Community Forensic Practitioner

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with statutory, voluntary, and partner agencies relevant to the role.
• Undertake comprehensive mental health assessments within police stations and magistrates' courts in line with the Community remit.
• Liaise with and provide specialist advice to criminal justice partners including Police, Magistrates, Crown Prosecution Service, legal representatives, and Probation Services.
• Deliver high-quality, evidence-based mental health assessments and interventions.
• Ensure that service users receive timely, appropriate, and person-centred mental health care.
• Prepare and present clear written and verbal reports to partner agencies as required.
• Promote awareness and understanding of mental health needs through liaison, consultation, and education with external agencies.
• Work collaboratively with mainstream psychiatric services to provide specialist advice, assessment, and nursing interventions.
• Provide joint care and shared management of service users with secondary mental health services where appropriate.
• Support in-patient and community teams in the management of individuals with complex needs and forensic histories.
• Advocate for the needs of the target client group within mainstream services.
• Develop, implement, and review individual treatment plans, acting as Care Coordinator when required.
• Administer medication in accordance with Trust policy and professional guidelines.
• Provide support, information, and advice to carers and relatives.
• Develop and maintain a personal development plan in conjunction with their line manager.
• Work in accordance with Trust policies, procedures, and national legislation.
• Maintain professional registration and fulfil PREP/revalidation requirements.
• Participate in regular clinical and managerial supervision.
• Work in compliance with the Mental Health Act 1983, Health & Safety at Work Act, and COSHH regulations.
• Maintain confidentiality in line with information governance requirements, recognising appropriate limitations.
• Follow all reasonable management instructions in line with the role.
• Contribute to the supervision, mentorship, and development of junior staff.

• Participate fully in the Trust's annual appraisal and personal development review process.
• Undertake mandatory and role-specific training as agreed with the line manager.
• Demonstrate continuous professional development within agreed timescales.
• Contribute positively to the effectiveness, resilience, and performance of the multidisciplinary team.
• Undertake additional duties commensurate with the post, including project work and cross-cover.
• Promote a healthy, safe, and secure working environment in line with Trust policy.
• Adhere to infection prevention and control standards at all times.
• Actively promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in service delivery and employment practices in line with Trust values.

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of health and social care services for people of all ages with mental ill-health and learning disabilities in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We also provide social care services for people with a learning disability in Croydon and ASD and ADHD assessment services in Hampshire.

We actively seek to engage people who use our services and our communities in improving the mental wellbeing of the local population. We work closely with other NHS and voluntary sector organisations who provide services and support people who use services and carers.

Surrey is a beautiful county lying just 30 minutes away from Central London and from the South Coast. Our historic market towns and bustling districts are enveloped in wonderful countryside, and our excellent road and rail networks bring the rest of the country within easy reach.

For international travel, both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are nearby.

Would you like to work in an organisation that sits in the top 10 best NHS Mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Services Trusts to work for? This ranking is based on staff feedback in the 2023 NHS Staff Survey.