Mental Health Practitioner (Forensic)
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Radlett, WD7 7HU
Salary
£41,957 to £50,387
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Not specified
Closing date
10 September 2026
5 days left
Job description
To provide specialist community mental health practitioner input to the Community Forensic Team in Hertfordshire. This will include the provision of s...
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.
To work within the CFT to provide specialist mental health practitioner assessment and care planning.To take a lead role in the care planning process and work within the Care Programme Approach ensuring that CFT and Trust policies are adhered to.To take a lead role and work with those people who have more complex and challenging needs across the caseload. To develop practice within the teams in the assessment of health and well being needs. Working closely with the Consultant Forensic Psychiatrists, act as a central link in the ongoing management of complex cases for the team.To provide specialist knowledge and advice to other agencies for the purposes of public protection, including through MAPPA processes.To provide written reports in respect of Mental Health Tribunals as required. To act as a Social Supervisor for those people who remain subject to mental health act restrictions whilst living out of hospital.Take part in the evaluation of the care of individuals at review meetings, case conferences, ward rounds etc.To attend and contribute to team meetings, providing specialist professional advice and support to staff regarding the management of individual service users and their programmes of careWhere professionally appropriate may be responsible for the safe transport and administration of medicines in accordance with Trust policy, legal requirements and NMC guidance, administers intramuscular injections.To provide specialist clinical advice across the Trust as required.To liaise with community services; statutory and non- statutory and inpatient services
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.
Our family of over 4000 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.
The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:
Our Trust values are
Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.
These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it!
Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?
QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING
Essential
- Current professional registration with an approved professional body.
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Desirable
- Training relevant to Practice
- Post Graduate Diploma
- Specific training in family work or other psychological approaches.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Significant previous experience of working with service users with acute psychiatric disorders and complex mental health needs.
- Experience of managing a caseload.
- Experience of supervising staff and providing mentorship.
Desirable
- Experience of working with service users with Forensic histories.
- Experience of working with service users diagnosed with learning disability and or neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Experience of working in assertive outreach, crisis or home treatment services
- Lived experience of mental health challenges.
SKILLS/ ABILITY
Essential
- Ability to undertake assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of treatment plans.
- Ability to prioritise work demands and be flexible
- Proven skills in undertaking risk assessments and management plans.
- Effective communication skills both verbally and written, including IT literacy
- An understanding and commitment to the principles of Recovery and social inclusion
- An understanding of the role of health promotion and education with the client group.
- Ability to advocate for the service users who you are supporting.
- The ability to supervise and participate in providing teaching and training to other staff.
Desirable
- In depth knowledge and skill related to a particular therapeutic intervention such as CBT, DBT, family work.
- Experience in group work
KNOWLEDGE
Essential
- Thorough understanding of care planning and the Care
- Programme Approach (CPA)
- Knowledge of physical healthcare needs.
- Commitment to and understanding of evidence- based practice.
- Knowledge of relevant NICE guidance.
- Understanding of the legislation relating to menta health care including - Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Act, Care Act, Children's Act, Equality Act 2010.
- Awareness of safeguarding issues and responsibilities under relevant legislation.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the role of the MOJ and other criminal justice agencies..
How to apply
Applications are handled entirely by the employer on the original advert. We do not collect CVs, supporting statements or application data.
Provenance
Source
NHS Jobs
First seen
2 September 2026
Last checked
4 September 2026
Salary, closing date and description are taken from the employer's advert. The original advert always takes precedence.
About the employer
NHS organisation
This listing was structured from NHS Jobs. Vacancy details and the application process remain the responsibility of the original source.
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