The Community Forensic Team (CFT) is a service that works across Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County. We provide mental health care for adults aged 18 and over. 

The service supports people who have a mental health condition and may be at risk of harming others. 

Our team includes: 

  • Mental health nurses 
  • Occupational therapists 
  • Psychologists 
  • Psychiatrists 
  • Community support workers 

What we do 

Our aim is to help people live as independently as possible while reducing risk. We work closely with each person to support their recovery. 

We help people to: 

  • Understand their mental health and how to stay well 
  • Manage difficult situations or times of crisis 
  • Look after their physical health, working with their GP 
  • Build support from family, friends and the local community 
  • Explore work, education and other meaningful activities 
  • Understand personal risks and learn from past experiences 
  • Working with other services 

We work with many other services, including: 

  • Adult Mental Health Services 
  • Probation Services 
  • Third sector and voluntary organisations 

We also support other professionals to develop ongoing support packages and working together to manage risk safely. 

Social supervision 

The team provides social supervision for people in Nottinghamshire who are subject to restrictions under Section 41 of the Mental Health Act (1983). 

In Nottingham City, the team works alongside social workers to support people who are under Section 41 restrictions. 

In Nottinghamshire County, the team works with other social workers to support people who are under Section 41 restrictions. 

Referrals

The service receives referrals from Local Mental Health teams, GP practices, Probation Services, and Secondary Mental Health teams in the prison services. The service does not accept self-referrals. Referrals are submitted to the referrals inbox communityforensicreferrals@nottshc.nhs.uk

Who we work with

We work with patients who have a diagnosed mental disorder. This may include: 

  • Mental illness 
  • Personality disorder 
  • Autism spectrum disorder 
  • Mental health problems linked to alcohol or drug use 

The patients we support have a high risk of causing serious harm to others. This means their behaviour has caused, or could cause, life threatening injury or lasting harm. 

Many patients have a history of: 

  • Serious violence (such as grievous bodily harm) 
  • Fire setting 
  • Stalking 
  • Sexual violence 

There should be a clear link, or a possible link, between the mental disorder and the risk of serious harm. 

Patients should be able to take part in treatment or assessment and benefit from it. 

If a patient is not ready to engage, we will: 

  • Speak with the referrer 
  • Explore other ways we can support the team 
  • Offer advice on managing high-risk patients 

We offer different levels of support depending on need: 

  • Advice only 
    We review the case and give advice to the referrer or team. 
    The patient is not seen by our service. 
  • Assessment 
    We assess the patient and provide a formulation, advice and recommendations. 
    This can be done with the referring team. 
  • Joint working 
    We work alongside the referring team. 
    The referring team remains responsible for care coordination and case management. 
  • Full case management 
    The patient's care is transferred to the Community Forensic Team. 

Contact and find us

The community forensic team have 2 bases, one in the city and one in the county. Our service is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. 

County

Heatherdene
3 Crow Hill Drive
Mansfield
Nottinghamshire
NG19 7AE

Telephone: 01623 433919

 

City

Westminster House
598 The Wells Road
Nottingham
NG3 3AA

Telephone: 0115 952 9400

Help in a crisis

Should your concern relate to a service user currently known to the team then please contact the team directly on the contact numbers above within working hours. Outside of office hours, contact the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team, GP suregry or NHS 111. 

Information for professionals

Please contact us on 0115 952 9400 or 01623 433 919 if you wish to discuss a possible referral to our service.

We accept referrals from Secondary Mental Health Services such as Local Mental Health teams and other Mental Health services, GPs, Probation, courts, prisons, inpatient services. Referrals can be received directly to the service on the referral form and submitted to the team email communityforensicreferrals@nottshc.nhs.uk

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