Closing Date: 02 April 2025
Salary: £35,964 to £43,780 a year per annum inclusive of inner London HCAS
Job summary
The Community Forensic Outreach Service (FOS) has an exciting opportunity for a Community Psychiatric Nurse and Care Co-ordinator Band 5 to 6 Development Programme position. The core of the job is the management of a caseload of patients with forensic histories, acting as their care co-ordinator and as social supervisor as appropriate. You will alongside an MDT including Doctors, Psychologists, Recovery Workers, OTs and Social Workers. The post holder will initially have a protected/reduced caseload, and subject completion of the relevant competency framework and specialist forensic training, will progress to Band 6 within the role.
The Forensic Outreach Service (FOS) is a specialist, multi-disciplinary team operating within the forensic mental health service to facilitate and manage the safe transition of high risk adults with mental disorders from secure forensic settings (medium and low secure) into the community and back into their appropriate Community Mental Health Team. FOS provides ongoing care and support for patients requiring specialist interventions to address psychological and social care needs with the aim to reduce risk of relapse and reoffending and covers the five boroughs of South West London- Wandsworth, Richmond, Merton, Sutton and Kingston.
Main duties of the job
The post itself is a development post. We will support the successful candidate with a personalised support and development plan. The post holder will start at Band 5, with a reduced caseload of appropriately selected patients. The post holder will work through a development competency framework and complete specialist forensic training, supported by senior colleagues and management. Once this has been achieved, the post holder will progress to Band 6, and their duties and responsibilities within the team will update accordingly.
The successful candidate will be a qualified RMN or Learning Disability Nurse with sound experience in Mental Health, with knowledge of forensic mental health service provision and offender care, with a keen interest to develop a career within this specialism, and be committed to team working.
As a care co-ordinator, you will work collaboratively with other agencies, including police, the MOJ, probation, housing, and residential providers (to name but a few), to ensure that service delivery is consistently of the highest standard, providing for safe and effective care and team support.
The ideal candidate will also need to demonstrate good clinical knowledge and assessment skills, risk assessment and have sound knowledge of the Care Programme Approach. You will be supported in completing a competency framework and the relevant specialist forensic training to support you in your development, such as HCR-20 training and social supervision.
You will support patients who are stepping out of secure services, and aim to support them to live well in the community whilst always maintaining public protection.
With patients who are stepping out of secure services, you will work to ensure they are housed appropriately, which includes liaising with the 5 Local Authorities within the SWLSTG. You will at times arrange Care Act Assessments or apply for funding.
You will administrating depot medication or complete oral medication audits.
You will write quarterly reports to the Ministry of Justice for patients who are on a conditional discharge. You will support patients with their conditions of discharge, whether that be conditional discharge or CTO. You will ensure your care plans are up to date and reflect these conditions.
You will work closely with my MDT and attend all regular zoning meetings/ professionals meeting/ risk formulation meetings/ reflective practice etc.
You will working collaboratively with other agencies, including police, MOJ, probation, housing, and residential providers, to ensure that service delivery provides safe and effective care.
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential
- Registered Adult Nurse and/or Registered Mental Health Nurse and/or Registered Learning Disabilities Nurse or Registered Occupational Therapist or Registered social Worker
- Mentorship qualification
Desirable
- Master’s degree
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of research-based/reflective practice, e.g. understanding and ability to use supervision to reflect on skills, attitude and knowledge and develop these by using evidence based practice
- Significant relevant clinical experience
- Knowledge of clinical governance and audit
- Knowledge of relevant professional and clinical legislation
Desirable
- Experience of taking responsibility for a ward / clinical unit.
- Experience of engaging / supporting clinical research projects
- Experience of supporting practice development in clinical areas
Skills
Essential
- Able to provide quality care that is responsive to service user’s needs, without close supervision
- Teaching ability
- Resilient: able to cope with difficult interpersonal situations.
- Approachable
- Self-aware, self-confident and intrinsically motivated to do a good job and to motivate others
Desirable
- Problem solving, ability to identify problems, review options and take appropriate action without a predetermined framework
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
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).