Central Regional Forensic Adult Mental Health Service

Programme Areas

Mental health

Programme Type

Forensic

Regions

MidCentral, Tairāwhiti, Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Hutt, Whanganui, Wairarapa

Age Groups

Adult / Pakeke

Referral Types

DHB clinical services, Corrections

Referral Process

Forensic community team:

• Referrals are accepted for clients who come through a forensic inpatient pathway. The service is primarily for Special or Restricted patients who are transitioning from hospital or who are continuing to reside in the community on short or long leave but who remain under the care of the Forensic Service because of their legal status.

Prisons:

• Mental health referrals are sent to the forensic community team for all prisoners who have been screened positive for mental health illness on entry to the prison.
• Referrals can be sent via prison GPs or health units, justice liaison nurses, community mental health services and other regional forensic services.

Description

The Central Regional Forensic Adult Mental Health Service covers Wellington, Manawatu-Wanganui, Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne districts. The forensic mental health services operate between the criminal justice system and general mental health services. They focus on managing and giving expert advice about people who present with serious mental health conditions in a variety of settings including prisons, courts, specialised inpatient units and the community. The forensic service works closely with the justice system to provide secure assessment, treatment and rehabilitation services for mentally ill offenders, alleged offenders, or adolescents who pose a high risk of offending.

We have forensic adult community teams based near the courts in the main cities in each district and near the the 5 prisons in the central region of the North Island.