New NHS programme piloted in the North West Live At-Ease programme provides non-clinical support to veterans
“They understood my challenges and I was able to move forward with my life.” Since leaving the army, Peter has needed support with a number of challenges including finding employment and the strain Army life has put on his family. Peter recently used Live At-Ease’s services to cope with some of the challenges he’s encountered in civilian life. He said: Peter (circled) in his Army’s days on exercise in Scotland
Live at-Ease is a new programme, commissioned by the NHS, being piloted across the North West. The programme offers free one-to-one support to ex-Service personnel and their families to deal with issues that have occurred during or after spending time in the Armed Forces.
issues that ex-Service personnel come up against - relationship breakdown, housing issues, unemployment, drug and alcohol addiction and money management problems. It is widely acknowledged that mental health needs can’t be met if support isn’t in place to help with these other non-clinical issues. From caseworker support, building confidence in applying for jobs to creating money management plans, there is support for issues that veterans may be facing.
“Balancing the things you’ve seen in the field with the normality of family life and a civvy job can create a big strain. I really
How does the pilot work? LIVE AT-EASE provides non-clinical additional support through dedicated caseworkers who help to assess the needs and options of ex-Service personnel and their families and liaise with approved service organisations that can help. Launched in April 2012, the pilot period will run until June 30, 2013. Non-clinical support Ex-Service people may need clinical support with mental and physical health problems when they leave the forces. The NHS and other providers offer an array of services to support physically injured personnel and a range of talking therapies and other mental health services are also available through regional IAPTs (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) - NHS services that treat people with depression and anxiety. Over the years, clinical service providers have noticed that there are many other
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Live At-Ease works with existing Armed Forces organisations and charities, voluntary organisations, NHS and Probation services to join them together and provide the most effective support. Each client has a dedicated caseworker who puts a support plan together and who is there throughout the client’s time with Live At-Ease to ensure they get exactly the right support. Anyone who has ever served in the armed forces and who lives in the North West can use Live At-Ease. They can be any age and could have left the military yesterday or 40 years ago. The programme is also available to the families of ex-Service personnel. Peter’s story Peter Wilcox, 53, is an Army veteran who lives in Greater Manchester with his wife and two daughters.
Peter Wilcox and his family today
struggled with finding employment and getting used to the work place after being in the Army for eight years. Lots of ex-soldiers have similar problems and sometimes it’s a slow process finding help. But Live At-Ease supported me straight away with finding training and a job. They understood my challenges and I was able to move forward with my life. I would recommend other veterans get in touch as Live At-Ease can help quickly with a wide range of non-medical problems.”
Contacts To contact Live At-Ease: email info@liveat-ease.org.uk call 0808 123 1123 or visit www.liveat-ease.org.uk