Three ways to become a Forces-friendly employer
We were pleased to speak to Irene Cowling, Armed Forces and Veteran Coordinator at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust. She is also a veteran and a military spouse, and the mother of service children. Irene is dedicated to the Reservists and wider Armed Forces Community on a day-to-day basis and has shared some top tips for how Oxleas has kept to the Gold Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).
Encouraging ways for Reservists to self-identify
The trust have worked to increase the ways that staff can self identify as members of the Armed Forces community. This has included adding questions to the NHS Staff Survey and making sure staff are aware that they can also self identify via ESR. The trust have also began looking at why they have seen a large difference in the numbers letting them know in the staff survey rather than more conventional routes.
Irene explains this work in detail in the following video. You can turn on subtitles using the control panel if you need them.
"When I think about the value Reservists bring to the NHS, my thoughts are very clear. The leadership and problem-solving training we get in the Armed Forces is world-class. If Trusts had to pay for equivalent training, it would cost a lot more." You can hear more from Dan Gray, a Reservist who works for Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, in his recent blog.
Making resources visible
The trust worked to make sure that their support for the Armed Forces community was visible, this included sharing posters in staff rooms as well as getting in touch with the equality networks at the trust to make sure their members where aware of the support that is availible.
The trust also worked with the equality networks to discuss the reasons they had uncovered for staff being unwilling to declare their status as a member of the Armed Forces community and through gained information about how they could approach this to boost the number of declarations on ESR.
Going above the ERS gold standard
To obtain the ERS gold award trust need to offer 10 days of paid leave for Reservists, the trust found that by being flexible with this they were able to ensure that staff could get the best from their training and come back well rested.
The trust also works hard to link the Armed Forces community in with events in their area so that they can get additional support as well as signposting them to mental health support that is offered by NHS commissioned Armed Forces specific services.
By going above and beyond the trust has been able to support Reservists while benefiting from the skills and experience that they bring.
Irene highlighted the importance of creating networks and sharing experiences to make sure you are offering the best support to Reservists in your organisation. You can join our Reservist connect, share and learn events, these take place quarterly and have a different topic to support you each time.
