FMHP Service for London Integrated Offender Management
Together’s Forensic Mental Health Practitioner (FMHP) Service for London Integrated Offender Management (IOM) service aims to work alongside people who’ve experienced mental distress to support them with needs that may have caused them to repeatedly come into contact with the criminal justice system in the past. The service receives referrals from Offender Managers and aims to provide service users and Offender Managers (OMs) with an increased level of support, depending on the complexity of the mental health, vulnerabilities and risk profile of the service user.
Who is this Service For?
Service users across the gender spectrum categorised as ‘red’ or ‘amber’ IOM cases with a, not exclusively, robbery or burglary offence in the past two years. Service users are required to have an OGRs 2-year score of 50%+ but not required to meet particular OASys Violence Predictor (OVP). However, individuals with high OVP scores will be prioritised. Eligible service users may present with one or more of the following:
- Symptoms of depression or anxiety
- A formal mental health diagnosis
- Current or former engagement with mental health services
- A prescribed medication for their mental health
- Referrer has concerns for a service user’s mental health due to risk and/or behavioural presentation
If there is a service user who presents in crisis (i.e. high risk of deliberate harm to self or in a mental health crisis) call 999 or advise the service user to go to A&E. The OM should not refer these service users to the FMHP service as we are not a crisis service and cannot adequately manage this risk without input from external crisis services.
Key Features of the FMHP Service Model
The tiered structure of the service aims to provide service users and Offender Managers (OMs) with an increased level of support, depending on the complexity of the mental health, vulnerabilities and risk profile of the service user. The tiered structure identifies three levels:
- Formal case consultation
- Assessment
- One to one intervention
Formal Case Consultation
The FMHP will provide advice and consultation to the Offender Manager (OM) working with the IOM service user following informed consent (thus complying with GDPR regulations) and referral to the service.
If an assessment is suitable, the OM is responsible for sending an appointment letter to service user, using the FMHP letter template. If the service user has no address or phone, the OM can request that an FMHP attend an OM appointment with the service user, to establish introductions and book an assessment date.
If an FMHP cannot attend an OM appointment in person, we would ask that the OM contact the FMHP in advance and invite them to attend by phone or via MS Teams. The OM can then put the service user on the call to speak with the FMHP.
Assessment
Where appropriate, the FMHP will undertake a clinical interview with the service user using an evidence based health and wellbeing assessment. Assessment tools include but are not limited to: Together B-Raid Risk Assessment, CORE 34, Drug and Alcohol Screening (AUDIT and DUDDIT), LDSQ and Brain Injury Screening. The FMHP will create a report containing a clinical formulation based on the service user’s needs which will inform recommendations for onward support.
One to One Intervention
Eligible individuals will be offered up to five sessions of one-to-one support. This will be reviewed on the fifth session and where appropriate an additional 3 sessions may be offered.
The one-to-one sessions aim to give individuals tools and techniques to help manage their mental health, drawing on the principles and techniques from Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), mindfulness and psychoeducation.
Support plans will be reviewed and tailored to the individual’s needs, based on clinical formulation. This support will help them learn how to better manage anxiety and stress, improve their self-esteem and resilience, and gain insight into their mental health.
Contact
If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with the team please email together.iom.referrals@nhs.net.
