Trust awarded Veteran Aware status for best standards of care for armed forces community
Nottinghamshire Healthcare has been formally recognised as ‘Veteran Aware’ by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), demonstrating its commitment to and improvement of care for regulars, reservists, veterans, spouses and their families.
The accreditation has been awarded by the VCHA following an assessment of eight evidence-based standards that instil Armed Forces Covenant principles and how they relate to the NHS.
VCHA is a group of NHS providers – including acute, mental health, community, and ambulance Trusts – who have agreed to be exemplars of the best care for, and support to, the armed forces community (be they regular, reserves, veterans, spouses or dependants).
The Trust evidenced their commitment to supporting the armed forces community through their work with local veteran services, staff training and education and understanding of the Armed Forces Covenant, which it re-signed last year.
The Armed Forces Covenant, which recently passed into law - is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve, or who have served, in the Armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. The aim is to develop, share and drive the implementation of best practice that will improve armed forces veterans' care, while at the same time raising standards for everyone across the NHS.
Chief Executive Dr John Brewin said:
“I am extremely delighted that we have been awarded this accreditation which is further recognition of our continued commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and our support to deliver the best standards of care for our employees within the armed forces community. As a Trust we are fully committed to ensure staff who serve or who have served, and their families, are treated fairly. Our policies also reflect the flexibilities for staff that are called into full time service to support them to adjust to deployment before, during and after.”
An armed forces community member from the Trust said “It is good to see the Trust supporting the armed forces community. I feel that it is really positive and makes me feel welcome and cared for.”
VCHA Regional Lead David Wood said: "Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, have demonstrated clearly their achievement of each of the eight manifesto standards and that has been recognised and approved by the National Steering Group and they now join 118 other Trusts in the region and nationally already accredited as Veteran Aware.”
The Trust is also proud to hold the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award which acknowledges employers who have provided exceptional support to the armed forces community and defence by going above and beyond their covenant pledges.
We also work in partnership with NHS Employers Step into Health programme which offers an access route into employment and other career development opportunities within the NHS to members of the armed forces community.
The programme recognises the transferable skills and cultural values that armed forces personnel have developed, and how these skills and values are compatible with working in the NHS.
If anyone from the armed forces community would like to find out more about working for the Trust, please see our recruitment website: recruitment.nottshc.nhs.uk/recruitment-armed-forces
