Mental Health Practitioner (Forensic)

NHS; Radlett; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS mental health provider in England seeks a specialist community mental health practitioner. This role involves working in the Community Forensic Team, providing expert assessment and care planning for individuals with complex needs. The ideal candidate will have a background in mental health, proven skills in risk management, and effective communication abilities. The position offers a competitive salary with flexible working patterns.

Qualifications

• Experience working with acute psychiatric disorders.
• Ability to supervise and mentor staff.
• Knowledge of recovery principles and social inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist mental health assessments and care planning.
• Work closely with Consultant Forensic Psychiatrists.
• Lead in care planning processes and ensure adherence to policies.

Skills

Ability to undertake assessment

Effective communication skills

Ability to prioritize work demands

Proven skills in risk assessment

Education

Current professional registration

Evidence of Continuing Professional Development

Job description

Job summary

To provide specialist community mental health practitioner input to the Community Forensic Team in Hertfordshire. This will include the provision of specialist knowledge regarding the management of complex cases.

To work in close liaison with the Consultant Forensic Psychiatrists and other members of the multi‑disciplinary team to co‑ordinate the input of the team and to act as a key professional in the full assessment of individual care needs and to plan, implement and review appropriate care and risk management.

The Community Forensic Team (CFT) provides enhanced risk assessment and provides specialist treatment to people with mental disorder in the community who pose or could pose a significant risk of causing serious harm (usually physical) to others. Most (but not all) individuals registered with the CFT have been convicted of serious violent offending. Treatment is geared towards the safe management of risk and recovery of the individual.

Main duties of the job

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The Trust believes in treating everyone with dignity and respect and encourages applications from all sectors of the community. We guarantee an interview to candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum essential criteria.

About us

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?

Details

Date posted: 19 December 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 6

Salary: £40,617 to £48,778 a year per annum, pro rata (inclusive of 5% HCAS)

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Flexible working

Reference number: 367-LD&F-9945

Job locations

Kingsley Green

Harper Lane

Radlett

WD7 7HU

Job description Job responsibilities

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 care.

Where 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.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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 mental 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.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name: Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Kingsley Green, Harper Lane, Radlett, WD7 7HU

Employer's website: https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/