Working in Secure Forensic Mental Health Settings (A Care Quality Guide for support workers and staff)

Health and social care support workers play an essential role in providing effective, therapeutic and high quality care for those detained in secure forensic facilities. Whether you work in locked rehabilitation units, community forensic services or in low, medium or high secure facilities, you will need to gain the basic skills required to provide active support for the individuals detained in secure forensic settings. This Care Quality Guide offers an engaging, value for money and accessible way of self-learning for both new staff members to develop their understanding of working with offenders with mental disorders, and to provide those who are already working in secure forensic settings with the opportunity to reflect on their practice. Convenient and accessible, this guide contains practice questions, key learning points and thinking activities. The content will help you to evidence the following aspects of the Forensic Mental Health National Occupational Standards: SFHFMH1: Assess, diagnose and formulate an individual’s mental health disorder SFHFMH3: Observe an individual who presents a significant imminent risk to themselves or others SFHFMH8: Assess and formulate an individual’s needs for forensic mental health treatment and care SFHFMH9: Develop and review an integrated care programme for an individual in forensic mental health care SFHFMH11: Support an individual in forensic mental health care to participate in treatment SFHFMH12: Manage hostility and risk with non-co-operative individuals, families and carers SFHFMH13: Help an individual to feel more psychologically secure SFHFMH15: Increase the individual’s capacity to manage negative or distressing thoughts and emotional states