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Armed forces pathways into the NHS

This page provides information on the support available for members of the Armed Forces/veterans who work within our Integrated Care System or are a residents in Mid and South Essex, their families and carers, and for staff that support them.

Supporting Armed Forces and Veterans 

Armed Forces Covenant

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise from the nation to ensure that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.

The Statutory Guidance on the Armed Forces Convent Duty places a legal responsibility on the Integrated Care Board (ICB) to pay ‘due regard’ to the principles of the Covenant. As outlined in the AFC, the ICB is required to take part in and promote awareness-raising schemes, such as:

  • Veteran Friendly accreditation for GP practices.
  • The Veterans Aware accreditation run by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA).
  • The government-run Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (DERS).
  • Step into Health which supports veterans transition into the NHS.
  • Membership of local Military Civilian Partnership Board.

In March 2023, Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board successfully achieved a ‘Veterans Aware’ accredited status and signed an Armed Forces Community commitment on behalf of the Integrated Care System. To achieve Veteran Aware accreditation, an organisation needs to have successfully demonstrated their commitment to eight core manifesto standards.

Armed Forces Covenant (opens in new tab)

Services for Armed Forces and Veterans 

The Veterans Gateway Self Help is the national first point of contact for Armed Forces and Veterans seeking support. It contains information and helpful services for those seeking advice and support and specific resources on physical health and mental wellbeing, housing, finance, employment, family and communities and living independently.

The NHS Website contains information for the armed forces community on how the NHS can help those in the British armed forces or veterans, reservists or family members of someone who is serving or who has served.

The NHS England healthcare page for armed forces serving personnel also contains links to other information including healthcare for veterans, support when leaving the armed forces, support for armed forces families, mental health support for veterans and serving personnel, Armed Forces introduction to NHS services and Armed Forces charities and support groups.

Step into Health 

NHS Step into Health supports the Armed Forces community to access the career opportunities available in the NHS. Members of the Armed Forces community can connect to NHS organisations to set up training opportunities, clinical and general work placements, insight days and receive application support. The programme provides a dedicated pathway into a career in the NHS.

Forces Families Jobs

Forces Families Jobs – Forces Families Jobs highlight training, employment and volunteer roles for family members of currently serving UK military personnel. You can use this website with confidence knowing that employers have signed the Armed Forces Covenant or have demonstrated their commitment to the Armed Forces.

Op COURAGE

Op COURAGE is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, veterans and their families.

Everyone at Op COURAGE is either from the armed forces community or is experienced in working with serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families. They understand military life and the courage it takes to speak with someone. They will work with veterans to make sure they get the right type of specialist care, support and treatment.

OPCourage consists of three main services:

  • The Veterans’ Mental Health, Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS) A community-based service for veterans and those transitioning from the armed forces with a discharge date. The service provides a range of treatment from recognising the early signs of mental health problems and providing access to early support, to therapeutic treatment for complex mental health difficulties.
  • The Veterans’ Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (CTS) – An enhanced local community-based service for ex-service personnel who have military-related complex mental health problems that have not improved with earlier care and treatment.
  • The Veterans’ Mental Health High Intensity Service (HIS) – For veterans who are in crisis or need urgent mental health care.

Op RESTORE

Op RESTORE is an NHS service that ensures those who have served in the UK Armed Forces access the right NHS treatment for significant, continuing physical injuries and illnesses caused by their time in the Armed Forces. Working together with military and civilian medical professionals, along with charities, we understand military life and the physical issues that can result from this. Regardless of how long you served for, or how long ago you left the Armed Forces, we can support you with getting the right support to help restore your health and wellbeing.

How is Op RESTORE different?

We know that you and your family might be affected by a range of health and wellbeing issues due to your time in Service. We can help by:

  • Ensuring you can access the care you need within the NHS
  • Making sure you’re treated by people who understand the military world and specialise in the type of physical health problems you have.
  • Putting together a care plan shaped around your needs.

Who is Op RESTORE for?

It doesn’t matter when the physical health problem happened or when you left the Armed Forces, Op RESTORE can help you if:

  • you’ve served at least one day in the British Armed Forces.
  • your physical health problem is known to be caused by your time in Service.
  • you’ve asked your GP to refer you.

Anyone who has served in the UK armed forces can ask their GP to refer them into the service.

OP COURAGE

Op COURAGE is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, veterans and their families.

Everyone at Op COURAGE is either from the armed forces community or is experienced in working with serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families. They understand military life and the courage it takes to speak with someone. They will work with veterans to make sure they get the right type of specialist care, support and treatment.

OPCourage consists of three main services:

  • The Veterans’ Mental Health, Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS) A community-based service for veterans and those transitioning from the armed forces with a discharge date. The service provides a range of treatment from recognising the early signs of mental health problems and providing access to early support, to therapeutic treatment for complex mental health difficulties.
  • The Veterans’ Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (CTS) – An enhanced local community-based service for ex-service personnel who have military-related complex mental health problems that have not improved with earlier care and treatment. 
  • The Veterans’ Mental Health High Intensity Service (HIS) – For veterans who are in crisis or need urgent mental health care.

Op FORTITUDE 

Op FORTITUDE is funded by The Armed Forces Covenant Fund to deliver a centralised referral pathway into veteran supported housing. The remit of the team will be to work with individual veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, supporting them either into suitable accommodation, or supporting them to maintain their current home.

The Op FORITUDE Pathway opened for referrals on 3 July 2023, with an initial focus on tenancy sustainment and high-risk referrals and will be fully operational by 1 September 2023 when the funded supported housing goes live. Referrals can come from self-referral or from a range of people and organisations. More information, the referral form and referral phone number can be found on the Op FORTITUDE webpage.

OP NOVA

Op NOVA supports veterans in the justice system by providing one to one nonclinical support to those who are at risk of being arrested or already have been, are due to leave prison or have been released from prison. Veterans accessing the service have access to a range of practical and emotional help, along with being supported by an expert case worker.

Supporting veterans in practice 

Visiting your GP – just over half of the General Practices (GPs) in Mid and South Essex are now accredited as Veteran Friendly. Next time you visit your practice tell them if you are a serving member of the armed forces, a veteran or a family member or carer of someone who is as this will help them to help you. Ask them if they have GP Veteran Friendly accreditation and look out for the logo.
Veteran Aware – The Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) is a group of NHS providers – including acute, mental health, community, and ambulance trusts – who have agreed to be exemplars of the best care for, and support to, the armed forces community (be they Regular, Reserves, Veterans, spouses or dependants). Accreditation is available to NHS Acute, Ambulance, Community, and Mental Health providers in England.

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