The heroes among us

Image Credit: Photo: Heathcliff O’Malley

Here at Cygnet, ex-military personnel can truly thrive. Mental healthcare offers a rewarding and active environment for veterans and reservists, with a workplace culture similar to the military. It’s a place where you can make a real difference and build lasting friendships. Hear the stories of our people sharing their career transitions from military life to civilian life, and now working at Cygnet.

Jo served for 6 years in the British Army from 2012 to 2018, and during that time was posted to Germany for 2 years followed by a tour of Afghanistan, before returning to the UK.

The transition from the Army to civilian life is never an easy one, says Jo. ‘When I decided to leave, I wanted to be part of an organisation that made a difference.’

Jo was able to transfer her certifications and qualifications in Leadership and Management, Education and Training, and complete her CIPD Level 5 diploma in HR Management.

‘’My time in the forces helped me develop as an individual and I was able to use the skills that I learned, such as making assertive decisions under time constraints, being able to communicate with different stakeholders, and adapt to different environments.‘’

Jo currently works in Cygnet’s Central Function team as an HR Business Partner. In her role, she supports several sites with any employment-related issues and also helps manage activities such as training and development, retention, and performance management.

Although Jo initially missed the camaraderie when she left the Army, she says that she was welcomed into the Cygnet family by a caring and understanding team and she’s since made strong bonds with colleagues.

In 1999, Mark joined the British Army, serving for 22 years and reaching the rank of Warrant Officer Class Two. During his career, he was deployed to Bosnia, Iraq, Poland, Cyprus, and Morocco. His final role as a Regimental Administration Warrant Officer involved line management, HR, payroll, auditing, data security, and financial transactions.

“I’m so pleased I accepted the job at Cygnet. I look forward to coming into work every day, as I work with people who make me smile.”

After leaving the military, Mark pursued a career in Payroll & Accounting. He started as a Bookkeeper and obtained

his AAT qualification. However, he found bookkeeping did not fully utilise his skills. After 18 months, Mark secured a Funding & Payroll Administrator position at Cygnet.

“Joining Cygnet has allowed me to showcase skills I obtained in the military, such as hard work, pro-activity, prioritising, team-working, problem-solving, and attention to detail. I now gain a sense of achievement each day.”

Mark’s hard work was recognised in the military, earning him a commendation for exemplary service. Cygnet also acknowledges its employees’ efforts.

“At Cygnet, my hard work has been recognised, and I have been awarded ‘Employee of the Month’.”

The military instilled values of courage, discipline, respect, integrity, loyalty, and selfless commitment, which Mark continues to uphold at Cygnet. He aligns with Cygnet’s values of integrity, trust, empowerment, respect, and care.

“I’m so pleased I accepted the job at Cygnet. I look forward to coming into work every day, as I work with people who make me smile.”

At 16, Emma left school to join the Army Foundation College, beginning a 6-year career as a Plumber in the Royal Engineers. She completed a tour in Afghanistan in 2009.

After leaving the Army, Emma pursued a career in healthcare, initially aiming to be an A&E Nurse. She completed her adult Maths & English qualifications through the Army Transition Programme and began a health and social care course.

“I began looking for jobs and was lucky enough to be accepted as a Bank Support Worker at Cygnet Appletree. I picked up 5 shifts a week and loved the environment. I had to learn new skills such as hospital policies, risk management, and completing observations, but my Army skills helped me transition with ease.”

Emma’s ability to handle high-pressure situations, meet tight deadlines, and use strong communication skills made her an excellent team player. After 5 years as a Support Worker, she moved into the Occupational Therapy department at Appletree, discovering her true passion. She transferred skills from the Army, including adaptability, resilience, collaboration, problem-solving, and creative thinking.

“Working in mental health was something that had never crossed my mind, but it is the best thing I ever did. Now I’m training to become an Occupational Therapist.”

Ross served in the Royal Air Force Fire and Rescue Service for 22 years, from 1991 to 2013, with deployments worldwide, including Afghanistan, San Diego, the Falklands, and Canada. Attaining the rank of Sergeant, he suffered a life-changing injury that led to a medical discharge. In his final years, Ross served as RAF Waddington’s Fire Safety Officer, earning civilian-recognised fire safety qualifications.

With his passion for fire safety ignited, Ross began his civilian career as a Fire Safety Manager for a large retail company. He credits his smooth transition to civilian life to the strong work ethic and ‘can do’ attitude instilled by the military.

After several years in retail fire safety, Ross applied for the Fire Safety Manager position at Cygnet, seeking a fresh challenge in a healthcare setting.

“I arrived at St Augustine’s for my first day as Cygnet’s new Fire Safety Manager, and I haven’t looked back since.”

Now part of a dedicated health and safety team, Ross enjoys the steep but enjoyable learning curve, with no two days being the same. He appreciates the mix of working from home and visiting Cygnet sites across the UK, fitting perfectly with his lifestyle.

Each Cygnet site presents specific fire safety issues that require custom-designed approaches. Ross’s mantra is “Improvise, adapt, and overcome,” a phrase he adopted from his RAF days and continues to apply in his role as Cygnet grows into one of the UK’s largest care providers.

If you are an ex-military professional interested in transitioning to the mental healthcare field, we invite you to visit us and see how we operate. Our ethos and values align closely with yours. While working in mental health can be challenging, it is also incredibly fulfilling, with excellent support available.

Find out about careers at Cygnet and explore current job opportunities at careers.cygnetgroup.com