Welcome to UKAFN.org
Welcome to the official home of the UKAFN, the UK's leading association of forensic healthcare specialists. Bringing together forensic practitioners from across the country, the UKAFN aims to raise awareness of the work of forensic practitioners and improve access to them.
At UKAFN we are committed to :
- Raising the awareness and profile of Forensic Practitioners
- Working together to develop, improve and maintain a high standard in forensic evidence collection
- Providing high quality practitioner care for all individuals in a holistic manner
- Working in partnership with all forensic collection specialists, including physicians and police
About UKAFN
The United Kingdom Association of Forensic Nurses (UKAFN) was initially devised in 2004 by Jo Delaforce. The driving force behind the group was made up of three Clinical Nurse Specialists from the Havens: Jo Delaforce, Annika Stenvall and Sharon McCabe.
A steering group made up of representatives from Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCS) and Custody Nurses from around the United Kingdom was soon established to provide direction for the UKAFN. It was clear from the onset there was enthusiasm to meet the need for an association in the UK. The steering group felt it was paramount for a body of professionals not only to provide a continuum of best practise but also to raise standards and to facilitate access for learning and educational needs.
The Aims of UKAFN
The aims of UKAFN are to lay foundations for best practice countrywide and to enable the delivery of quality care to individuals, also to provide accessible resources, including a knowledge base in forensic nursing.
Jennette Arnold OBE - UKAFN Patron
After a career in nursing, senior roles with the Royal College of Nursing and working as a training and development consultant, Jennette found her natural home as a campaigner within political and public life. She was a councillor in Islington for 8 years, including a term as Deputy Mayor, and then was elected to the Greater London Authority as a London-wide Assembly Member in 2000. Since 2004 she has represented
North East London and in 2008/09 served a term as Chair of the London Assembly.
Jennette is a relentless campaigner and has consistently linked her political roles to her campaigning work to bring about changes for Londoners. Through her involvement with the Metropolitan Police Authority she has successfully overseen the establishment of Community Safety Boards in her constituency. She has been an active supporter of the Justice4Jamie campaign highlighting the devastating effects of knife crime, and has supported BLUNT 1 and 2 policing initiatives to tackle this problem London-wide.
Jennette has been a constant supporter of women's rights, she is particularly involved in highlighting issues of domestic violence across all of London's communities. At the moment she is lobbying the Mayor to stand by his pledge to establish 4 Rape Crisis Centres across London.
Jennette is a Champion of young people and finds time to mentor and encourage a number of young Londoners as they carve out their own careers in a variety of sectors across the UK.
In 2009 Jennette was awarded an OBE for her services to Local Government and London. In April 2008 Jennette was appointed by the Prime Minister as a Trustee to the Board of the Museum of London. In October 2008 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of East London for her services to East London. Jennette is currently a council member of the Royal Court Theatre, Governor of Sadler's Wells Theatre Foundation and patron of the Victoria Climbie Foundation.
Meet the UKAFN team
Steering Group Members
Jennie Smith - President
I started nursing in 1990, and have had a varied career, including Accident and Emergency medicine, a stint as a Night Club Nurse in 2 of Liverpool's biggest dance clubs and 11 years as a Pharma rep.
In 2008 I secured a position to set up a team of Forensic Nurses working as employees for Merseyside Police. In this job I found an area of medicine I am completely fascinated in and passionate about. I also became involved in UKAFN in 2008, subsequently becoming the National Conference Organiser and Vice President
I am now working as a Forensic Nurse Practitioner on a bank basis, and am still passionate about the role, about raising its profile, and about raising care and standards across the UK. I am also working towards my MSc to enable me to advance my career in the forensic arena.
Sue Fewkes - Vice President
My name is Sue Fewkes and I have been on the committee for UKAFN since 2004 when we had the first meeting in London. I am married and have two children. I originally trained as a enrolled nurse at Kings College Hosp in London in 1979, I worked mainly in ITU and eventually completed the conversion course to become an RGN in 1997. Since 2000 I have been with Kent Police as a Forensic Nurses Practitioner and find the role challenging and unpredictable.
As for me in the spare time I do have, I swim, ride a bike and ride horses regularly, I am a helper for a riding for disabled association. My holidays are spent on ski slopes coming down or walking up them in the Lake District with the occasional input of sun holidays in the summer, depending on the Euro!
