Glenis Vann, Learning and Development Manager Tes Shepherd, SOcial Work Team Manager BFSWS

1. Glenis Vann, Learning and Development
Manager
Tes Shepherd, Social Work Team Manager
BFSWS

2.  Army drawdown from 120,000 to 80,000
personnel, worldwide
 British troops in BFG since 1945
 90,000 in BFG at its height
 Now 15,500 +18,000 dependents
 All to leave by 2018
 Most to leave by 2016
 Locating to Leuchars, Edinburgh, Catterick, East
Midlands

3.  Provided under contract from the MoD
 HCPC registered, UK qualified Social Workers
 Legal authority through the Children Act 1989
and 2004, enshrined in Armed Forces Act 2011
 JSP 834, SOBAG 3351, local jurisdictions
 1 HoS, 3 TMs , 14 SSWPs
 Located in 3 garrisons in mid-North Germany

4. 393KM

5.  Members of UK Armed Forces and their families
serving in Germany and isolated detachments
eg. SHAPE and AFNORTH
 Non-EEA Soldiers and their families
 Single Armed Forces personnel
 Entitled persons

6.  Domestic Abuse
 Alcohol issues
 Mental Health
 Deployment
 Drawdown

7.  Social isolation
 Language
 Limited support network - no extended family
 Lack of opportunities for career development
 Driving
 Imminent transition back to UK

8.  2 parent families
 Housing
 Income
 Good resources
 Smaller class sizes
 Close knit community
 Protective environment

9.  Questionnaire
 Links to Safeguarding Board policies and
planning
 Messages from themes

11. Hohne
areas
Male Female
5-10 Years
• “I don’t like strangers”
• “noise of exercise, strangers”
• “baby noise”
• “strangers, a lot of noise”
• “strangers”
• “someone punching me”
• “moving to Paderborn and going to
middle school”
• “The river”
• “in case of bad people”
• “strangers near training area with guns”
• “strangers, noise”
11-17 Years
• “I worry about school”
• “starting school and new people”
• “college courses I would be
interested in”
• “not being prepared enough for college
and not knowing anyone there”
• “violence”
• “moving to a new house and new school”

12. Gutersloh Male Female
5-10 Years
• “leaving friends”
• “I don’t know when moving”
• “I have no idea when I’m
moving and Mac, Tyler and Lillie
are moving before me”
• “Where I’m going to move to
next”
• “worried about going to
boarding school”
• “a little bit worried because I don’t know
where I’m moving”
• “I’m moving in 4 years”
• “I’m moving to Canada this year and Ryan,
Mac, Lillie and Alex will miss me”
11-17 Years
• “kidnappers”
• “I don’t know where I will be going”

13.  Themes
 What does this mean for the Safeguarding board ?
 How are we supporting transitions?

14. The Poem of the Military Child
Dandelion you’re like me
Set adrift to ride the breeze
Drifting here and settling there
To grow as if you have no care
Only those like you will know
The sudden rush to rise and go
On any current you will flow
On any weathered wind you’ll blow
In any sea, on any tide
On any ground, you will abide
And you never do decide
Just where you’ll go, or how you’ll ride
Around the world, among all kinds
Flying with no tie that binds
Always leaving friends behind
Trying not to show you mind
Dandelion I’m like you!
Of my future, I’ve no clue!
I put down roots that have no glue
So I’ll move to somewhere new.
Any Questions ?