Specialist Community Mental Health Practitioner

To provide specialist community mental health practitioner input to the Community Forensic Team in Hertfordshire. This will include the provision of specialist knowledge regarding the management of complex cases.

To work in close liaison with the Consultant Forensic Psychiatrists and other members of the multi-disciplinary team to coordinate the input of the team and to act as a key professional in the full assessment of individual care needs and to plan, implement and review appropriate care and risk management.

Role Overview

The Community Forensic Team (CFT) provides enhanced risk assessment and provides specialist treatment to people with mental disorder in the community who pose or could pose a significant risk of causing serious harm (usually physical) to others. Most (but not all) individuals registered with the CFT have been convicted of serious violent offending. Treatment is geared towards the safe management of risk and recovery of the individual.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive mental health assessments (MSE, risk, formulation).
• Identify and escalate risks related to self-harm, suicide, violence, vulnerability, absconding, and safeguarding.
• Contribute to risk management plans and ensure they are followed in practice.
• Develop person-centred care plans with clear goals, interventions, and measurable outcomes.
• Deliver evidence-based therapeutic interventions (CBT-informed, DBT-informed, psycho education, grounding, de-escalation).
• Support medication adherence and monitor side effects (within scope of practice).
• Advocate for patient needs and ensure their voice is reflected in care planning.
• Liaise with psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and external agencies.
• Maintain accurate, timely, defensible clinical records.
• Ensure all interventions, risks, and decisions are documented.
• Adhere to NMC standards, safeguarding policies, and legal frameworks (e.g., MHA, MCA).
• Make clinical decisions regarding safety, including early departure decisions based on risk, acuity, and task completion.
• Coordinate handovers, ensuring clarity, accountability, and risk communication.
• Ensure completion of essential tasks: observations, medications, documentation, property, incident reporting.