The Occupational Therapy Service (TOTS), a leading and well-respected independent occupational therapy company, has been awarded NHS Veteran Aware accreditation in recognition of its training to support the Armed Forces community.
Delivered by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance, NHS Veteran Aware is an accreditation programme designed to help healthcare providers understand and meet the needs of serving personnel, reservists, veterans, and their families in the UK. TOTS identified this initiative as aligning with its values so applied for training to enhance its intervention for military charities, case management companies, the NHS and local authorities. This accreditation proves that the service it provides meets national standards and has proven competency in terms of social value, intervention and inclusion.
Lucy Leonard, occupational therapist and Director of The Occupational Therapy Service, commented: “For me, the visit was a proud moment but also a challenge. Pride that our team has done the work to reach this point; challenge because it reminds us to keep learning and adapting. It’s not about a plaque on the wall, it’s about how we approach every assessment, every recommendation, and every conversation so that veterans and their families get the right support and opportunities to live full, independent lives.”
Servicing for over 40 years in the British Army, retired Lieutenant Colonel Guy Benson was invited to the TOTS headquarters to unveil a plaque which illustrates the new TOTS accreditation. Guy is the National Programme Director and Team Leader of the NHS VCHA and National Training and Education Programme. One of the most moving moments was sharing a painting given to our Director Samantha Shann, by a Ukrainian veteran she met earlier this year.
Guy added: “The Occupational Therapy Service, who recently joined the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), are absolutely brilliant. This is a well led, professional and compassionate organisation who are making a real difference and playing their part in ensuring that the Armed Forces community do not face inequalities, unwarranted variation or disadvantage in the provision of healthcare. These are ordinary people, delivering the extra-ordinary and as such are playing their part in making the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran.”
Lucy sums up Guys visit by saying: “It was inspirational to meet Guy and hear about his past military experiences and commitment to improving care for fellow veterans. He was very humble and a real leader We’re grateful to Guy for giving his time, for sharing his experience so generously, and for encouraging us to keep going.”