Baroness Stern - Honourable Member
Vivien Stern is Senior Research Fellow at the International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS). She is also Honorary President of Penal Reform International (PRI), a non-governmental organisation promoting penal reform throughout the world which she founded with others in 1989. From 2003 to 2009 she was the Convenor of the Scottish Consortium on Crime and Criminal Justice; she has been a Crossbench Peer since 1999 and was a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights from 2004 to 2008. From 1999 to 2003 she was a member of the House of Lords European Select Committee. In 2010 she became a member of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments. She is a member of the Advisory Council of the International Legal Foundation in New York, and a member of the Advisory Council of the Legal Policy Research Centre in Kazakhstan. In September 2009 she was appointed by the UK Government to lead a review of how rape complaints are handled from when a rape is first disclosed until the court reaches a verdict and the Review was published in March 2010.
Her publications include Bricks of Shame: Britain's Prisons (1987), A Sin Against the Future: Imprisonment in the World (1998), Alternatives to Prison in Developing Countries (1999), Developing Alternatives to Prison in East and Central Europe and Central Asia (2002) and Sentenced to Die? The problem of TB in prisons in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (editor) (1999). Her latest book, Creating Criminals: People and Prisons in a Market Society, was published by Zed Books in May 2006 and in July 2010 was published in Spanish by Ad Hoc Publishers.
She has Honorary degrees from Bristol, Oxford Brookes, Stirling and Edinburgh Universities and is an Honorary Fellow of the London School of Economics.
Margaret Bannerman (formally Cunnion) MSc BSc (Hons) RN Dip (HE) Cert (Med) Ed - Education Officer
Marg Bannerman (formerly Cunnion) has a nursing background in Gynaecology and Genitourinary Medicine and has been working in academia; initially as a Researcher and then Senior Lecturer in Sexual Health for the past 10 years.'
Marg currently sits on the Department of Health (DH) Consultant Nurses Group and is Education Officer for both the United Kingdom Association of Forensic Nurses (UKAFN) and Genitourinary Nurses Association (GUNA). Marg has been involved in a number of national projects such as: the RCN Sexual Health Competencies (RCN, 2004 & 2009), compiling the GUNA Education and Training Database and she was a member of the DH Education and Training Group who developed the Recommended Quality Standards for Sexual Health Training (DH 2005). Marg's area of research was identifying the sexual Health Needs of Young People in South Staffordshire (HPA 2003).
Marg was co-author of 'Improving Sexual Health Advice' (Wakely, Cunnion and Chambers, 2003) and was also a contributing author to Sexual Health (Essential Clinical Skills for Nurses) Edited by Kathy French (2009).
Marg's current area of interest is developing national standards in SH education and training within specific professions in order to develop qualifications within the specialties and her research interests include Negotiated Learning.
Clare Rendall - Treasurer
I qualified as a RGN in 1994, and have spent time living and working in Australia and New Zealand. I have gained experience in many branches of nursing including General Surgery, MOD, Occupational Health, HMP Service, HDU, Neurosciences and ITU. I gained a degree in Forensic Sciences from Staffordshire University in 2006.
I have been working within the custody environment for the last 4 years, starting with Avon and Somerset Constabulary and moving to Dorset Police in 2008. We have 12 full time nurses covering 3 stations 24/7. I find the variety of my role exciting and challenging.
Vanessa Webb - Steering Group Member
Vanessa has a nursing background, originally working in environments including general practice, out of hours and finally as a custody nurse. She carried out this role whilst retraining as a doctor, qualifying in 2007. Since then, working for G4SFMS she has worked as the clinical director, although she has just stood down to resume her clinical career as an FME.
Vanessa has always had an interest in education, clinical governance and improving service delivery for patients - as such she was a founder member of the British Association Of Urology Nurses, has sat on the steering group for the Advanced Nurse Practice MSc at Essex University and in recent years is trying to ensure that working in both custody and sexual offences is supported by high standards, audit and research and educational opportunities. Vanessa has a collection of qualifications (MBBS, RGN, MSc, BSc, DFMS, FMERSA) and remains an advocate of the multidisciplinary team.
Claire Robinson - Newsletter Editor
I currently work across the North of Tyne as Practice Educator in Sexual Health after having been a specialist sexual health nurse for many years.
My area of interest is managing sexual assault disclosure and how we (all professionals that may manage disclosure) can make this as seamless as possible.
I am very proud to be contributing to an organisation that is so passionate about increasing quality and standards for this field of healthcare. I look forward to working collaboratively and raising the profile of the UKAFN in the North East.
