Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) has been awarded ‘gold standard’ status by the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) in recognition of their support for the Armed Forces community.
And this week the Trust’s chair, Cathy Ellis (pictured above right), their Armed Forces champion Brendan Daly (centre) and head of community development Rob Melling were in London to accept the coveted gold award.
They were at the National Army Museum where Brendan was presented with the award by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Sir Nicholas Patrick Carter KCB CBE DSO ADC Gen.
LPT has worked closely with the Armed Forces community to improve the understanding of the needs and priorities of Forces families and service leavers across the region and is one of just two gold ERS award winners from Leicestershire this year.
LPT chair Cathy Ellis commented: “It was a great moment to see Brendan pick up the award and recognise the hard work that has gone into the last two and half years both within LPT and externally with local partners.”
And Rob Melling added: “We are really proud of the achievement. Thanks goes to everyone has been involved in the staff armed forces group and supported the journey”.
The gold standard award comes two years after the Trust, which provides mental health, learning disabilities and community health care, signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant – pledging to support military personnel past and present. LPT was awarded the ERS silver award in 2018.
For further information about the Armed Forces Covenant or the support available through Lpt, please contact Brendan.Daly@leicspart.nhs.uk