The Community Mental Health Forensic Service aids the safe discharge of patients from medium and low secure units. The service helps patients who may be subject to restriction orders or require intensive monitoring or supervision.
The service has a team of specialists who help meet the mental health, psychological, behavioural and social care needs of patients. They work in conjunction with other health and social care agencies, in a way which is mutually compatible with a public protection role.
Where to find us
Community Mental Health Forensic Service
The Villa, Holywell, Hospital, 60 Steeple Road, Antrim, BT41 2RJ
How to contact us
- Telephone: 028 9441 3360
How to access the service
Our Community Mental Health Forensic Team provides a service to those who meet the referral criteria.
There is a four-level model of criteria:
- Level 1– A specialist consultation, education and training role which may include, for example, a member of the team attending case reviews, to offer advice and support to generic teams and a service co-ordination role or liaison between health and criminal justice.
- Level 2– An in-depth assessment (which may include a standardised risk assessment and management plan) prepared by the Service with the referring team retaining responsibility.
- Level 3 – An agreed period of shared responsibility for any or all of a variety of reasons including to assess risk; to evaluate the interplay/operation of known risk factors; to offer a specialist piece of therapeutic work; and to assess the efficacy of risk reducing strategies.
- Level 4– The Team taking full responsibility for the duration of need with referral back to the appropriate services when deemed appropriate.
The Community Mental Health Forensic Team has established links with courts, prisons, Northern Ireland Police Service, and the Probation Service.
The service is accessed through mental health services and medium secure settings and criminal justice agencies.
Staff may consult with the Community Mental Health Forensic Team if they have any patients that are involved with the criminal justice agencies.