Forensic Mental Health services
What are FMHS?
Forensic Mental Health Services (FMHS) specialise in the assessment and treatment of people with mental disorders involved with legal or court proceedings, or who have offended. They are not part of the prison service. A person’s mental disorder may be assessed as being a factor contributing to their offending behaviour. Therefore the ethos of services is one of care and treatment which manages any identified risk, rather than punishment and containment. Not everyone treated within forensic mental health services will have committed an offence but they may need specialist care and treatment that is not available in other mental health facilities.
Understanding Mental Health The Orchard Clinic
and the Criminal Justice System
Advocacy
Advocacy is offered to carers, i.e. families and friends of people using forensic mental health services. This can be in the community or in a hospital setting.
Advocacy for carers can be helpful at any time; including
- When a person is first charged with an offence
- Prior to and in court for trial diet
- Prior to and in court for sentencing
- While in the community on a treatment or probation order
- While detained in hospital pre-sentencing and post-sentencing
- At time of discharge from hospital setting.
How can advocacy help?
Pat was unsure of her new role as a ‘named person’ for her son, Jack, who had been admitted to the Orchard Clinic. With the help of her advocacy worker, she was able to better understand her rights within this role and how she could be involved in making decisions for her son’s care. Working together to look through the information gave Pat greater confidence to take part in Tribunals and care reviews and to communicate any concerns she had to staff. Pat feels her relationships with nursing staff are much more positive and she is feels confident that Jack is receiving the best care available.
Edinburgh Carers Council advocacy service is offered for carers in Lothian, Borders and Fife who support patients being treated on IPCU wards in acute hospitals as well as the medium secure forensic facility at the Orchard Clinic, Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Tel: 0131 270 6087
Orchard Clinic Group:
This group is open to family and friends supporting those using in-patient or community-based services from the Orchard Clinic. The group currently meets at The Craiglockhart Resource Centre, (2nd floor of The Andrew Duncan Clinic), Royal Edinburgh Hospital on the last Saturday of the month, 1.30-3.30pm.
National Forensic Carers Network
At a recent meeting, relatives who support someone who is using or who has used forensic mental health services from around Scotland met to discuss the possibility of coming together regularly to form a network which would benefit all family and friends and provide links and support to those who do not live close to an established carers group. The proposal is that this group will be supported by the Forensic Mental Health Services Managed Care Network to;
- meet twice a year together
- have an annual conference as an opportunity to explore further particular issues family and friends may have in relation to supporting someone in forensic mental health services
- have a web page dedicated to family and friends on the Forensic Network website
- distribute a newsletter for family and friends of those using FMHS
If you would like to know more, please contact Andrea on 0131 270 6089
