Published on: 12 July 2023
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme gold award, which recognises the Trust’s ongoing commitment to our armed forces community, as an employer. 
The Trust was recognised for its proactive approach to recruit and support veterans, reservists, cadet force adult volunteers and military family members.
The Defence Employer Recognition Awards have been launched by the Government to encourage employers to support defence and the armed forces, and inspire others to do the same. The scheme includes bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
Derbyshire Healthcare was recognised for advocating support to the armed forces community. The key points of our gold campaign included:
- Signing the Armed Forces Covenant first in 2018 and again yesterday.
- Establishing a good rapport with defence representatives.
- Having previously obtained the silver award last year.
- Proactively demonstrating that service personnel/armed forces community are represented fairly as part of the Trust’s recruitment and selection process.
- Providing up to 15 days paid leave for Reservists and Adult Cadet Volunteers to accommodate and support training and mobilisation.
- Working with the local Reserve centre, and continuing to offer mutual support.
- Hosting a Reserves Day event for staff working in the armed forces space from across the Midlands.
- Actively ensuring the Trust’s workforce is aware of their positive policies towards defence people. For example, through internally publicised positive HR policies.
- Continuing to collaborate and network with partner organisations and providers across Derbyshire to improve support for the armed forces family.
Justine Fitzjohn, Trust Secretary at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Executive Sponsor for the Trust’s Armed Forces Staff Network, said: “It is fantastic news for Derbyshire Healthcare to hold gold status with The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
“The Armed Forces community is highly regarded across the Trust and we believe it is important to advocate those who have served or are serving in the forces.
“This award would not have been achieved without our fantastic Armed Forces Staff Network for their ongoing commitment in wanting to support the community.
“It goes without saying that we are incredibly proud to show our support and look forward to looking at ways we can do even more as a Trust.”
Gemma Saunders, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and Network Chair of the Trust’s Armed Forces Staff Network, was delighted to have received this award.
Gemma said: “I am thrilled that we have achieved this award, this means a great deal to me and our staff network. I am privileged to work alongside our armed forces community in my role as network chair.
"We know we have more to do, and we will use this gold award as a platform to propel those plans to provide the best possible support for our staff. It’s what they deserve. A huge thank you to everyone who has helped and assisted across the Trust in achieving this coveted award”.
The Trust will formerly receive their gold status at an awards ceremony at The Officers Mess, Prince William of Gloucester Barracks in Grantham on Thursday 19 October 2023.
