Forensic Mental Health Specialist | 306 North London NHS Foundation Trust
The purpose of The Fixated Threat Assessment Centre is to evaluate and manage the risk posed to prominent people by the fixated (i.e. those who engage in inappropriate or threatening communications or behaviours towards prominent people in the context of abnormally intense preoccupations, many of which arise from psychotic illness).
Staff at the centre comprise of a Metropolitan Police team and an NHS team. The NHS partnership includes a team leader, team coordinator, forensic consultant psychiatrists, forensic consultant psychologists, and forensic mental health professionals.
The position of the forensic mental health professionals with FTAC places emphasis upon a broad knowledge of systems that deliver mental health services. The knowledge base might include an operational understanding of the community mental health services, GP provision along with an understanding of the criminal justice pathway; including the courts, prison service, courts, police service and secure mental health services.
Please note that a requirement of the successful candidate will be to hold SC vetting with the Metropolitan Police. This can be a lengthy process and can take up to a year to clear. Until cleared the post cannot be started.
To formulate strategies of intervention to convey information that might be complex or sensitive to services. Demonstrate an ability to communicate verbally and in written form to a high standard with partner agencies. Agencies will not only involve providers of health care, but also representatives of prominent people, including government.
Required to have developed forensic risk assessment skills and a willingness to undertake further training in this specialist area of work.
Referrals to the team are in the main are via correspondence to principles such as the Royal family and Prime Minister. These are forwarded to FTAC from their offices where concerns are raised about the mental state and possible threats or fixation.It is extremely rare that face to face assessments occur.
FTAC is a centre of research, and the post holder will be expected to support the research component of the work. The post holder will therefore be required to develop knowledge, underpinned by theory and experience in this area to support analysis of facts.The research work will require skill to enter data onto a computerised database for the purpose of statistical analysis and assimilation of complex facts.
The role requires the worker to consult at a high level and to formulate strategies based upon an ability to arrive at judgments that demonstrate initiative and professional accountability.
North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT)is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.
Our Five-Year Strategy:
- We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.
- With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all
- We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.
- We will be more effective as an organisation by pioneering research, quality improvement and technology.
The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.
- The post holder will function within a team of specialist practitioners, along with the police officers in the unit. There is an expectation of the post holder to train in threat management and the specialist skill development will be through formal teaching programs, along with practice based supervision in post.
- The post holder will work jointly with other mental health personnel and police officers in the evaluation of concerns in each case, working to specific protocols. The post holder will take part in group referral meetings and supervision sessions that include police officers at which risk evaluations and possible interventions will be discussed.
- Although less likely, the post holder may on occasion be required to undertake assessments of the mental state of people making inappropriate attempts to gain proximity to prominent people. Such assessments may occur in public places, hospitals or the persons ordinary place of residence.
- The post holder will aid in the assessment and implementation of appropriate interventions, designed to contain or reduce the level of concern relating to a particular individual. Such interventions in many cases include a psychiatric liaison and/or diversion; this will mean liaising with mental health services in the persons area of origin and the provision of relevant background information which might assist the assessment.
This is not an exhaustive list, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.
This advert closes on Wednesday 26 Feb 2025