Dog,
It seems to be working pretty much like it did before (in the NPAS region). An extra layer of control, but the mutual aid of neighbouring bases is as before, some bases still waiting for the full compliment of staff to be recruited (that's in hand) before being able to change to the new rosters.
It's in it's infancy, but by design the SE region was always going to be the most difficult to shape into a NPAS region with redundancies, base closures, and 2 base moves, and therefore the one with the most lessons to take forward to the later joining regions.
New relationships are being built and old familiar ones are being renegotiated, try getting a pair of boots or flying suit and you'll find out that things have changed. It will all take some time, but by the time the Met join most things will have been ironed out including base relocations, HR issues, procurement, recruiting and hopefully observers pay!