In my spare time I enjoy baking and decorating cakes, and reading just about anything I can get my hands on!
Dee Inott - Steering Group Member
Dee’s Nursing career spans over 28 years.
She qualified as a Registered General Nurse, working as a ward nurse and Manager in Women’s Health, Gynaecology, Sexual Health and Contraceptive services in Lancashire, West Midlands and London.
She also served with HM Forces in The Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps and served in Aldershot, Northern Ireland between 1985 ' 1988.
She served during the first Gulf conflict in 1990 with 32 Field Hospital in Saudi Arabia.
During her career Dee also worked at HMP Pentonville in London as a Prison Healthcare Nurse.
The wide range of management and clinical experience has led Dee to the Lancashire SAFE Centre where she worked as a Crisis worker till taking up the Post in February 2008 as the Forensic Nurse examiner.
Dee sees and examines post pubertal, adult male & female victims of sexual assault rape & domestic violence, offering a complete holistic service to the victims she sees.
She undertakes writing ‘Factual Statements’ for Court if the case proceeds and has been called to Court as a witness and given Evidence in a case she examined. Her role includes assisting in the into the training of Junior to Senior police officers at the Lancashire Constabulary HQ around the function & role of the Lancashire SAFE Centre.
Post Registration training has included a BSc (HONS) Nurse practitioner Degree, PG Cert in Advanced Health Care Practice, course in Forensic Medicine Examination for Rape & Sexual Assault, Certificate in Counselling and she is an Independent Medical Prescriber.
Dee received an award and was highly commended at the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Quality Awards 2010 in the Special Governors category for the development of the role of the FNE at The Lancashire SAFE Centre.
Dee received a Divisional Commanders Commendation for Engagement & multiagency working practice with the Aquamarine Team Blackpool from Lancashire Constabulary June 2010.
Martha Tyson - Steering Group Member
I am the clinical coordinator for the Essex SARC (Oakwood Place).
As well as the day to day running of the SARC I also provide Forensic Examinations of clients and after care and refer clients to other agencies for follow up. I am also working towards establishing links with partner agencies to ensure our clients receive the full range of care they require.
Stephen McKean - Treasurer
Steve started his career as a cadet nurse at Sunderland Royal Infirmary and started training as a State Enrolled Nurse. He left training and joined Northumbria Ambulance Service and was fortunate to have had a unique and varied career as a paramedic that spanned 28 years.
Qualifying as IHCD instructor and Advanced Driving instructor, Steve facilitated on a variety of courses to ambulance students in the UK and abroad. He was chosen to be part of the first air ambulance service crews in the North East of England, developing airmanship and aero medical skills.
Steve has delivered training in UK Ambulance training centres as well as Dublin Fire and Ambulance Service, Ireland. As part of a team he was also seconded to the Kuwaiti Health Ministry to advise and assist in rebuilding the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), in Kuwait just after the first Gulf war.
Attached to Al - Furat Petroleum Company, Syria, Steve was responsible for providing emergency response and incident management in the desert oil fields and base camps. This was very quickly followed by a detachment to the Joint Oil Companies Consortium Clinic Saana, Yemen, this secondment ended early due to the security situation at the time.
A second attachment to Al - Furat Petroleum Company, Syria as Health Section head, he managed five base camp clinics, field ambulance services, emergency response training, and health audits on rigs and production facilities, also introducing an Occupational Health Services department for over two thousand workers. During international secondments Steve studied for a Bachelor of Health Sciences in pre hospital emergency care, Master of Health Service Management and can speak basic Arabic.
Since 2005 Steve has working in primary care as an Emergency Care Practitioner in North Tyneside and County Durham. Durham Constabulary and one of the former PCT’s worked on a pilot scheme using ECP’s in the custody suites in the county. The pilot scheme was extended county wide and into a contract to provide ECP services and Steve was appointed as the Clinical Lead. In 2011 CDDFT successfully tendered for the Durham Constabulary Total Healthcare contract. The trust now supplies services in Crime and Custody, SARC, Occupational Health, Medical devices, First Aid equipment and Clinical waste management.
Steve retired from NHS service at the end of April 2012 and enjoys spending time with this wife and family, being a grandfather and attempting DIY. He also enjoys riding his motorcycle, touring Europe with his wife, and working on bank contract as a custody care practitioner. He is looking to have a career change and work full time in the custody/forensic field.
