Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Pathway – National Framework

5. Strategic Objectives

In December 2021, the Scottish Veterans Care Network published the Veterans Mental Health & Wellbeing Action Plan. The key principles of the plan were endorsed by the then-Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans and Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care at a Parliamentary debate on 1 March 2022:

• Equal access to service.
• Clear and timely pathways to the correct help.
• Improved support to providers.

“Consistency across the length and breadth of Scotland... Accessible and with clear pathways to expert support with warm handover to aftercare support.” - Service Provider as cited in the Scottish Veterans Care Network Action Plan 2021

Our forthcoming national Pathway is based upon achieving these principles. To reflect these principles, this Framework is underpinned by key themes, which are:

• High-quality, integrated services: ensure veterans receive care that is evidence-based, trauma-informed, and tailored to their needs;
• Clear and timely access: Establish streamlined referral routes and reduce barriers to accessing care, and;
• Support for supporters: enhance training and resources for families, carers, and frontline professionals who support veterans.

It is important that the development and subsequent implementation of the Framework is done in the following ways:

• Veteran-centric design. We will fully involve veterans in service design, delivery, and evaluation.
• Integration of services. We will ensure that statutory and third-sector services align to create a seamless care pathway, with the concept of ‘no wrong door’.
• Data and Evaluation. We will improve data collection and outcome measurement to inform continuous improvement, as well as to monitor the quality of care offered.
• Workforce Development. We will build capacity and capability across the mental health workforce to better understand and respond to veterans’ unique needs.

Veteran Voice

Veterans’ lived experience informs service design, priority setting and evaluation at national, regional and local levels.

Integration of Services

Statutory and third sector services operate a seamless integrated pathway with shared standards and information ‑sharing protocols

Data and Evaluation

Consistent and proportionate data capture and outcome measurement support assurance, improvement and accountability.

Workforce Development

The mental health workforce demonstrates competence in veteran specific needs, trauma informed practice and inclusive approaches.

Further detail on these objectives is captured below.

Veteran Voice

• Veterans’ lived experience embedded across design, delivery and evaluation at all levels.
• Capture, and respond to, veterans’ feedback, ensuring continuous improvement.
• Work with veterans to shape priorities and address identified barriers.

Integration of Services

• Promote integration with primary care, acute mental health and social care at local and regional levels.
• Promote integration between statutory and third sector services..
• Build effective interfaces with housing, employment, and advice services at local and regional levels.
• Recognise and use Community Link Workers and other anchor roles where available and appropriate.

Data and Evaluation

• Demographics, referral routes, timeliness, uptake, and completion.
• Clinical and wellbeing outcomes; personal recovery measures.
• Experience of care, including perceptions of stigma, burden of retelling, and cultural safety.
• Equity indicators across geography, deprivation, gender, ethnicity, age, and disability.

Workforce Development

• Tiered training framework spanning universal awareness, enhanced support, and specialist clinical competencies
• Defined peer support role with entry criteria, supervision, Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and career pathway
• Access to veterans specific training for mainstream services, including primary and secondary care