Veterans, Service Leavers and Armed Forces Reservists
As part of our commitment to supporting the Armed Forces Community, Dorset County Hospital signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2016, have achieved the silver award with the defence employer recognition scheme and are accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation with the Veterans Covenant Healthcare alliance, (VCHA).
Dorset County Hospital also has an Armed Forces Community Network which aims to promote veterans’ welfare and offer opportunities to come together, provide support to each other and get involved in annual events including Armed Forces Day and Remembrance.
The Armed Forces Covenant
The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise that together we acknowledge and understand that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, including the bereaved, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy, and society they serve with their lives.
Its two principles are that, recognising the unique obligations of, and sacrifices made by, the Armed Forces:
- Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services.
- Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.
If you are a member of the UK Armed Forces (regular or reserve), a former member (a veteran), or a family member, including bereaved family members, the Covenant offers a wide variety of support to ensure you are treated fairly. You can find out more information on the Armed Forces Covenant website.
Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
The Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and inspire other organisations to do the same.
As a Silver accredited NHS Trust we have worked to put in place policy and plans which ensure that service personnel and the Armed Forces Community are not unfairly disadvantaged as part of the recruiting and selection processes. We recognise the value of the transferable skills that service leavers and veterans can offer and we positively promote and support the Armed Forces Reservists offering additional leave so that reservists and cadet forces volunteers can complete annual training.Â
You can find out more about the Employer Recognition Scheme on the GOV.uk website.
Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance
NHS Veteran Aware is an accreditation programme designed to support healthcare providers understand and meet the needs of the Armed Forces community.
Its purpose is to:
- improve understanding of the needs of and the services and initiatives available to the Armed Forces community to improve care underpinned by evidence and data; improving healthcare for the Armed Forces community while raising the standards for everyone accessing care within the NHS
- build trust and understanding amongst healthcare professionals
- engender support and action from key stakeholders and partners to support delivery of the commitments of the programme to improve the health and wellbeing of the Armed Forces community
- support the NHS to meet its statutory duties relating to the involvement of patients and the public and to ensure no disadvantage, or unwarranted variation, in accessing healthcare for the Armed Forces community, as per The Armed Forces Act, 2021.
You can find out more on the Veterans Covenant Health Care Alliance website.