A new publication signposting support for serving and former Armed Forces personnel in Leicestershire and Rutland has been published ahead of Armistice Day centenary commemorations this weekend.
The new information and advice leaflet has been produced by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, which provides mental health, learning disabilities and community health services, to showcase the support available in the community.
It features information and contact details from a range of agencies, covering issues including mental health, employment, legal matters and debt advice.
And the leaflet uses new branding being rolled out by the NHS nationally to make it easier for the Armed Forces community to find information about health care and other sources of support.
It has been developed as part of work by LPT to identify local families and military families and support them to access help when they need it. It also builds on the Trust’s whole family approach by providing information for spouses, families and children who might also need support.
Last year LPT signed the Armed Forces Covenant as a public declaration of its commitment to support the Armed Forces Community and this year hosted an open event for serving and ex-service personnel, reservists and their families.
The Trust is also committed to supporting and increasing the numbers of veterans and reservists in its workforce, through initiatives such as an Armed Forces staff network group, launched in 2017.
This year LPT was awarded the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition scheme silver award in recognition of its work to date. And on Thursday (15 November), the Trust’s Armed Forces development officer, Brendan Daly and Rachel Bilsborough, director of community health services (both pictured) will attend a Silver Awards dinner event at Beaumanor Hall in Woodhouse Eaves to accept it.
Rachel commented: “I am proud to be supporting our staff who are leading this work on behalf of the Trust, and the strong relationships we have built with our partner organisations as a consequence. Achieving the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition scheme silver award is testament to the hard work of everyone involved and will have enormous benefits for ex-military personnel and their families, and our organisation.”
Brendan said; “Being ex-forces myself I know the challenges of getting help and support when you need it most and we have developed a strong commitment inside and outside LPT with public, military and charities working together as part of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Civil and Military Partnership Group.”
And John Wilson, the Ministry of Defence’s regional employer engagement director, said: “Personnel who undergo military training develop a wide range of skills and experiences that greatly benefit a civilian employer. Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust have been very supportive of both the reserves and service leavers that they employ and have a great understanding of the benefits these people bring to their organisation.
“This is a well-deserved award that reflects the Trust’s commitment to the Armed Forces community and I hope they will continue to be an important example to other employers that wish to support the Armed Forces.”
The new leaflet is available to download from the LPT website
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) provides community health, mental health and learning disabilities services for the one million people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. We have a budget in excess of £275 million and employ approximately 5,500 staff. For more information visit: www.leicspart.nhs.uk
- Raising Health is our registered charity (number 1057361) which raises funds to support LPT’s excellent care initiatives, equipment and innovations which go above and beyond core NHS provision, to enhance the experience of our patients, service users and staff.
www.raisinghealth.org.uk - Carers Rights Day, hosted by Carers UK, is held to raise awareness of carers’ needs, support carers to know their rights and help them know how to find help and support. For further information contact: Sheila Ashton, communications manager, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Tel: 0116 295 0042, E: sheila.ashton@leicspart.nhs.uk