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Specialist community forensic team
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About the service
The Specialist Community Forensic Team (SCFT) is part of the forensic community service offer for the West Yorkshire Provider Collaborative. The team provides a range of support for individuals on the forensic pathway, particularly to assist them on their transition back into the community.
The service is made up of staff from one local NHS Trust (South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust).
We work with people from Wakefield, Bradford, Leeds, Calderdale, and Kirklees.
We work with:
- Forensic outreach liaison team/forensic community transition teams
- Inpatient adult services
- Secure services.
- Police and probation services.
- MAPPA
- Local authorities
- Community mental health teams
Why would you be referred?
You might have been referred to us if:
- You are currently in hospital and your clinical team feel that you are ready to move on
- You, your family, your carers, or others working with you are concerned about your potential risk to others
- Your previous care team may be concerned that you are at risk of committing a crime
- You are living in the community and are experiencing numerous crises. It would be helpful for you to have some specialist support
Feedback
Service user – Click here to give feedback on our service – http://ratenhs.uk/kmX3Ot
Parent, friend or carer – Click here to give feedback on our service – http://ratenhs.uk/Vw7eNE
Professional – Click here to give feedback on our service – http://ratenhs.uk/vhTsNF
If you would like to provide a compliment or complaint, email SpecialistCommunity.ForensicTeam@swyt.nhs.uk or telephone 01924 316067.
Why would someone choose the service?
We work in collaboration with the people we support. We want you to feel listened to. Your opinions and views matter and we will take into consideration your experiences.
- We offer individual packages of care to support you, your family member or friend in their transition back to the community.
- As a service we are committed to carer health and wellbeing. Our carers support group provides a safe and respectful place to support you.
Staff you may meet
- Administrative staff provide essential support to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. This can be in a variety of different settings, with administrators working as a receptionist in a clinic or a clerk on a ward. They may also be working closely with a consultant as a medical secretary.
- Occupational therapy is the assessment and treatment of physical and psychiatric conditions using specific, purposeful activity to prevent disability and promote independent function in all aspects of daily life.
- A member of the team who has lived experience of recovering from psychosis.
- Psychiatrists are qualified doctors who diagnose and treat patients with mental health conditions. Psychiatry relies upon high-quality clinical skills assessments and diagnosis with help from technology.
- Adult psychotherapists work with people to assess and treat a range of emotional, social or mental health issues. They help people tackle problems such as behavioural issues, common challenges such as anxiety and depression or more complex or severe issues, such as psychosis or a personality disorder diagnosis.
- Social workers help, support and protect people who are facing difficulties in their lives. They help people to take positive steps to overcome problems and improve their lives. This could involve assessing and reviewing a service user’s situation, building relationships with service users and their families and agreeing what practical support someone needs.
Why a professional should choose the service
- Early involvement with females in medium-secure settings to avoid lengthy out-of-area placements
- Frequent involvement with disabilities, including overseeing secure discharge pathway for deaf service users
- Urgent assessment and management of unanticipated discharges
Support offered
If accepted, the SCFT will work with you to ensure you feel listened to. Your opinions and views matter. We will take into consideration your past experiences and you will receive individualised care. We can offer you support in several ways:
- Support for you (and others working with you) to manage any risk in the community that has previously required medication and intervention within secure hospitals
- Psychologically led support and interventions
- Financial advice and support
- Support with accommodation and living arrangements
- Education and employment support
- Support with independent living skills
- Support with substance use
- Community reintegration
- Community networking
- Peer mentor support
Carers
One of the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust values is that carers and family matter. The SCFT supports a whole family approach. We will listen to you. We will respect you. You are the expert in supporting the person who uses our service. We will ensure that support and assistance will be delivered to you in a timely manner and will offer you support which is tailored to suit your personal needs.
Referral criteria:
Eligibility
- People over the age of 18 detained under the Mental Health Act in conditions of secure care with a primary diagnosis of mental illness or personality disorder
- Service users within secure care who are identified as being the responsibility of Lead Provider Collaborative (and associated local authorities), who provide section 117 aftercare
- A significant risk to self or others as identified through dynamic risk assessment tools and professional judgment, and who therefore require specialist risk management in the community post discharge
- The SCFT primarily works with individuals who have a forensic history
Referral process
A referral form can be requested from Specialistcommunity.forensicteam@swyt.nhs.uk.
As many of the following key documents should be provided: CPA reports, tribunal reports, manager reports, offending history, most recent HCR-20, risk assessments, psychological assessments, functional assessments, summary of current presentation, ward round minutes, initial detention documents, and any annual statutory reports.
Most referrals come from low and medium secure inpatient adult services. This is usually (but not exclusively) from responsible clinicians or ward staff.