Job summary
The Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) is a group of NHS providers, including acute, mental health, community and ambulance organisations, who have volunteered to be exemplars of the best care for and support to the armed forces community.
The VCHA programme received clear direction, by Central Government, in the Veterans Strategy Action Plan 2022 - 2024, to widen scope and to pilot the accreditation of both the Independent Sector and Hospices. You will act as the primary point of contact and support the delivery of the VCHA Manifesto and its aims as the lead in support of our partners such as Integrated Care Boards (ICB), Independent and Hospice Care settings; Voluntary/Third Sector organisations supporting the Veteran and Armed Forces Community.
To deliver the requirement of the VCHA Manifesto's and commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, it will be expected that the post holder will hold autonomy within their role and be able to work independently.
Main duties of the job
Main Responsibilities
- To act as the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance for Widening Participation and Projects to ensure members of the Veterans and Armed Forces community face no disadvantage in accessing health, healthcare and wellbeing services and meeting the legislative duty and principles of the Armed Forces Covenant.
- To act as the primary contact point for Executive Sponsors, Clinical and Management Champions within provider organisations, providing strong professional and managerial leadership and acting as a professional role model.
- Leading and managing day-to-day relationships with NHSE Integrated Care Boards (ICB); Independent healthcare providers, Care Home and Hospice Care settings and Voluntary/Third Sector organisations that support Armed Forces Community health, healthcare and wellbeing.
- Work with respective services within organisations to promote the Veteran Aware accreditation award.
- Work with respective services within organisations to promote the Armed Forces Covenant, the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and employment of Reservists.
- Work with HR / People functions to collaborate with Step into Health, CTP and Forces Families Jobs to encourage the awareness of employment opportunities.
- Ensure identification of best practice to be shared across the VCHA programme.
- Maintain the Widening Participation project plan with updates from participating organisations and providing monthly updates to the national VCHA lead.
About us
The VCHA Team is a combination of NHS professionals and Veterans. We are a small (10 people), close knit and a very dynamic team who are making a difference for our military community and all NHS patients. This vacancy would suit a people centred person who wishes to put something back, willing to go the extra mile and more importantly puts the patient first, always.
The team works directly for Professor Tim Briggs CBE, the National Clinical Lead for Improvements and Recovery in the NHS. As such this is a very high-profile programme and one that Central Governments sees as key for making the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran.
We work hard, play hard and there are lots of opportunities for professional development.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Operational
- Engage with Organisational Development and Diversity & Inclusion functions within participating organisations to ensure that staff are aware of their duty to the Armed Forces Covenant and being a Veteran Aware organisation.
- Work with HR / People functions to improve the identification of serving, Veteran and Armed Forces community members who access healthcare across Independent, Care Home and Hospice Care settings; Voluntary/Third Sector organisations. Understanding of specialist Patient Access Codes, PAS/ERS coding, ESR or similar in non-NHS Organisations
- Continue to provide training /education/ support to ensure that all organisations accredited have access to ongoing support to maintain the manifesto standards and providing support where issues arise to effectively support and manage a plan to improve those standards.
- Escalate where appropriate, any concerns in delivering the manifesto or where standards are not being met to seek guidance for remedial action and support.
- Support training of voluntary Armed Forces Champions through specific training relevant the roles and specialities
- Collaborate with VCHA leads to share good practice and learning across regions and organisations;
- Develop a local Directory of Services (DOS) for your organisations. Including regional, national, and specialist
- Work with existing health and healthcare providers to identify gaps (Gap Analysis) where additional support may be needed, linking them to soft support and networks to further enhance care. Map existing services for ease of referral (in partnership with the Map of Need/Veterans & Families Service Directory and Veterans Gateway);
- Build rapport with existing local/regional statutory services for Veteran and Armed Forces community, for example: - TILs, CTS, HIS, Veterans UK and the Transition service etc
- Be responsible for a high standard of work supporting the delivery of the programme on time, to quality standards and in a cost-effective manner. Maintain the regional plan with regular team meetings to monitor progress against the milestones. Will be responsible for own workload, calendar and meetings. Will report the National Lead on progress but will have significant discretion to work within the Veteran Aware manifesto standards.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Operational
- Engage with Organisational Development and Diversity & Inclusion functions within participating organisations to ensure that staff are aware of their duty to the Armed Forces Covenant and being a Veteran Aware organisation.
- Work with HR / People functions to improve the identification of serving, Veteran and Armed Forces community members who access healthcare across Independent, Care Home and Hospice Care settings; Voluntary/Third Sector organisations. Understanding of specialist Patient Access Codes, PAS/ERS coding, ESR or similar in non-NHS Organisations
- Continue to provide training /education/ support to ensure that all organisations accredited have access to ongoing support to maintain the manifesto standards and providing support where issues arise to effectively support and manage a plan to improve those standards.
- Escalate where appropriate, any concerns in delivering the manifesto or where standards are not being met to seek guidance for remedial action and support.
- Support training of voluntary Armed Forces Champions through specific training relevant the roles and specialities
- Collaborate with VCHA leads to share good practice and learning across regions and organisations;
- Develop a local Directory of Services (DOS) for your organisations. Including regional, national, and specialist
- Work with existing health and healthcare providers to identify gaps (Gap Analysis) where additional support may be needed, linking them to soft support and networks to further enhance care. Map existing services for ease of referral (in partnership with the Map of Need/Veterans & Families Service Directory and Veterans Gateway);
- Build rapport with existing local/regional statutory services for Veteran and Armed Forces community, for example: - TILs, CTS, HIS, Veterans UK and the Transition service etc
- Be responsible for a high standard of work supporting the delivery of the programme on time, to quality standards and in a cost-effective manner. Maintain the regional plan with regular team meetings to monitor progress against the milestones. Will be responsible for own workload, calendar and meetings. Will report the National Lead on progress but will have significant discretion to work within the Veteran Aware manifesto standards.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Member of the Armed Forces Community
Qualifications
Essential
- Healthcare professional (Nurse or Public Health)
Desirable
- Broad understanding of NHS Healthcare for the Armed Forces community (within the NHS/MOD))
Qualifications
Essential
- Experience in project management
Qualifications
Essential
- General understanding of the Armed Forces
Qualifications
Essential
- Stakeholder and partner engagement
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Member of the Armed Forces Community
Qualifications
Essential
- Healthcare professional (Nurse or Public Health)
Desirable
- Broad understanding of NHS Healthcare for the Armed Forces community (within the NHS/MOD))
Qualifications
Essential
- Experience in project management
Qualifications
Essential
- General understanding of the Armed Forces
Qualifications
Essential
- Stakeholder and partner engagement
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
