Victory Services Club Family Membership

 

Victory Services Club

Families First - #2 DIO Accommodation News for SFA Residents (UK)

Click here to view this latest issue online

Service Family Accommodation Newsletter - Issue 1

DIO has introduced a new Service Family Accommodation newsletter, Families First - Issue 1, to provide families with important information about their homes.  

Families First will include updates on the measures DIO and its suppliers are taking to address contract performance and where DIO is investing money to improve the accommodation estate. 

The newsletter will initially be published bi-weekly and hosted on GOV.UK and Defence Connect.​

Civilian Housing Briefs for Feb to April 2023

 

Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Update

Update on performance of Accommodation Contracts

For updates on the action DIO is taking to improve the performance of the accommodation contracts, please go to Service Family Accommodation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) where you can subscribe for update notifications, or join the Service Family Accommodation group on Defence Connect.

Mortgage Advice Webinars January - March

Available to all service personnel. Webinars running each Wednesday evening from 25th Jan - 29th March.

• Understanding your Credit Report
• Understanding Forces Help to Buy ​

Forces Help to Buy Scheme - Here to Stay from 1st January 2023

Use this link for more info

Civilian Housing Options Briefs Jan-April 2023

 

Message from Agility regarding removals this Summer

Agility is advising Service personnel to wait for confirmation of their removals booking request before they book move-in/out appointments otherwise they may not get the dates they need.

This is because the removals industry is experiencing staff shortages this summer. If you have any questions or concerns then please contact Agility directly: Agility GRMS

Pinnacle: Issue affecting appointments in the SE and SW regions + complaints and compensation in general

1. Issue affecting appointments in the South East and South West regions

Last week we alerted you to an urgent issue where VIVO’s system was not receiving appointments being transferred by Pinnacle. Since then, we have worked hard with our suppliers to understand the causes, reduce the impact on families and find a resolution.

Unfortunately, the issues are impacting families through missed appointments, and we understand how frustrating this is for families.

VIVO has reported 1733 missed appointments due to this issue that have affected 1125 families. The technical teams have identified the causes of the problem and fixes are currently being deployed. While it will take a few days to permanently fix the underlying issue, a business continuity plan (BCP) has been implemented with a temporary solution while the permanent solution is put in place. Early feedback suggests this has significantly reduced but we aim to eliminate it entirely. Therefore, further measures have been agreed with immediate effect to strengthen this BCP. The Pinnacle team at the National Service Centre are supporting by providing information across to the VIVO such that checks can be made to prevent further missed appointments.

SFA Appointments - SE and SW

Issue affecting appointments in the South East and South West regions

There is an issue affecting appointments in the South East and South West Regions that is causing missed appointments for families. This is the result of appointments not flowing correctly from the Pinnacle National Service Centre into VIVO's scheduling system.

We are very sorry for this and realise how frustrating this is for families, especially as there have been earlier problems with connectivity between the Pinnacle and VIVO systems that have also led to missed appointments. VIVO are working extremely hard with the systems team to identify exactly why this is happening and to find a robust solution.

Interim fixes are being arranged and a permanent solution will be implemented as soon as possible. Meanwhile, VIVO will make contact with families that have been impacted to confirm or reschedule appointments where required.

Where families have had a missed appointment, they will receive compensation.

We will continue to keep families updated regarding this issue and again would like to reassure you this matter is being taken extremely seriously and every effort is being made to resolve this as soon as possible.​

JSHAO Housing Briefs Jul-Aug 22

click on image to enlarge

Services Cotswolds Centre

 

How to Report a Complaint to Pinnacle (UK)

The path for reporting complaints to Pinnacle. P​lease click here to report your complaint. Complai​nts - Pinnacle Service Families.

Notice From DIO - Check the Window Blinds in your SLA

Older window blinds with rope or chain cords have been classified as a danger to children since 2014 when safety standards were increased. Cords can be looped to create a noose where children can become entangled. 

If you have an older blind with a cord you must make sure the cord is safely secured. This applies to SLA and SFA.

Please refer to this Gov.uk website page for full details. 

SFA Window Safety Restrictors (UK)

The safety of families living in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) and Substitute Service Families Accommodation (SSFA) is a top priority. With warmer weather meaning more windows will be open in homes, we would like to remind families to check that all window safety catches/restrictors are working correctly.

If restrictors are not working or windows can be opened more than 100mm when restrictors are engaged, then please report the fault to the National Service Centre immediately on 0800 031 8628 to ensure a repair is carried out. If you live in SSFA, please contact Mears on 0800 032 4547.

Please note that window restrictors must not be disengaged for any reason where children or vulnerable members of your household are at risk from falling.

For more advice about preventing accidents in your home visit the Child Accident Prevention Trust website.​

FAM Forum

 

New Arrangements to Support Service Family Accommodation - FDIS (UK)

From 11 April, the National Service Centre (NSC) started to receive and log routine maintenance calls. As expected, Pinnacle received a huge volume of calls (2270) and had extra teams in place to receive these.

However, there was a technical issue on the morning of the 11th that affected a number of call centres throughout the UK beyond Pinnacle and Defence and this, along with the large volumes of calls, contributed to some families experiencing long wait times. 

The new Service Family Accommodation Contracts are now in Service

 

Click on image to read document in full