Out of Area Forensic Specialist Worker
The closing date is 01 June 2026.
We are looking for an experienced Clinician to join our team on a permanent role. The role is ideal for experts in specialist services, or candidates looking for a post that requires them to work on their own initiative and contribute to new approaches to commissioning, service development and quality assurance.
To work as part of the dynamic team within the borough based Forensic Community Team, delivering a service to ensure effective, safe and compassionate care pathways that support recovery and are in place for all service users from the SLP in specialised mental health settings, within the NHS and independent sectors. The long‑term aim is to reduce the length of stay in hospital facilities and ensure a timely discharge and ensure value for money for patients.
The post holder must be adept at prioritising the activities that will provide the most efficient, effective and step‑down or discharge pathway, and escalated any conditions that will prevent this from happening. The post holder will be responsible for the development and monitoring of the assigned care pathway and improvement plans.
In conjunction with the management team, the post holder will ensure all clinical effectiveness systems are embedded and sustainable, including audit and evidence‑based care.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will manage a caseload of clients out of borough and will aim to provide a flexible, responsive, and pro‑active programme of care and support for service users, carers and their families.
The post holder will be required to establish, develop and maintain links across a wide variety of organisational boundaries.
The position will involve specialist mental health assessments, and the application of evidence‑based psychosocial interventions.
Coordinate care primarily for forensic clients in high secure units, medium secure units, low secure units and prisons.
To support the discharge of out of area forensic patients back into the community, in suitable placements, under the care of the Care Team.
Complete necessary forms such as facility reports, panel applications and referral forms.
Have, or develop with support and supervision, specialist rehabilitation and violence risk assessment knowledge to complete assessments with clients.
Our Forensic Offender Health pathway provides care and treatment for individuals experiencing mental health issues who also pose a risk to the public, ensuring ongoing assessment, treatment, support and risk management assessment, with the aim of diversion from the Criminal Justice System as early as possible.
Job responsibilities
- Ensure that patients care pathways are monitored and those patients at heightened risk of delay transition through the service appropriately. This includes attending and participating liaison and referral meetings and Section 117 meetings with the nominated consultant as appropriate.
- Ensure that service users ready for discharge are discharged, or stepped down a level of security, within the appropriate timeframe.
- Provide summary reports to senior managers as required (patient pathway reports, bed occupancy data, or caseload information).
- Develop and promote positive relationships with housing providers, tenancy support teams, placements and local authorities.
- Deliver a service with the agreed budget ensuring maximum value in terms of clinical cost effectiveness.
- Assess needs, plan, implement and monitor care in collaboration with the service user, carers, and other members of the multi‑disciplinary team.
- Oversee and coordinate discharge planning and provide training to the wider team or external services regarding individuals with complex care needs.
- Implement care that meets the mental, physical, spiritual, psychological and social needs of the service user, and that is sensitive to age, culture, race, gender, ethnicity, social class, sexuality and disability.
- Work as part of the Forensic Community Team and undertake advanced clinical work, which will be subject to an agreed work plan. Managing complex cases and analysing and interpreting data so patients sit in the correct specialization.
- Maintain a clear understanding of the service users placed out of borough, act as a point of contact to attend CPAs, assertively manage discharge pathways, map transfers and reduce risk of delayed discharge. Provide senior clinical advice and support and review potential discharges at heightened risk of delay.
- Work within policy, professional and legal frameworks at all times. This requires knowledge of NMC Code of Professional Conduct, risk assessment and child protection protocols, Mental Health Act and CPA, and Trust clinical policies.
- Be adept at prioritising the activities that will provide the most efficient, effective and safe step‑down or discharge pathway and escalated any conditions that will prevent this from happening.
- Work with community team managers across the Trust to ensure all patients being discharged have an allocated RC and CC/Social Supervisor.
- Be an advanced clinician to plan patients’ care appropriately and engage in MDT discussions. Promote and develop and role model high standards of clinical care.
- Embed Quality and Safety Governance Standards within the teams.
- Undertake programmes of audit, quality improvement and research within the service and implement the findings, where agreed with senior managers.
- Assist in the development and implementation of care pathway clinical tools, so that each patient is known on their pathway and next steps are clear.
- Assist teams and individuals to negotiate changes in practice required to meet ongoing service developments and identify and implement best practice in the delivery of Mental Health Services.
- Develop knowledge and skill in Quality Improvement methodologies, which are role modelled and used to develop and improve clinical services.
- Support clear lines of communication and positive working relationships across professional and organisational boundaries, ensuring timely and well‑coordinated transitions of care and that the treatment received is in line with best practice.
- Work to improve the culture of integration across community and inpatient practice, promoting a Recovery Model, prioritising social inclusion through collaborative care planning and psycho‑social interventions, using the principles of positive risk management and new ways of working.
- Work collaboratively with the Governance Team, Safeguarding Leads, the SLP Pathways Coordinators, Community Teams, Home Treatment Teams, Housing agencies, Social Services and other teams and agencies, to facilitate all people who use our services moving appropriately through the care pathways.
Person Specification
Relevant Forensic Community Experience
- Significant post registration community experiences
- Experience of working with forensic community caseloads
- Experience of discharge planning and supporting patients and families during crisis
- Management Course Degree of equivalent experience
- Experience of working with other client groups and of using a variety of models and approaches to care
- Knowledge of performance management procedures
- Proven ability to maintain a balance between strategic and operational management.
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.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
£55,524 to £62,652 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS
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