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). Currently there are no recognized custody nursing
courses available in the UK. The Faculty of Forensic and legal medicine (www.FFLM.ac.uk)
run several forensic courses at present. In house course are run for all new staff.
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 only 2 Forensic Nurse Examiners in the UK that carry out examinations of complainants of sexual assault.
There are FNE in SARCs around the country but they do not carry out the examinations of complainants.
The title Forensic Nurse can be used for custody nurses or mental health nurses working in the field of Psychiatric medicine.
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 can be called to Court to give evidence, however this evidence will be based on the statement you have given. The statement given by an FNE is a statement of fact.
As an FNE you do not give an ‘opinion’ you will give a factual statement of the examination (this includes the consent, consultation, examination and what you saw at examination)
If an opinion is required this will be given by a Dr as “a professional witness or sometimes as a Expert Witness”.
All my work in practice is peer reviewed with the Clinical Director (Sexual Offences Examiner S.O.E) who is my clinical supervisor / facilitator. Although I examine my own cases, all cases are reviewed and discussed within 48 hrs of being seen (or as near as) You can understand why thorough training is paramount for a FNE and with their supervising SOE. In court you can only give the factual evidence NOT an opinion. The Police will normally contact you for a statement for a case you have examined, if the case is going forward to Crown Prosecution Service.