Combat Stress is the leading UK charity specialising in the care of veterans' mental health. A national charity with therapy centres in Ayrshire, Shropshire and Surrey, Combat Stress works with veterans of the British Armed Forces and their families, providing treatment and support that enables them to live a life beyond their psychological injuries.
Here we discuss with Nicola Sorfleet, manager of psychological therapies, and Julie Shannon, associate director of operations, the charity's work and the changes that are making treatment for problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) more effective.
How long have you been at Combat Stress and how has the service changed in that time?
We have both worked for Combat Stress for approximately two years. During this time we have been part of a rapid growth and change process. The introduction of the National Specialist Commissioned PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme sparked a swift expansion of staff and treatment initiatives within the organisation.
For example, our psychological therapies team has increased threefold. All roles have been redeveloped and a strong ethos of multidisciplinary working underpins the whole recovery process.
What is currently the number one focus for Combat Stress?
We are currently strengthening our workforce by focusing on professional development to sustain a position at the forefront of veterans' mental health service delivery.
You are currently advertising for two managers of psychological therapies, in Shropshire and Ayrshire. Briefly describe this job and the impact it can have.
These roles are central to the successful running and development of our specialist treatment programmes and provide an opportunity for clinical/counselling psychologists to use their full skill set. The roles require the ability to inspire and drive innovation within the multi disciplinary team, and in return provide a balance of consultation, service evaluation, clinical and line management supervision and treatment delivery.
Registered mental nurses (RMNs) are essential to the work you do – how would your RMNs describe their experience of working at Combat Stress?
The RMN role is at the core of service delivery and is an excellent and rare opportunity for RMNs who are interested in working within this specialist area. The role offers an opportunity to enhance group facilitation skills and allows for innovation and creativity.
Here are some first-hand reasons why some of our Band 5 nurses enjoy working at Combat Stress, as they describe what it is like working here:
"I have been working with Combat Stress as a Band 5 RMN for 5 months now. The work I'm doing is such a contrast from working in the NHS acute setting – which was my previous employment. The most significant change I've noticed is that I have so much more time to spend working with clients on a one to one basis, having meaningful interactions and coming up with genuinely collaborative treatment plans.
"I have the support of a diverse and knowledgeable multidisciplinary team, whilst still remaining independent in planning and delivering treatment to the clients under my care. I joined in the midst of a culture of change, and whenever I have needed support, the team and management have never failed to deliver – despite balancing other issues and demands. My psychotherapeutic skills have developed significantly, and that is because I have the opportunity to use them every time I'm on shift.
"Spending quality time with patients is important, and here I can do that".
We currently have RMN vacancies in Leatherhead, Surrey.
Is there scope for staff development within the charity?
Combat Stress offers the opportunity to gain specialist experience in veterans' mental health. We support our staff with a robust internal training package and an appraisal system that identifies and targets individual training needs.
Psychiatry must play a major role at Combat Stress. Do each of the treatment centres have a qualified psychiatric team on site?
Yes, psychiatry is fundamental to everything we do at all three treatment centres. As we strive to develop and improve our services and treatments, we are always looking to build our expertise in this area and currently have opportunities available at Hollybush House in Ayrshire and Audley Court in Shropshire. So for consultant psychiatrists there are amazing opportunities in key leadership roles where you can ensure we achieve our vision across our inpatient and community services.
Describe your proudest achievement at Combat Stress?
I think for both of us our proudest achievement has been working with the staff to embrace new and exciting opportunities as our treatment programmes have developed, and watching and encouraging the growth of innovation and creativity – which in turn benefits and motivates the veterans in their recovery journey.
What motivates you most about your work?
Well we need to go back to why we are here in the first place – the veterans. We are here to enable the best possible outcome for each veteran. It's both exciting and rewarding to be part of a journey of hope and possibility that has the potential to see each person we serve reclaim their life and secure a future worth fighting for!
Combat Stress is recruiting for mental health nurses and managers of psychological therapies. Find out more here
Content on this page has been produced by Combat Stress
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