South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) has reiterated its commitment to support members of the armed forces community, including reservists and veterans, by signing up once again to the Armed Forces Covenant.
SCAS was the first ambulance trust in the country to sign up to the covenant in 2014 and a formal re-signing took place at the Trust’s North Harbour Resource Centre in Portsmouth on Wednesday, 5 July. Signatories to this latest commitment were Dr John Black, medical director for SCAS and retired lieutenant colonel, and Surgeon Commodore Stuart Collett CBE KHP.
By signing the covenant, organisations give a formal commitment to ensure that members of the armed forces community are never disadvantaged through service life. Serving personnel, veterans and their families can sometimes be affected by the frequent house moves, separation from loved ones and support networks, and unfamiliarity with civilian life meaning they can find themselves on the back foot when accessing public goods and services, such as healthcare.
Dr Black said: “It was a privilege to once again sign the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of SCAS as a demonstration of our support to serving personnel, veterans, reservists and their families. As well as taking into account the needs of the armed forces community in the development of our services and policies, I am also delighted that we continue to offer veterans and reservists a range of employment opportunities within SCAS.”
Visitors at military insight day are shown around an emergency ambulance
The covenant was signed at the end of a recruitment event hosted at the North Harbour Resource Centre by SCAS and the Career Transition Partnership (CTP). The CTP has been the official provider of resettlement support for leavers from the Armed Forces for over 20 years. At the event, SCAS opened its doors to serving members of the armed forces community as well as recent leavers, who were able to hear about the career opportunities in the emergency, NHS 111, patient transport and support services that SCAS provides. They were also able to speak to a number of military veterans who had already made the transition into SCAS and were enjoying successful and rewarding second careers.
Laura Farrow, recruitment manager and military champion at SCAS, said: “Thank you to everyone who took the time to visit and from the conversations I had with attendees, people left with a deeper understanding about the services we provide and were excited about the opportunities we can offer them after they have finished their military service.
“SCAS has over 150 veterans, reservists and military champions working in the organisation, some of whom enjoyed spending time showing visitors around our vehicles and equipment and talking to them about their own real life experiences. I am sure that today’s event, along with others we have planned, and the formal re-signing of the Armed Forces Covenant will continue to keep SCAS at the front of many people’s minds when considering a career after leaving the armed forces.”
Paramedic Team Leader and military veteran Ross Smith talks to visitors at the military insight day
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