Forensic Community Mental Health Service

Service description

We support people with a serious underlying mental health condition who have offended, or who are at risk of offending, to access specialist care and treatment based on their individual needs. The team works with each person to understand and address their mental health needs, while aiming to reduce risks to others that may arise as a result of those needs.

This service is for people aged 18 and over who live in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland and have a diagnosed mental health condition, such as schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder or a personality disorder. It supports people who have a history of, or potential for, offending and complex risk behaviours, and who need specialist assessment and intervention from a dedicated service to help manage risk and provide appropriate support.

The community forensic mental health service uses a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach. The team accepts referrals for people with a diagnosed mental disorder, including a mild learning disability or developmental disorder, where this is associated with serious offending behaviour or a significant risk to others. Any identified risk must be directly related to the person’s diagnosed mental health condition.

What the team offers

The community forensic mental health service provides assessments and support using a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach. This may include professionals from nursing, occupational therapy, medicine (psychiatry), psychology and social care.

These assessments will cover the mental health needs, holistic social care needs and risk factors. If an individual meets the criteria for the service their case will be managed by a care coordinator and where appropriate within the Mental Health Act framework/guidance.

How the community forensic mental health service can support you

• Provide you with an opportunity to discuss your experiences, what you find challenging and what is helpful to look at ways of managing your mental health and risk
• Help you to develop ways to cope and manage your experiences.
• Individual treatment where appropriate from our MDT including psychology, occupational therapy, nursing, social care and medics.
• A collaborative care plan to help prevent a deterioration in your mental health.
• Accessible on-going support and guidance from multiple professionals.
• Consultant psychiatrist review, including medication assessment, initiation and monitoring.
• Practical help and support with aspects such as finances, social care and accommodation needs as well as work, study, and leisure access.
• Ongoing MDT reviews and input of which you will be actively involved.

What to expect

Once your referral has been received, it will be discussed at a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting to decide whether the service can support you and what that support may involve. Decisions are based on the referral criteria and require your engagement and involvement as part of the process.

If accepted, we will first offer a comprehensive assessment. This will explore your background, your current difficulties, and what has brought you to the service, as well as identifying the support and interventions that may help you in your recovery and moving forward.

We will work with you to develop a clear and collaborative care plan, setting out what has been agreed and how we will support you. This will be followed by regular appointments to review your progress.

Where appropriate, the team will also review the need for medication and will initiate and monitor this with you in a collaborative way.

Friends and family

Friends and family can play an important role in supporting you at home and in promoting your engagement and recovery. With your agreement, the team can also work with you and the people close to you to:

• Help your family and friends understand what is happening and how your mental health may affect you.
• Provide time and space for them to talk about their feelings and learn how to access appropriate support.
• Support family members and friends to identify the best ways they can help you.
• Put them in touch with others who are in similar situations, if this would be helpful.

Referral criteria

The Forensic Community Mental Health Service is not a self referral service.