Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) is proud to have been re-accredited as a Veteran Aware Trust.
The accreditation from the Veterans Covenant Hospital Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) recognises EPUT’s work in Op COURAGE, a service led by the Trust across the East of England to help armed forces’ veterans re-integrate into everyday life and access mental health and wellbeing support.
EPUT was first formally recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust in 2021 and has now been reaccredited for a further three years following a comprehensive review by the VCHA, an NHS England funded alliance designed to support healthcare providers understand and meet the needs of the armed forces community
Andrew Mcmenemy, Chief People Officer at EPUT said: “I am delighted that EPUT has been re-accredited as a Veteran Aware Trust.
“A lot of progress has been made since we first became a Veteran Aware Trust, in particular the work that has been done to make the Trust a better to place to work and receive healthcare, as a member of the armed forces community.
“The accreditation also recognises our work around identifying and sharing best practice for veterans across the NHS.”
The re-accreditation highlights EPUT as providing high quality care for veterans and training its staff to understand veterans’ needs, ensuring members of the armed forces do not face disadvantage when seeking help from services.
It reflects the Trust’s commitment to being a veteran-friendly organisation and recognises its work to identify and support veterans, improve staff understanding of military experiences and the potential impact on physical and mental health.
EPUT is also a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant and has received a gold award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme accreditation from the Ministry of Defence, both of which recognise the which recognises the Trust as a Forces Friendly employer that supports the recruitment of members of the armed forces, ex-armed forces personnel and their partners.
About EPUT
- EPUT has a vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care: Who we are – Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- EPUT provides services to more than 100,000 patients at any one time and our staff are focused on providing high quality care in often complex situations.
- The organisation has invested in inpatient facilities and community services to make them safer and more therapeutic. We have extensively invested in technology to keep patients safer, enhanced training, and are continuously working with our staff, patients, their families and carers to use learning and best practice to enhance our quality of care.
- While there is more to do, the Trust has made significant progress through innovation:
- Our 111 mental health crisis phone line ensures people in need can access support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- People with lived experience have been employed in designated roles across the Trust, ensuring patient voice is heart of the organisation and all that we do.
- A number of new initiatives have been launched, helping people access the support they need when they need it most. These include a mental health urgent care department, By Your Side maternal mental health service, Rough Sleeper team, mental health crisis ambulance cars, virtual wards and neuromodulation service.
- EPUT was formed on 1 April 2017 and provides community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex, Luton and Bedfordshire and Suffolk. We employ more than 7,200 staff working across more than 200 sites.
- To read more about our priorities and commitments to deliver the highest quality and safest care possible, visit https://eput.nhs.uk/about-us/2023-2028-strategic-plan/