A pilot project which saw people in social care jobs supporting military veterans who were experiencing mental health problems, is to be extended across Wales.

Originally trialled in the Cardiff and Cwm Taf areas, the service offers veterans access to clinical expertise in the mental health needs of service personnel. The two-year pilot project aimed to provide more accurate assessment and suitable treatments for ex-service men and women and has apparently been a success.

Currently, health boards across Wales are looking for the right staff to fill the social care jobs needed to drive the £485,000 per-year service forward.

Under the new scheme, veterans with mental health issues will have access to a comprehensive assessment of their psychological and social needs, as well as a special management plan. The Welsh government is investigating further measures it can take to provide better care and support for members of the armed services and veterans who have left the forces.

In England, the government has established six similar pilots to provide community mental health support for veterans. It is believed that there are plans to roll out this kind of support across the country as part of the New Horizons strategy, described as a "shared vision for mental health". The New Horizons strategy aims to include establishing a skilled workforce for social and domiciliary care jobs dealing with mental health problems, as well as establishing a national and local consensus on mental health care.

Edwina Hart, the Welsh Health Minister, said: "I am determined to improve the care for people who have experienced health problems as a result of their military service. We owe them a debt of gratitude and have a duty of care for them"