Four of our colleagues represented the Northern Care Alliance at His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester awards this week, where the trust was recertified with the Silver Employer’s Recognition Scheme (ERS) gong for pledging and advocating support to the defence and armed forces.
Taking part on the night were Allan Cordwell, head of Emergency Planning, Resilience and Response Unit and veteran of 207 field hospital lieutenant; John Thornhill, Fairfield General Hospital (FGH) ICU charge nurse and 207 field hospital lieutenant; Tracey Shaw, FGH patient experience lead; and Kim Titcombe FGH medical administrator and army cadet leader.
Thanking the rest of the team, Allan Cordwell said: “Your work in support of veterans, cadets and reservists on behalf of the organisation is greatly appreciated. The receipt and recertification of the Silver-level ERS award to the NCA demonstrates the continuing commitment of our organisation to fulfil our obligations within the Armed Forces Covenant.”
The NCA received the Silver-level revalidation for its work in supporting the reservists and cadets, as well as veterans and their families that it employs. This includes an armed forces/reservist policy that allows extra days of annual leave for training and honorary contracts for army regulars who need to consolidate their clinical skills and work alongside our NHS staff in areas such as theatres.
The ERS is awarded by the Ministry of Defence through the North West Reserve Forces & Cadets Association.