Forensic Mental Health Specialist

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 psychologist, and forensic mental health professionals.

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.

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.

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 forensic risk assessment skills and a willingness to undertake further training in this specialist area of work.

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 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.

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.