Publish date: 1 November 2021
This is the third in our series highlighting best practice in working with service users who are ex-armed forces, the previous ones having been about the great work that Brook Place and the Criminal Justice Liaison Team are doing in successfully engaging hard to reach veterans and working alongside voluntary sector services for veterans.
This one is about staff at the Crisis Team at Broadoak Unit and at the new NHS England NW High Intensity Service (HIS) for veterans in crisis provided by Leeds NHS Foundation Trust, who worked together and identified each other as exemplifying good practice.
The Crisis Team had identified and referred two veterans to the HIS who were in very different circumstances. Very different in age but both in great need of support and understanding and both seriously planning to end their lives; one a career soldier and one who did not even think of himself as a veteran because of how long ago he had served.
HIS works alongside mental health services and as both were in need of continuing care, referral to HIS was appropriate and led to a variety of interventions including joint working on care plans, help with engagement and formulation from a veteran mental health worker, debt support for veterans, the help of a veteran buddy to assist with social re-integration, treatment for service related PTSD and involvement in veteran sport activities. Both are now doing well.
If you have an example of particularly effective working with an ex armed forces service user which might help your colleagues please email our armed forces lead: Sheila