Page 131 - Mind, Body & Spirit Number 104 2020/21

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE REHABILITATION (DDR) HEADQUARTERS
A/WO2 (QMSI) M Asher RAPTCI
By the time of publication, I will have moved from a five-month holding PID working with the Department of Defence Rehabilitation (DDR) team, to my next
assignment as the RTSA at RAF Cosford. 2020 has been a year I think that none of us will forget. At the start of 2020 the funding line which had funded Battle Back activities at Stanford Hall for the past twelve years stopped due to staff redundancies within Help 4 Heroes. With the reduction of funding, the future of the Battle Back department at Stanford Hall had become uncertain. To further complicate matters, the Coronavirus pandemic hit the UK which swiftly stopped patients being admitted to Stanford Hall. These restrictions meant that no patient facing activities could be delivered. Due to the restrictions that were implemented at Stanford Hall, I was posted to PCRF Tidworth to cover a manning gap. Unfortunately, due to the funding and manning issue surrounding the Battle Back WO position, it was decided that the post would be dissolved.
In early January 2021 I was contacted by Maj (MAA) Young RAPTC with the news that I was joining the team at the DDR. I have been out of the rehabilitation world for the past six years covering multiple mainstream posts, so my rehab knowledge was somewhat rusty. On receiving my TORs from WO1 (SMI) Slade-Jones, it was apparent that the learning curve was going to be steep. The most unusual aspect of my workplace induction was that it was delivered in the virtual world. I think you will all agree that as a unit RAPTCI the most important aspect of day to day business is personnel interaction. Overnight this interaction was gone, and all communication was transferred into the virtual world.
The DDR team is split between the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) Stanford Hall and DMS Whittington. Directed by the Defence Consultant Advisor (DCA) Rehabilitation Col Nicol, DDR is required to deliver strategic direction and leadership to ensure the delivery of the Defence rehabilitation service via the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Programme (DMRP).
The head of the ERI cadre Maj (MAA) Young (RAPTC) and the Senior Trade Specialist Advisor (TSA) WO1 (SMI) Slade-Jones (RAPTC) are responsible for the ERI cadre’s professionalism (tri-service, military and civilian). This consists of management, training, education, governance and assurance alongside their SME advisory roles for 13 Regional Rehabilitation Units (RRU) and 107 Primary Care Rehabilitation Facilities (PCRF). Further, in support of RAPTC HQ the SO2 and the SMI are responsible for the workforce liability of 97 Army ERIs employed across Defence.
The past twelve months have been a challenging period. The Coronavirus pandemic has ensured that all normal working practices changed, presenting DDR with an unprecedented challenge. The days of face to face meetings were quickly replaced by continuous Skype calls and virtual meetings. The main annual defence rehabilitation conference that was historically held in London and more recently at the National Memorial Arboretum in 2019 will be for the first time delivered virtually in June 2021.
Loane Trophy Recipient – 2020 WO2 (QMSI) Brown
On a personal note; my Army Tutor tenure is sadly at an end. However, the excitement that comes with new challenges and opportunities is upon me, as I prepare to take up the appointment of SMI at AFC Harrogate. I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience JSSERI has provided and would highly recommend the role. In terms of training delivery and supporting sS Physical Training Organisations, this small team punches well above it’s weight and provides ample development opportunities for any RAPTCI.
Course 61 Virtual Graduation
‘The New Norm’ OSCE’s