Command Leadership and Management,
which are vital to promotion.
RAF
Their Flight Commander briefs trainees on the
day they arrive at their initial training establishment. The brief
covers the major events the trainees will experience during their
first few days at their training school and explains the welfare
facilities available. The "welfare card" is explained
and issued at this time. This details all appropriate contact
numbers of local Service and civilian support agencies.
Additionally, on Day 1, the Chaplains welcome
the trainees and explain the services they offer. All trainees
receive a full Equal Opportunities brief within the first three
days that explains the RAF's policy on bullying and harassment
and gives further helpline information. All this is designed to
build upon the information contained in AP 3392 Vol 2 Leaflet
2402, The RAF Community Support Concept document.
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