Job summary
The purpose of the national center 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 center comprise of a Metropolitan Police team and an NHS team. The NHS partnership includes a team leader, team coordinator, forensic consultant psychiatrists, forensic consultant psychologist, forensic mental health professional.
The position of the forensic mental health professional 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.
Main duties of the job
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.
To work with a client group who by their natures can be extremely challenging and relentless in their communications. The professional might themselves become the focus of vexatious communications and this experience might be intense and stressful requiring interventions that seek resolution.
Required to have developed risk assessment skills and a willingness to undertake further training in this specialist area of work.
FTAC is a center 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 I 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.
About us
The North London Forensic Service (NLFS) provides inpatient services to North Central London of both medium and low secure forensic care, including services for women and men with learning disabilities. NLFS provides a range of community services including a low secure unit, assertive outreach teams, and criminal justice services including prisons. NLFS has several specialist units working with the Metropolitan Police Service and the British Transport Police Service.
The Fixated Threat Assessment Centre was developed to effectively evaluate and manage the liaison diversion and of those persons who engage in inappropriate and threatening communications or behaviours towards prominent people, which may arise in the context of mental illness. The service is multiagency and the post holder will work closely with Metropolitan Police colleagues and other agencies.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- 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.
- 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.
- The post holder will be required to follow up those on his or her caseload, including obtaining information on the treatment and progress of those detained in psychiatric hospitals. This will be used to contribute to the regular review of threat or concern on those who are considered to constitute a moderate or strong risk. These cases will be followed from the time of referral until such time as the concern is sufficiently low to not require continuous follow up.
- The post holder will be supervised clinically by senior medical or psychology staff and in terms of management by the Team Leader of the unit.
- The post holder whilst operating in the field in different parts of the country will be required to take decisions autonomously and in the context of situations where risk is considered to be present. Additionally the post holder will be required to make assessment of concern levels based upon the information that is available. Freedom to act and professional accountability are requirement of the position.
- The post holder will be required to become proficient in threat assessment theory and practice in this specialist area, to a level which will allow them to guide or inform consultant psychiatrists, along with other health professionals with whom they come into working contact.
- Promote the service to other statutory, non-statutory agencies including government ministers, correspondence teams and security departments, through training and presentations together with police colleagues.
Communication
- The post holder will undertake the gathering of background information on persons referred from, hospitals, general practitioners and social services. This will involve telephone and email contact with such services.
- The post holder will be required to deal directly with consultant psychiatrists across the UK; and on occasion the representatives of members of parliament, foreign embassies and senior police officers in other services.
- The post holder will be required to enter relevant details of their cases onto a computerised database, making use of keyboard skills to compile individual case reports, along with risk assessments and recording data.
- A high standard of interpersonal skill is required to manage the complex and possibly conflicting interests of those involved in the various processes, i.e. health professionals, police, social services, potential or actual victim, their staff etc.
- The post holder will have access to sensitive or confidential information involving a variety of agencies and he/she will be required to treat such information appropriately, in accordance with professional standards. This management of confidential information also involves adherence to medical standards of confidentiality regarding clinical information and to hcpc/police standards with non-clinical information.
Patient/Customer Care (if applicable) (both direct and indirect)
- 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 have the responsibility of maintaining the dignity of the person in such circumstances.
- The post holder will manage a caseload together with external services involved in the care of the person. They will attend professionals meetings and based on assessment and dialogue with external services, involve the person as appropriate.
- The post holder will ensure that the relevant services are informed of progress of the case and new developments at every stage of the case.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- 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.
- 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.
- The post holder will be required to follow up those on his or her caseload, including obtaining information on the treatment and progress of those detained in psychiatric hospitals. This will be used to contribute to the regular review of threat or concern on those who are considered to constitute a moderate or strong risk. These cases will be followed from the time of referral until such time as the concern is sufficiently low to not require continuous follow up.
- The post holder will be supervised clinically by senior medical or psychology staff and in terms of management by the Team Leader of the unit.
- The post holder whilst operating in the field in different parts of the country will be required to take decisions autonomously and in the context of situations where risk is considered to be present. Additionally the post holder will be required to make assessment of concern levels based upon the information that is available. Freedom to act and professional accountability are requirement of the position.
- The post holder will be required to become proficient in threat assessment theory and practice in this specialist area, to a level which will allow them to guide or inform consultant psychiatrists, along with other health professionals with whom they come into working contact.
- Promote the service to other statutory, non-statutory agencies including government ministers, correspondence teams and security departments, through training and presentations together with police colleagues.
Communication
- The post holder will undertake the gathering of background information on persons referred from, hospitals, general practitioners and social services. This will involve telephone and email contact with such services.
- The post holder will be required to deal directly with consultant psychiatrists across the UK; and on occasion the representatives of members of parliament, foreign embassies and senior police officers in other services.
- The post holder will be required to enter relevant details of their cases onto a computerised database, making use of keyboard skills to compile individual case reports, along with risk assessments and recording data.
- A high standard of interpersonal skill is required to manage the complex and possibly conflicting interests of those involved in the various processes, i.e. health professionals, police, social services, potential or actual victim, their staff etc.
- The post holder will have access to sensitive or confidential information involving a variety of agencies and he/she will be required to treat such information appropriately, in accordance with professional standards. This management of confidential information also involves adherence to medical standards of confidentiality regarding clinical information and to hcpc/police standards with non-clinical information.
Patient/Customer Care (if applicable) (both direct and indirect)
- 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 have the responsibility of maintaining the dignity of the person in such circumstances.
- The post holder will manage a caseload together with external services involved in the care of the person. They will attend professionals meetings and based on assessment and dialogue with external services, involve the person as appropriate.
- The post holder will ensure that the relevant services are informed of progress of the case and new developments at every stage of the case.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- NMC/Hcpc professional registration
- RMN/Social worke
Desirable
- First degree
- other postgraduate qualifications (must state which field)
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge and experience in dealing with GP services.
- Excellent understanding of mental health pathways
- Excellent risk assessment and management skills
Desirable
- Experience working in prison, police liaison, court diversion
- Line management responsibilities
- Experience teaching and training others
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Experience teaching and training others
- Excellent communication skills, written and verba
- Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience in working in a multi-agency/joint partnership agency
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to make clinical decisions autonomously.
Desirable
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- NMC/Hcpc professional registration
- RMN/Social worke
Desirable
- First degree
- other postgraduate qualifications (must state which field)
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge and experience in dealing with GP services.
- Excellent understanding of mental health pathways
- Excellent risk assessment and management skills
Desirable
- Experience working in prison, police liaison, court diversion
- Line management responsibilities
- Experience teaching and training others
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Experience teaching and training others
- Excellent communication skills, written and verba
- Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience in working in a multi-agency/joint partnership agency
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to make clinical decisions autonomously.
Desirable
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
