Local mental health commitment to military families boosted ahead of Armed Forces Day
Date added: 23 June 2023
As the country comes together to celebrate Armed Forces Day on Saturday, 24 June, KMPT has been recognised by a national government programme which encourages employers to demonstrate their support for the military community.
Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership (KMPT) has been awarded silver accreditation by the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). This honours organisations who align their values with the British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and inspire others to do the same.
KMPT was commended on its ongoing commitment to honour the Armed Forces Covenant, a promise by the nation to ensure that those who serve, or who have served, in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.
Our military workforce and veterans can face unique risks and challenges to their mental health. Being exposed to highly stressful situations, long periods away from home and the difficulty of adjusting to civilian life can all affect mental health, at the time or even years later.
*One in 43 (2.3%) of UK armed forces personnel were referred to specialist mental care providers in 2021/2022, compared to the **estimated one in 17 (5.8%) of the country’s population.
KMPT is committed to delivering NHS England’s and the Department of Community Mental Health’s (DCMH) dedicated armed forces mental health care programmes, such as Op COURAGE, across Kent and Medway. Treatment includes expert therapy, rehabilitation and inpatient provision, with those needing urgent help receiving same day referral.
Dr Carolyn Harbert, KMPT Principal Clinical Psychologist and lead for Veterans Work South East Region High Intensity Service & Veterans Aware said: “I am thrilled and proud that KMPT’s official endorsement has been enhanced from bronze to silver. It is particularly poignant as this accolade coincides with Armed Forces Week, which includes special awareness days for active and reserve individuals, both of whom play a key role in the KMPT team.
“Our Armed Forces Service Champions continually identify and work alongside those serving personnel and veterans who need our support, as either service users or members of our team.”
KMPT met all the criteria for the silver status which includes a number of positive measures and policies advocating support to members of the armed forces, veterans, reservists, Cadet Force adult volunteers and their families, and includes honouring any military commitments.
Silver classification requires the trust ensure members of the community are not disadvantaged in their recruitment and selection process; all positive policies relating to defence personnel are internally publicised; employ at least one individual from the armed forces category that their nomination emphasises and a demonstration of support to Reservist mobilisations – and, of course, align values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
KMPT was formally recognised as ‘Veteran Aware’ by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), last year and has since demonstrated a further commitment to its military employees by way of the ‘Step into Health’ programme pledge, which is part of the Armed Forces Covenant.
Dr Harbert continued: “To ensure our commitment is constant, we have recently reviewed our practices and policies to remove any barriers to members of this community and established an inclusive armed forces service champion network.”
The Step into Health programme connects skilled candidates from across the Armed Forces community with employers and new opportunities in the NHS. The aim is for NHS organisations to benefit from the transferable skills and values that Armed Forces community members bring to the workplace.
KMPT welcomes employees from all different backgrounds – to find out more about a career at the trust visit: https://www.kmpt.nhs.uk/about-us/careers/
The NHS will be showing its support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families, veterans and cadets at Armed Forces Week celebrations across the UK.
*Ministry of Defence report published June 2022: 20220623_MH Annual Report_O (publishing.service.gov.uk)
**UK Parliament research briefing: Mental health statistics: prevalence, services and funding in England, published March 2023: Mental health statistics: prevalence, services and funding in England - House of Commons Library (parliament.uk)
