With around 120,000 working age veterans currently seeking employment in the UK, Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust has signed up as a pilot organisation in a programme which pledges to support employment opportunities for Military Veterans in the NHS.

The Step into Health programme connects employers in the NHS to people from the Armed Forces community, by offering an access route into employment and career development opportunities. The programme recognises the transferable skills and cultural values that Armed Forces personnel develop when serving, and how they are compatible with those required within NHS roles.

The Trust is committed to providing opportunities for military veterans to obtain employment within the NHS. The Trust is looking to raise awareness, share best practice and improve access to employment and is working in partnership with neighbouring trusts, local organisations that work with the armed forces including Community Transition Partnership, NHS Employers and Bay Healthcare Partners. The pledge underpins the Trust’s commitment and includes insight days and work experience placements for military personnel to get an understanding of roles within the health service including apprenticeship opportunities and a designated point of contact within the organisation. The Trust is also reviewing the recruitment process and removing any barriers to support the pledge including improving its recruitment web pages in order to make jobs more available.


Professor Heather Tierney-Moore at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust said:
“Our pledge to the Step in to Health campaign shows our commitment and support to providing the best opportunities for Military Veterans. The programme allows us as an employer to connect with those who are seeking employment within our local community and offer a smooth route into employment and access to career development opportunities.
“We recognise and value the transferable skills, experiences and commitment of the people that have served in the armed forces and believe that these attributes support our own values within Lancashire Care and the wider NHS”
The Trust has a number of staff champions across the organisation to support individuals from the armed forces directly with employment opportunities and clinical services. The Trust also has commitment at executive board level to deliver its pledge. The Trust has also been successful in receiving a bronze award as part of The Ministry of Deference (MoD) employer recognition scheme and is working towards the silver by developing the ongoing work as part of the stepping in to health pledge.
For more information about recruitment at The Trust please visit http://www.lancashirecare.nhs.uk/emp...-services-team and for more information about the Step in to Health Campaign please visit www.nhsemployers.org/stepintohealth.