Community Forensic Practitioner

Job/Role Summary

I assist community teams to manage risks associated with the offending behaviour of identified patients with learning disabilities, through the provision of specialist assessment, individual interventions and adapted psychosocial group treatments, across a range of complex social environments.

Specific qualifications and experience required

I have been working as a Registered Nurse Learning Disabilities for approximately 12 years and have held a number of specialist nursing roles including ‘Healthcare Facilitator’, ‘Personality Disorder Practitioner’ and Forensic Practitioner. I received a BSc 1st Hons degree in 2005 and I am currently completing the final year of an MSc in psychotherapy.  I have developed a professional interest in forensic psychotherapy with people with learning disabilities.  This interest stems from my experiences of being involved with and delivering structured group therapies and interventions such as dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), and Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP).  My interest has also been shaped by my involvement with the Knowledge and Understanding Framework for Personality Disorder (KUF).

Career Milestones

In 2013, whilst working in prison healthcare, I was privileged to have been involved in curating a collection of prisoner’s artwork  which hung in the Waterfront Hall’s exhibition gallery. The exhibition formed the welcoming reception of the BIGSPD’s (British and Irish Group for the study of Personality Disorder) national conference.  The exhibition, which was named ‘Inside Out’, was a collection of artistic pieces that expressed prisoners’ experiences of mental ill health and personality disorder.  The event ran for two weeks and formed part of the conference’s service user contribution, as well as allowing family members of prisoners to view the works of their loved ones.

Enjoyable aspects of the job/role

Working with individuals with complex needs is both challenging and rewarding. Whilst the role is scientifically supported through training etc, a strong emphasis is also placed on the relational and humanistic aspects of the work.  As I imagine most others are, I was initially drawn to the ‘helping’ aspect of nursing. My current role facilitates this motivation in both interesting and dynamic ways.

Advice for those considering the type of job/role?

The skills of the learning disabilities nurse are ideally suited to work in forensic healthcare, however those considering the role should reflect on their own personal motivations as the work can be both personally and professionally demanding.

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