Specialist Community Forensic Practitioner | Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Billericay; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days holiday

Excellent pension

Relocation package

Season ticket loans

Blue Light Card discounts

Job summary

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 6 Specialist Community Forensic Practitioner based at Heath Close, Billericay. You will join the Specialist Community Forensic Team, care coordinating a small caseload and working with a multi-disciplinary group to support discharge planning and community follow-up.

Key duties include risk assessments, care planning using HCR-20, liaison with families and partner agencies, and helping with inpatient reviews.

Qualifications

• RMN with at least 12 months post-qualification experience, or a recognised Social Work qualification, or an Occupational Therapy qualification.
• At least 12 months’ Band 5 experience and good knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983.
• Experience in secure services and HCR‑20 qualification is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Act as care coordinator for a small caseload within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Complete risk assessments and risk management plans using forensic tools such as the HCR-20.
• Develop and review holistic care plans and monitor ongoing progress.
• Support discharge process and assist with readmission when needed.
• Collaborate with families, carers and partner agencies while maintaining confidentiality.
• Follow local/national guidance on medication ordering, carrying and storage.

Skills

Care coordination

Risk assessment

Communication

Education

RMN with PQE

Social Work qualification

Occupational Therapy qualification

Tools

HCR-20

Job description

Specialist Community Forensic Practitioner | Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

We are looking for a Band 6 Specialist Community Forensic Practitioner to join the Specialist Community Forensic Team (SCFT), based at Heath Close, Billericay.

The team works with people in secure settings before, during and after discharge to help them move safely into the community. Much of the work is with service users at Brockfield House and other secure services. You will be part of a multi-disciplinary team and will care coordinate a small caseload. You will also help to complete risk assessments and care plans, using tools such as the HCR-20. You will attend inpatient reviews so that any delay to discharge is picked up early. You will work closely with families, carers and agencies such as Probation, Police, MAPPA, housing providers and substance misuse services.

You will need to be a registered mental health nurse with at least 12 months post-qualification experience, or hold a recognised social work or occupational therapy qualification. You should have at least 12 months’ experience at Band 5 and a good working knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983, including conditional discharge. Experience in secure services and an HCR-20 qualification would be an advantage.

The post is 37.5 hours a week. The service runs 7 days a week with shifts between 8am and 8pm, including rotating weekends. You will need a full UK driving licence, as the team covers the whole of Essex.

Main duties of the job

• Act as care coordinator for a caseload of service users, working with the multi-disciplinary team
• Complete risk assessments and risk management plans in line with EPUT policy, including forensic tools such as the HCR-20
• Take part in holistic assessments and help develop individual care plans, then review and evaluate how well they are working
• Support the MDT to discharge service users safely to the community, and help with readmission when needed
• Support service users, carers and colleagues with the Mental Health Act 1983, in particular conditional discharge
• Keep in touch with partner agencies such as Recovery and Wellbeing teams, substance misuse services, accommodation providers, Police, Probation, MAPPA and social services, while keeping information confidential
• Work closely with families and carers, and involve service users and carers in how the service develops
• Monitor service users’ mental and physical health in the community and respond to crises when needed
• Follow local and national guidance on ordering, carrying, giving and storing medication
• Keep clinical records clear, accurate and up to date
• Support, guide and supervise staff, and act as Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor for students
• Help with the day to day running of the team and cover for the Team Leader when they are absent
• Take part in team meetings, audit and service development, and keep your own training up to date
• Possibly join an on call rota

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
• Season ticket loans are interest‑free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

About the team

The Specialist Community Forensic Team (SCFT) supports people in secure settings before, during and after discharge, so they can move into the community at the right time. The team is mainly focused on service users at Brockfield House and other secure services. It covers the whole of Essex and is based at 2 Heath Close, Billericay. You will report to the Service Manager.

The team is moving towards a new model, with the service organised into three geographical teams across Essex and extended hours, including evening and weekend working, across 7 days. This is still under consultation, so the final team structure and shift pattern have not been agreed. The successful candidate will be expected to work flexibly within the model once it is in place.

Clinical

• Act as care coordinator for a small caseload, working with the multi-disciplinary team
• Take part in holistic assessments and write individual care plans with service users
• Complete risk assessments and risk management plans in line with EPUT policy, using forensic tools such as the HCR-20
• Attend inpatient reviews, case conferences and multi‑professional meetings, and raise anything that could delay discharge as early as possible
• Support the MDT to discharge service users safely to the community, and help with readmission when it is needed
• Review care plans and check the quality of care, taking action where needed
• Provide evidence based interventions, including psycho‑social interventions, as part of the team
• Monitor service users' mental and physical health in the community
• Make decisions and coordinate care in a crisis, getting advice from other professionals when needed
• Follow local and national guidance on ordering, carrying, giving, supervising and storing medication
• Keep clear, accurate and up to date clinical records

Mental Health Act and legislation

• Support service users, carers and colleagues through the Mental Health Act 1983, in particular the rules for conditionally discharged patients in the community
• Work within the Care Programme Approach, Mental Capacity Act, safeguarding and child protection guidance

Working with others

• Keep good communication about each service user with the agencies involved in their care
• Work with partners such as Recovery and Wellbeing teams, substance misuse services, accommodation providers and third sector organisations
• Share information correctly and keep it confidential when working with the Police, Probation, MAPPA and social services
• Work closely with families and carers, and involve service users and carers in developing the service
• Give advice on good mental and physical health to service users, carers and other professionals

Leadership and supervision

• Support and guide staff, and give management supervision where appropriate
• Act as Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor for students
• Help with the induction and training of staff and students
• Help with the day to day running of the team and act up for the Team Leader when they are absent
• Promote good integrated team working

Governance and development

• Contribute to clinical governance, quality assurance, audit and research within the team
• Take part in team meetings and suggest new ways of working
• Complete mandatory training, take part in appraisal and keep your own knowledge up to date
• You may be asked to join an on call rota

What we are looking for

• RMN with at least 12 months post-qualification experience, or a recognised Social Work qualification, or a degree or diploma in Occupational Therapy
• Evidence of post-qualification training
• At least 12 months' experience at Band 5
• Experience of care coordinating a group of service users and of assessing, planning, putting in place and evaluating care
• Good knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983, CPA, Mental Capacity Act, safeguarding and risk assessment
• Good written and verbal communication and IT skills
• Full UK driving licence and the ability to travel across Essex
• Experience of working in secure environments, an HCR-20 qualification and knowledge of forensic and community services in Essex would be an advantage.

This advert closes on Wednesday 18 Nov 2026