Barchester Hickathrift House
We, the undersigned, commit to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community. We recognise the value Serving Personnel, both Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our business and our country.
The Armed Forces Covenant
An enduring covenant between the people of the United Kingdom, Her Majesty’s Government and all those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of the Crown and their families
The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Our Armed Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return, the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families. They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment.
Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.
This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant.
Section 1: Principles of the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant
1.1 We Barchester Hickathrift House will endeavour in our business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:
- no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen;
- and in some circumstances that special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.
Section 2: Demonstrating our commitment
2.1 Barchester Hickathrift House recognises the value serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business. We will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, by pledging to the following:
- Armed Forces Friendly
- UK Service Veterans And Leavers
- UK Reservists
We also pledge the following:
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Promoting the Armed Forces: At Hickathrift House we will encourage our staff to champion the understanding of support for armed forces residents service and their life experience and what they may have endured during their time of service, ensuring this is captured and documented / incorporated in their person centred care plans of what matters most to them. To ensure our staff have understanding of the best ways we can support the individual and how this may affect their current behaviours. Also to recognise staff within our service who are veterans themselves or who are from armed forces families to further support our residents.
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Communications, engagement and outreach: At Hickathrift House we will work alongside, support and promote veteran groups operating and supporting those within the local community. Engage with the local groups where possible at their settings along with residents.
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Commercial: Hickathrift House will Promote regular veteran themed events which benefit veterans within the community and the home and to host groups within the home and to join groups in the community.
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Health: Hickathrift house will take part in and promote awareness raising schemes, such as veteran friendly accreditation for GP practices and make contact with the GP surgeries to ensure our veteran residents have correct coding on the system.
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Employment: Hickathrift House will support the employment of veterans and reservist, within our organisation by providing tailored recruitment, flexible working arrangements and career development to assist transition in our organisation.
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Civic responsibilities: Hickathrift House will organise, facilitate, promote and/or take part in remembrance and other ceremonial activities in the local community.
2.2 We will publicise these commitments through our literature and/or on our website, setting out how we will seek to honour them and inviting feedback from the Service community and our customers on how we are doing.