Sian Lewis - Steering Group Member
I qualified as A registered General nurse in 1988 and worked in acute medicine for 15 years working as a senior nurse on an acute admissions Ward when I left the NHS. I then spent 3 years working in the commercial sector where I was a wound care representative for a well known wound care company. During this time I also worked as a bank nurse at the local general hospital for one shift a week , covering all departments.
In 2006 I became a forensic nurse covering the South Wales Police Force. I was made Lead Forensic Nurse Practitioner for South Wales in 2009.
Michelle McTigue - Steering Group Member
Nurse educated to degree level qualified from Kings College London 2000 with BSc Hons Nursing studies.
Over 10 years experience in the area of sexual health, family planning and forensics. Recently employed as a Forensic Nurse Examiner at The Bridge SARC Bristol. I love my Job!
Associated Steering Group Members
Sue Gorman
Since gaining my general nurse qualification in 1998, I have worked in a wide range of settings including Practice Nursing, Community and Walk in Centres. For the past 2 1/2yrs I have worked as a Custody Nurse, now based in North Devon on 24hr call out basis.
I have a special interest in the care of people with mental health problems hoping to improve links between the different disciplines involved.
My home is in South Devon where I live with my two grown up sons. We have two dogs, which i enjoy walking, as well reading and going to the races!
My ambition is to climb Kilamanjaro before I'm 50!!
Sarah Batchelor
RN for 26 years, PhD and MBA, Spent 10 years in Las Vegas, USA working with police department and SWAT team. Qualified as a FNP in 2008, work experience with Las Vegas CSI team. Police Officer 7 years.
Working in the care of the elderly environment with close links with safeguarding teams. Expert Witness for elderly care.
Specializing in wound care and Addiction and qualified Addictionist, assisted in writing 2 books: a day without pain and a pain work book
Gaby Coia EN(G), Dip Asthma Care, Dip Higher Ed/Nursing, BSc Professional Development.
I qualified in Edinburgh in 1988 and initially worked in A&E. I started Practice Nursing in 1990 and held posts in various geographical locations over a 12 year period. Alongside this started working in sexual health in 2000 in Glasgow. I gained Sexual Health Adviser competencies and recently Independent Nurse Prescribing. I started working in Archway (SARC) when it opened in April 2007 as Specialist Sexual Health Nurse. I'm hoping to complete the FMERSA course in October 2012.
Debbie Marshall
Debbie Marshall is a CNS (Sexual Assault Forensic Examination) and graduated from the RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland) in Sept 2011. She is currently practising in the Irish Midlands in a SATU (Sexual Assault Treatment Unit) located at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar. She completed her nurse training in 1990 in London and has a background in HIV nursing, both in the UK and more recently here in Ireland since 2005.
Christine Donohue
Since qualifying in 1995 Christine has worked predominantly in gynaecology, women's and sexual health research and as a Forensic Nurse Examiner at St Mary's Centre in Manchester, UK where she worked for six years. In her current role as a Sexual Health Advisor at a busy sexual health clinic in West Yorkshire, she continues to strive to improve services for those experiencing sexual and domestic violence.
As a newly appointed BASHH Sexual Violence committee member she aims to become increasingly involved in developments within sexual health clinics to help improve the care that patients receive in all areas, particularly those without a SARC. She also has some experience of the academic field of Sexual Assault Forensic Nursing in Ireland as an External Examiner and strives to stay as involved as possible in this developing field. As a keen supporter of UKAFN since its beginning she is keen to see Forensic Practice develop further within the UK.
Advisors
Nick Sawyer
Nick has over 25 years experience in the strategic direction and operational application of Forensic Science to criminal investigation. He has been deployed throughout his career as; an operational Police Officer, CSI, instructor and Scientific Support Manager, in various forces throughout the UK. Now retired, he continues to share his experience as Managing Director of his own Forensic Consultation business and is committed to promoting the deployment of Forensic Nurses in the UK.
Nikki Rycroft
I am a consultant paediatrician (and a forensic paediatrician), as well as having been an FME several years ago for Suffolk Constabulary. I have extensive experience of CSA examinations in children and act as an expert in Court proceedings in this field.
Currently I am the paediatric safeguarding lead (Designated Doctor) for both Suffolk and Essex and have been instrumental in setting up the SARCs in both Counties.
I have co-authored the Eastern Region Guidance and Standards for paediatric CSA examinations issued last December.
I am keen to support the development of forensic nurse examiners and feel they would be of great value in the examination of post pubertal girls with appropriate training and experience.
