Forensics is the branch of science and healthcare that deals with crime and the criminal justice system. The liaison teams role is to:
- Support people with mental health difficulties or their care team – when there is a concern about risk to others
- Support people from Somerset who are living in secure placements in other locations across the country
- Support people with mental health difficulties if they enter the criminal justice system.
Our team includes a specialist clinical and forensic psychologist and a case review officer, who will co-ordinate the support we give to you to make sure you get the best care and your views are heard, even if you’ve been placed in a unit outside Somerset. We work in all inpatient and community settings and when appropriate travel to prisons and other facilities across the country.
We work closely with the Advice and Support in Custody and Court service (ASCC), which helps to supports vulnerable people going through the criminal justice system.
Our services include:
- Psychological assessment
- Risk assessment
- Advice and consultation to professionals
- Specialist supervision of professionals
- Support to inpatient teams
- Teaching and training
- Support to probation officers and their clients where a personality disorder is evident
- Psychological support programmes including anger management, criminal offences and preparing for change.
If you are referred to our team for assessment, one of our psychologists will aim to meet you within four weeks. If your situation is urgent, this could be much sooner.
Before your assessment we can meet you to explain what happens and answer any questions you might have. During the assessment we will ask for your views and ideas about what current risks might be and then usually write a report, which we would go through with you.
How you can you access these services
After discussion with you, we can make a referral to the forensic liaison team.
Our psychologists offer a service across Somerset in a location most appropriate to you and referrers. We work in inpatient and community settings and when appropriate travel to prisons and other facilities across the country.
Our case review officer travels to any location in Britain where a Somerset client is currently living.