Section 8 - Home assignment

It is good practice to provide flexibility about the length and frequency of home assignments, taking individual circumstances into account. It is part of the sending organisation’s and supporting church’s duty of care to provide appropriate preparation and support during home assignment.

Good practice includes:

8.1 Planning of arrangements prior to home assignment

• Discussing and planning details of home assignment at least six months before personnel return, ensuring the supporting church is involved in this process
• Providing an appropriate information pack which includes information relating to NHS access and (if relevant) child benefit, child tax credit and educational access
• Offering personnel support with practical issues such as housing, holidays, education, professional updates, medical needs, dental checks and child care
• Budgeting adequate finances for the home assignment
• Offering personnel choice in what they want to do about sharing their experiences with churches so that they are not exhausted from travel and visits and avoiding coercing children into sharing publicly about their experiences
• Encouraging personnel to plan time for spiritual refreshment to suit their individual needs such as retreats [i], conferences [ii], and other opportunities

8.2 Debriefing and review

• Providing an exit interview before personnel leave the host culture [iii] covering personal, professional and spiritual needs, setting goals for the home assignment and considering the next term of service
• Offering timely operational and personal debriefing after arrival, from a trained debriefer [iv] ensuring that the supporting church and sending organisation co-operate in this to avoid duplication
• Offering children debriefing (appropriate to age and maturity) and educational reviews
• Informing parents and children of opportunities to take part in camps or clubs, especially with other TCKs [v]

8.3 Whilst on home assignment

• Planning a good reception on arrival home [vi], both from the sending organisation and supporting church
• Offering personnel training in making presentations
• Offering medical checks, carried out by professionals who specialise in travel medicine [vii]
• Providing time and resources for professional development such as training courses [viii], and study leave
• Safeguarding adequate holiday time without interruption or responsibility.
• Ensuring any additional needs of single people are provided for such as appropriate accommodation and retreats

[i] See www.penhurst.org.uk and www.oscar.org.uk/service/pastoral

[ii] All Nations Christian College runs Refresh for mission. Visitwww.allnations.ac.uk/index.php?pageid=61&section=Studying

[iii] See Supporting staff responding to disasters: recruitment, briefing and on-going care by D. Lovell-Hawker available from www.peopleinaid.org

[iv] See Debriefing aid workers and missionaries: a comprehensive manual by D Lovell-Hawker available from www.peopleinaid.org. The website also has information on workshops to train debriefers.

[v] See www.globalconnections.co.uk/tckwww.oscar.org.uk/service/children/events.htm and www.xenosmk.org.uk,

[vi] See Burn Up or Splash Down by M Knell and The re-entry team by N Pirolo

[vii] Medical checks are strongly recommended at least every two years, especially if personnel have been working in areas with poor resources. They are essential for those who have medical concerns.

[viii] Christian Medical Fellowship runs an annual Refresher course in July.for doctors and nurses. See www.cmf.org.uk/overseas/dhc2007_report.htm