Mary Newton
Mary worked as an operational forensic biologist from 1979 to 2011 on both live and coldcase work. She is an Honorary Fellow of the FFLM and an Honorary Advisor to the UKAFN.
Mary currently works as an Independent National Forensic Advisor for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences and is a lead trainer in the U.K for forensic physicians, nurses, paediatricians, police officers and other partner agencies. In 2010/2011 she was seconded as the lead forensic subject matter expert for the National Support Team, set up by the NHS and Home Office, to review the provision of SARCs in England and Wales. In 2012 she was made an associate trainer for the National Policing Improvement Agency.
Kirsty Potter BSc(Hons), PGCE, MFSSoc. - National Forensic Specialist Adviser, SOCA
I have worked closely, for over sixteen years, within the judicial system as a Forensic Scientist specializing in body fluids, blood pattern analysis and DNA evidence. I have reported many complex cases and provided forensic advice and guidance throughout all stages of criminal investigations, at both tactical and strategic levels. I am a member of the Forensic Science Society and the Forensic Science Sub-Committee of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine (FFLM).
I am currently a National Forensic Specialist Adviser working within the Crime Operational Support Team of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, advising Senior Investigating Officers and Criminal Investigation Teams in matters relating to the broader field of forensic science. The main aim of my role is to provide impartial support and advice to improve the effectiveness, and scope, of the use of forensic science in serious crime investigations within the UK.
Kim Doyle BA (Hons) - Barrister
Kim qualified as a barrister in April 1986 and later that year she joined the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK. From 1995 until Kim left the Service in 2007 to concentrate on the work of her professional training and development consultancy, she worked closely with the police, health, lawyers and other third sector agencies at the St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre to improve the standard of rape and child abuse investigations and prosecutions across the Greater Manchester Area and beyond. She was instrumental in the development of the children's service at the centre following research work in the USA.
Kim has been involved in training and development since 1996. Her portfolio includes inter alia training lawyers, forensic physicians, medics, social workers, police officers and forensic services in child and adult protection across the UK. She also works in multi agency settings facilitating the development of joint working protocols and arrangements in child protection.
In 2011 - 2012, Kim travelled to Australia and New Zealand to undertake work with the Police and Education to review and develop their child protection response, information sharing protocols and partnership arrangements.
Kim was one of the authors of 'Without Consent'; a thematic review of the investigation and prosecution of rape published in 2007. In 2008 Kim was appointed as part of a small team of experts commissioned by the Department of Health in the UK to advice upon the response to sexual violence by key agencies. In carrying out this role she worked closely withpaediatricians specializing in child sexual abuse. She is also currently working with a group of professionals, including the NSPCC, who are developing processes to manage the risk posed by potential offenders who sit within sport environments.
Kim is married and lives in Cheshire with her husband. She has one son who works as an architect in London. When Kim is not working she enjoys travelling and spending time in her garden.
Andrew Rennison MSc - Forensic Regulator
Andrew was appointed by the Home Secretary in February 2008 as the first Forensic Science Regulator. His principal role is to set and monitor the quality standards for forensic science in the criminal justice system. In December 2009 the role was extended when he was appointed as the Interim CCTV Regulator to advise the government on the regulation of surveillance camera systems. Prior to moving into regulation he completed a 30 year career with the police.
He retired from the West Yorkshire Police in 2006 where he was a Detective Chief Superintendent in charge of intelligence, surveillance and forensic science functions. After leaving policing he spent 2 years with the Gambling Commission helping to regulate the gambling industry. He holds a Master of Science degree in psychology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Forensic Nurse Practitioner / Custody Practitioner
Q: How do you become a forensic nurse in the field of custody nursing?
A: It can vary slightly around the country, although most employers will require
3-5 yeas post registration experience either as a RMH or RGN. All employees have to go
through a strict security clearance and vetting.
Q: What experience do you need?
A: You will need experience in A&E minor injuries, prison nursing, acute mental health in substance misuse services.
Q: What does this role involve?
A: The main role of the forensic nurse practitioner in custody is as the
gate keeper for all for all coming into custody. He/she is there to triage the detainees, assess/treat/refer on as appropriate. The majority of our nurses are RMN trained so are well experienced to conduct mental health assessments as well as assess and medicate alcohol/drug withdrawal via the use of PGDs. The custody nurses will also provide minor wound management, management of diabetes and administer medication. This is not an exhaustive list of what they do on a daily basis. Some employer may ask for dual trained staff as you would need an in depth knowledge of general and acute medical emergencies as some forensic nurse practitioners take EBA bloods, pre transfusion bloods and also verify death in the community of sudden and suspicious death.
