Armed Forces Programme

We recognise the value that people who have served in the Armed Forces can bring to Solent NHS Trust. Military training instils a broad skill set, enabling ex-forces people to be versatile and adaptable in civilian life. We have a wide range of job opportunities in business, finance, administration and facilities management, as well as clinical and support roles.

We welcome applications from serving personnel who are considering a future NHS career and from people in the veteran community.

We provide support to people who would like to come to work with us, or undertake work experience and placements, or volunteering. There are great benefits to working for the NHS, and we have a range of opportunities please click here  to find out more.

If you find a role that is of interest to you and would like support with your application, or if you are interested in finding out more about Solent NHS Trust’s Military and Veteran Programme, email nhsapplicationsupport@solent.nhs.uk

About our Armed Forces Programme

We are implementing the Forces4Change Charter to deliver personalised positive outcomes to the internal and local veterans communities. At the Launch on 20 April 2018 our Chief Executive, Sue Harriman, herself a veteran of 16 years in the Royal Navy, we affirmed our commitment to the Charter and to delivering real value to the veterans who work in the Trust and also to working with the wider local veterans community.

So, what are we doing to deliver such positive, personal value?

Internal Veterans Network (IVN): Under the Chair of David Noyes, also ex Royal Navy and now our Chief Operating Officer, we have set up a Veterans Network.  The IVN is planning to offer the following support.:

• Candidate Mentoring: For new and existing employees, the IVN can act as a knowledge and experience base for veterans seeking employment within the organisation. The network will be trained in how to support the candidate in articulating their transferable skills in a manner appropriate to the role they are seeking. The appointed Mentor from the IVN will be able to support the candidate in ensuring the CV articulates the requisite skills, through the application process and further into the interview process.
• Internal Mentoring: Successful candidates will have continued mentoring as they settle into their new role and broader support of the wider IVN with an immediate community of like-minded people.
• Community Support: The IVN can both advise Solent on areas of improvement for veterans and provide mutual peer support.

Community Network: We will be reaching out to the broader, local veteran’s organisations and community to create a broader Community Network in support of the values and aims of the Trust. We are currently in contact with the Veterans Outreach Service, the Association of Drop-In Centres (ASDIC) and The Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club and the Regular Forces Employment Association.

The broader community approach is also seeking to improve the engagement of veterans who would benefit from improved access to Solent services.

Continuous Professional Development: We have committed to pilot the training being developed by ExForcesNet in support of the veterans community. Under the Charter, there is a curriculum of training which is seeking CPD accreditation to provide people with additional and relevant skills to support them in delivering the aims of the Charter.

This training includes:

• “Understanding the Military Being” – an interactive one day course in what our Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen go through in their training and operational careers to become the people they are.
• “CV Translation” – Taking a service leavers CV and translating it from the Military vernacular to a language that articulates the value of the experiences and outlines the high value transferable skills in the context of the NHS.
• “Interview Techniques” – Talking a candidate through an interview process, how to prepare, how to approach and then how to evidence relevant skills, again in the context of the NHS.

Under development is also a package of training that will support service leavers in understanding why they are different to their civilian colleagues. This is a piece that has been missing in existing programmes and some level of awareness will support in reducing the impact of culture shock, and support in the management of expectations.

Employment, Placements and Volunteering: We are seeking, not only to support people in getting permanent roles across the business, but also to provide placements for service leavers who are not fully sure of what career path they would like to take. Placements will support an organisation in filling short term gaps of up to 20 weeks while a service leaver is in resettlement leave. The value that the service leaver gets is a toe-dip into a prospective second career, and also, a sound reference should they apply for a role. One of the biggest barriers to success is that they have little or no experience in a particular field.

Further, as our country is defended by volunteer Forces, there is a strong sense of service among our veteran community, and the advertising of volunteer positions in the Trust to the veteran community could provide an additional avenue for individuals.

Academic Evaluation: Forces4Change and Solent NHS Trust will be seeking to evaluate the impact of employment and community support with the assistance of academic institutions.

Sarah Austin, Chief Operating Officer who is leading the veteran support programme said: “We are very proud to be at the leading edge of the development of this new charter. Our intention is to make a real difference to each and every individual we come into contact with. We are looking forward to creating a strong veteran network who can provide peer support to those already in, and those joining, the organisation.”

You can find more information about ExForcesNet and Forces4Change here.

Listen to David Noyes talking about our Veterans Programme at its launch.