All Wales Veteran's Health and Well-being Service

BCUHB has set up a priority specialist service for armed services veterans, as part of the All Wales Veteran’s Health and Wellbeing Service (AWVHWB). It is set up on a “hub and spoke” model, with the hub of the service located in Cardiff, ensuring good practice and uniformity of operation across Wales. The spokes are the teams based in each of the health boards in Wales. 
 
The service is funded by the Welsh Government, following 6 successful pilot programmes in the UK, and the finding that veterans are susceptible to PTSD, depression and substance misuse, given their occupational experiences. 
 
The AWVHWB will work closely with PCTs, CMHTs, GPs and third sector organisations, to ensure a service targeting the particular needs of veterans. 
 
The key aims of the new service are to: 
•To conduct bio-psychosocial assessments of veterans, in order to determine help needed for the veteran and their family 
•Provide a time limited psychological therapy service to veterans in the BCUHB area, with particular emphasis on service related conditions. The intention is not to replace current services, but complement what already exists 
• Build a network of contacts of those with an interest in the needs of veterans, in order to develop and coordinate services for veterans, including third sector organisations 
• Encourage and enable veterans to access appropriate mental health services 
• Be a point of reference for information about the particular needs of the veteran client group 
Who can access the service? 
 
The service is open to any veteran who has worked within the armed forces for at least a day. The aim of the service is to target veterans whose mental health needs are not currently being met by statutory or voluntary services, due to difficulties in engaging with them. 
 
A veteran can self refer to the service, through the website www.veteranwales.co.uk, or through the local administrative site based in Wrexham. Our contact details are: 
 
Psychological Therapies 
Swn y Coed 
Grove road 
Wrexham 
LL11 1DY 
01978 262729 
 
Alternatively, veterans can be referred by primary and secondary care services, and by other agencies supporting the veteran. Contact the administrative site for a referral form or to make a telephone referral 
 
The Team 
 
Mark Birkill is the full time Community Veteran’s Therapist (CVT). He has worked in North Wales since qualifying as a social worker. Mark has worked in CMHTs, Primary Care Teams, and was an ASW for 11 years, before moving into psychological therapy. He is accredited with the BABCP and is a cognitive therapist. 
 
Karen Hawkings is the half time Community Veteran’s Therapist. She is a chartered occupational psychologist and cognitive behavioural therapist, most recently working in occupational health, specialising in treating employees experiencing trauma at work 
 
Karen and Mark are supported by Shelley Heyward, part time administrator. Shelley has substantial experience of administration work within the NHS