The Trust is an official Step into Health partner – a collaboration between the NHS, Walking with the Wounded and The Royal Foundation. It has helped dozens of ex-Armed Forces personnel explore careers within the NHS. At an awards ceremony held last month, the Trust received a silver award from HRH Prince Michael of Kent as part of the Step into Health Employer Recognition Scheme. It acknowledged the support which Northumbria Healthcare has provided the Armed Forces community and military veterans in Northumberland and North Tyneside. Northumbria began running its Step into Health programme in February, with information days during the year. So far, 47 service leavers and veterans have attended the Trust’s events and more than 20 have booked to attend the next event in February 2017. The Step into Health programme at the Trust consists of a one-day, quarterly information session, which provides an overview of the NHS and Northumbria Healthcare. Veterans are given a hospital tour and departmental visits which provide access to career information and guidance. Those who attend are also helped to create bespoke work-attachment programmes to help identify areas of interest for future employment. After a placement, if delegates apply for a role in the Trust and meet the specification, it will support them with the application process. The Trust is developing a Reservist policy and wants to encourage the recruitment of more Reserve Forces personnel into NHS roles.
