By Laura Farrow, Recruitment Manager (Digital & Engagement) at South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and member of the National Armed Forces Networks Group
Armed Forces Week in June 2024 provided the perfect opportunity to highlight the work of the various armed forces networks within UK ambulance services, enabling us to celebrate the contributions of armed forces colleagues working within – and alongside – the ambulance family.
My own trust, South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) serves the counties of Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. We are proud to provide care to the communities where our RAF, Army and Navy colleagues are located and with our military colleagues operating in close proximity, we have been fortunate to have crossed paths with our armed forces partners on many work projects, events and shared celebrations.
Within the trust we have a military champions network (one of six staff networks). We started as a small group of enthusiastic people who wanted to help and support those colleagues from the armed forces with employment opportunities and, by sharing our network’s aims with others across the trust, we found a host of people who were also working on armed forces projects. Rather than continue to work in silo we decided to form a network to share and celebrate these work initiatives.
All staff are welcome to join the military champions network which meets throughout the year to review projects, seek new ideas and plan for key celebration dates (such as Armed Forces Week, NHS Military March and Remembrance Day).
A few core achievements of the group to date:
- Received the Defence Employers Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold award twice (2017 and 2022)
- Accredited as a Veteran Aware Trust
- Re-pledged our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant
- Fostered a successful working partnership with the Defence Medical Service (DMS)
- Supported a number of Army and RAF paramedics through their newly qualified paramedic two-year portfolio
- Built and maintained a well-established relationship with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and the NHS Employers Step into Health (SiTH) Team
The benefits of having a military champions network in place are as follows:
- Experts who can signpost/support others
- Opportunities to work alongside our armed forces colleagues
- Great networking opportunities with other companies and health providers
- Work collaboration projects
- Free leadership courses/training (provided by Defence)
- People to help us in achieving our pledges
If you are looking to create a similar network and would like to speak to one of our team, please do reach out at military.champions@scas.nhs.uk.
Paul Jefferies – Military Champion Chair and Assistant Director of Operations, says:
I have always taken great pride in being associated with the armed forces, as a senior leader within the trust I hold our links to the forces in high esteem.
I am proud of the work we have already undertaken and proud to lead the networking group by ‘championing’ the trust now and in the future.
Professor Sir Keith Willett CBE – SCAS Chair and Honorary Air Commodore to RAAF 4626 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, adds:
When I reflect upon my own military and medical experiences, I always note the similarities in how we both deliver our services.
As a senior leader in the NHS as well as the RAF, I know how vital the transfer of skills is when our colleagues exit the military and join the NHS. I am proud to have served and support our service personnel.
