Although they have made vast improvements in recent years, the British team finished in last place at the six-team qualification tournament in Turin - with South Korea, hosts Italy and Sweden instead securing the final three spots at next year's Games.

Briscoe sees the disappointment as a learning process, but also highlights the progress that has been made, and is optimistic for the future.

"I hope that the debrief process will highlight to the squad the progress that has been made, which they should feel duly proud of, but also what's required for them to be in contention for 2018," she said.

"It was a tough week for the squad, but with talented and committed athletes and staff I hope that the sport sees that it does have a strong foundation to move forward with."

Britain sent a 12-strong team to Vancouver 2010 and although they did not take home a medal, they had a number of near misses, including a fourth place for visually impaired skier Kelly Gallagher in the giant slalom event.

Kelly Gallagher won two World Championship medals in 2013 and is vowing to make up for her Vancouver near miss at Sochi 2014 ©Getty Images

Britain are also chasing medals in wheelchair curling where, after taking silver at Turin 2006, they managed only a sixth place finish in Vancouver.

However, with wins in events in Denmark and Kinross followed by a silver medal at the Canadian Open to start the winter campaign, they are looking to get back among the medals in Sochi.

After spending time "out in the field" with the British athletes - including the wheelchair curlers in Kinross and the Alpine skiing squad at their pre-season preparation camp in Austria - Briscoe sees plenty to be optimistic about.

"We are now clear on which sports will be representing ParalympicsGB in Sochi, and the time spent in Kinross and Hintertux really helped to develop key relationships, especially between some of the British Paralympic Association's (BPA) newer staff members and the sports," she said.

"My personal highlight in the last month was having the opportunity to spend time with the skiers out in Hintertux.

"Firstly being able to observe them in training which was extremely impressive but even more so in being able to work with athletes and staff on a variety of team development activities.

"What particularly impressed me over the few days I was there was the collective commitment to our team-building activity and the creativity shown by some of the athletes in describing themselves and their teammates.

"While team building is not always top of the agenda for some people, this core principle is central to the BPA's approach to best prepared and to my leadership philosophy as Chef de Mission.

"We not only need to know what motivates ourselves, but also what motivates others, so that as a team we are able to get the most out of each other in Sochi.

"The ultimate aim is that through optimal preparation and support we all thrive when it matters most - in the Games environment.

"With an even busier month ahead I wish all of the British athletes the very best in their respective preparation and competition schedules."