Q: What courses can you attend? Is there on the job training?
A: Again this can vary across employers. Recommended courses are minor injuries and illness courses. Certificate in forensic medicine and science programme (usually affiliate to a university).The only Forensic course which includes clinical competency assessments for nurses is the PGCert/Dip/MSc in Advanced Forensic Practice for sexual assualt and custody at Staffordshire University (details under latest courses) The Faculty of Forensic and legal medicine (www.FFLM.ac.uk) run several forensic courses for doctors present.
Q: Under AFC what is the banding for forensic nurse practitioners/custody
A: Again this can vary a little across the country. However is usually a band 6.
Q: Who employs FNP/CP?
A: In Scotland and a few areas in England and Wales it will be the NHS. All other nurses are employed through private service providers or the police force.
Q: Who can contact for additional information at UKAFN?
A: Click on the contact link. Complete the sections and you will be contacted by a UKAFN steering group member that specializes in that area.
Q: Will I be called to court to give evidence?
A: Yes you will be cited for court on numerous occasions. You would attend as a witness of fact based on the clinical notes you made at the time of your assessment of the detainee(s).
You will not be appearing as an expert witness.
Forensic Nurse Examiner
Q: What do Forensic Nurse examiners do?
A:
- Examine complainants of sexual assault / rape. This can include victims of Domestic violence that have been raped / sexually assaulted
- Examination of Females and males
- Age groups: Currently see Post pubertal case upwards (females that have had periods or males aged 12 years and above)
- Carry out full examination head to toe, (consent, consultation, and examination give advice and offer treatment in line with PGDs.
- Examination of female / male genitalia (case dependant / based on alleged assault/incident) Recording of DVD genital examinations with Consent (all children aged 16 and under and any case where genital injuries are seen on examination)
- NB: DVD recording of the genital examination is Anonymous, only holds centre number unique to the complainant, date recorded and examiners name. To date there has never been a DVD of the genital examination shown in a Court arena. If Defence contested the findings a medical expert would be nominated by them and asked to view the DVD with the examiner at an agreed venue (i.e. the centre the examination took place).
- Referral to other health care professionals, agencies as required
- Maintain Contemporaneous notes
- Body mapping
- Photograph injuries
- Gather evidence (forensic) case dependant
- Submit evidence to the Police Peer
- Review cases examined with Clinical Supervisor ( allocated Dr )
- Attend team meetings, participation in these and peer reviews
- Training and input for Sexual offence training Police officers courses at the Constabulary Head Quarters
- Answer phone calls / queries from police for advice re cases or victims they have seen
- Answer calls and offer advice to health care professionals in relation to sexual assault / rape.
- Examination of Self referrals to include storage of samples, specimens etc
- Provided statements as requested top Police
- If required and called attend Court
- Maintain own clinical credibility keep up to date with own training and clinical needs in line with NMC maintain registration, training and development.
- Attend own clinical supervision
Q: How many forensic nurse examiners are there?
A: To date there are 3 Forensic Nurse Examiners and over 20 in training in the UK.
Q: Who can I contact for information?
A: Dee Inott is the FNE at the Lancashire SAFE Centre based at the Royal Preston Hospital. Click here to visit the Preston Lancashire website. Contact Dee via e mail at: dee.inott@lthtr.nhs.uk
for information regarding her role as FNE at Lancashire SAFE Centre. Check the link to SARCs on the UKAFN website to contact your local or nearest SARC for information.
Q: Will I be called to Court to give evidence?
A: Yes you will be cited for court on numerous occasions. You would attend as a Professional witness to provide a witness/statement of fact evidence, based on the clinical notes you made at the time of your assessment of the detainee(s). You will not be appearing as an expert witness.
Q: What courses are available for Forensic nurse examiners Sexual Assault?
A: The only current clinically competency based course is the PGCert/Dip/MSc in Advanced Forensic Practice for sexual assault and custody. (details are available on the latest courses link). It has been agreed that following the successful completion of this course you would only then be required to sit the OSCE part of the Diploma in the Forensic and Clinical Aspects of Sexual Assault Which was instituted by the Society of Apothecaries of London to set national standards in the quality of care medical professionals provide for victims of sexual violence and abuse. The cost of only having to sit the OSCE part of the diploma is at much reduced fee as well