We Care Group
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, His 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 We Care Group 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 We Care Group 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 Service Spouses And Partners
- UK Reservists
We also pledge the following:
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We also aim to foster an inclusive working environment that recognizes the contribution of the armed forces community and ensure individuals are treated with fairness, dignity and respect.
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Communications, engagement and outreach: We will promote the Armed Forces Covenant logo through our website, social media, newsletters and recruitment materials, we will appoint Armed Forces champions in each of our Summit Care homes to build community connections and raise awareness of the armed forces within the care home but also in the wider community as well. At our head office we will also have an armed forces champion to raise awareness of the needs of the armed forces.
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Where appropriate, we seek opportunities to support the Armed Forces community through community partnerships, inclusive recruitment, and socially responsible business practices in line with the Armed Forces Covenant.
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Health We are committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of the Armed Forces community by recognising the unique needs of veterans, reservists, serving personnel, and their families. We will ensure that individuals who have served are identified, where they choose to disclose this, so their care can be tailored appropriately. Our staff receive awareness training on the health needs that may be associated with military service, including physical injuries, mental health conditions, and trauma. We work closely with NHS services, GPs, and specialist veteran support organisations to ensure residents receive timely access to appropriate healthcare and support. We promote dignity, respect, and person-centred care, ensuring no member of the Armed Forces community is disadvantaged in ac-cessing our services.
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Housing: We are committed to supporting members of the Armed Forces community by providing fair and equitable access to our care home services. We will work with individuals, families, local authorities, and partner organisations to ensure appropriate accommodation and care arrangements are identified.
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Education: We are committed to raising awareness of the Armed Forces community within our organisation by providing staff with learning opportunities that promote understanding of the unique experiences and needs of veterans, serving personnel, reservists, and their families. Through ongoing training and development, we aim to deliver compassionate, informed, and person-centred care.
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Civic responsibilities: We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces community by promoting inclusion, equality, and respect within our care home. We will recognise and value the contribution of serving personnel, reservists, veterans, and their families, engage with local Armed Forces initiatives where possible, and foster a welcoming environment where those who have served are supported and treated with dignity.
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.