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Posted on 25 Jun 2021

Nottinghamshire Healthcare has re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant in its commitment to ensure staff who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly.

The Trust, which originally signed the Covenant in 2015, has committed to uphold the key principles of the Covenant which are:

• No member of the armed forces community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen.
• In some circumstances special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.

Paul Devlin, Trust Chair, and John Brewin, Trust Chief Executive hosted a virtual signing ceremony with Bruce Spencer, Regional Employers Engagement Director from the East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association and staff members Angela Holland, Reservist, and Brian Bonner, Veteran.

John Brewin said, “We are delighted to have re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant. The Trust has always been a supporter of employing reservists, veterans, cadet adult volunteers and members of the armed forces families, and the re-signing of the Covenant reflects our commitment to ensure staff and their families are treated fairly. Our policies also reflect the flexibilities for staff that are called into full time service to support them to adjust to deployment before, during and after.”

Angela Holland, Combat Medical Technician Army Reservist and Research Delivery Assistant for the Trust said, “I was really pleased and honoured to be invited to witness the resigning of the Armed Forces Covenant.  I did not realise when I joined Nottinghamshire Healthcare, what a great and supportive Trust they are towards their armed forces employees and this is really positive to see.  The Trust also has a policy that supports the army training that I need to complete throughout the year.  Nottinghamshire Healthcare is a great Trust to work for.”

Bruce Spencer said, “This is an important occasion. The Trust resigning the Armed Forces Covenant in Armed Forces Week is a public display of support for Defence. This ensures that much needed reserves can complete their annual training commitment to the nation and the armed forces family are treated fairly.”

The Trust is also proud to hold the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award for its continued support to the armed forces and is currently seeking to renew and extend this commitment. The scheme acknowledges employers who have provided exceptional support to the armed forces community and defence by going above and beyond their covenant pledges.

The Trust works in partnership with NHS Employers Step into Health programme. Step into Health offers an access route into employment and other career development opportunities within the NHS to members of the armed forces community.

The programme recognises the transferable skills and cultural values that armed forces personnel have developed, and how these skills and values are compatible with working in the NHS. We are delighted to renew these pledges as part of our celebrations during Armed Forces Week.