Allied health
Allied health assistant
The Forensic Hospital’s allied health assistant team provides support to all disciplines of allied health professionals working within the hospital. We engage with patients in all wards of the hospital from the acute setting to the rehabilitation ward.
Art therapists
The art therapy department is a hospital-wide service provided in the Forensic Hospital. art therapists work as part of multidisciplinary treating teams, contributing towards treatment plans, risk assessments and Mental Health Review Tribunal (MHRT) reports.
Art therapy assists patients to express themselves when they may be having difficulty. The art therapist uses a psychodynamic approach to inform the patients’ recovery plan and intervention.
Art therapy is one of the few disciplines that can be used at every stage of a patient’s journey as it strengthens their recovery pathway and desire to succeed in the future.
Diversional Therapy
Our diversional therapy team in the Forensic Hospital provide opportunities for individuals who experience barriers to leisure participation, to participate in meaningful leisure and recreation activities.
Diversional therapists assess patient needs to design, implement and evaluate recreational and leisure services that promote person-centred, meaningful interventions aimed at enhancing mental, physical, social and emotional wellbeing and are designed to suit the goals and strengths of individuals.
Occupational therapy
The occupational therapy team provides occupation-focused mental health services to adult and adolescent patients of The Forensic Hospital.
The occupational therapy team provides high quality assessment and intervention that supports patients to engage in meaningful occupations. The occupational therapists assist patients with routine and time management, cooking, computers skills, as well as escorted leave to practice community living skills, study, and leisure activities.
Pharmacy
The pharmacy department provides a statewide pharmaceutical service to patients within the NSW custodial environment. Our pharmacy staff provide pharmaceutical services and medication management oversight to all adult and adolescent centres.
Staff are responsible for ensuring the safe, effective and efficient dispensing of medications, along with the provision of a quality pharmacy service and advice to the patients and staff of Justice Health NSW.
Psychology
Our psychology team work in a unique and diverse setting that involves both clinical and forensic psychology. The psychology team provides:
- multimodal psychological assessment inclusing clinical, personality, cognitive/neuropsychological and violence risk assessment
- functional analysis and positive behavioural support
- a broad range of innovative, evidence-based individual and group intervention such as:
- Neurocognitive/social cognitive remediation
- anger and emotion regulation
- CBT for psychosis and substance use
- interventions that encourage alternatives to violence.
Physiotherapy
The physiotherapy department primarily provides a statewide outpatient musculoskeletal physiotherapy service to patients within the NSW custodial environment. The physiotherapy department provides expert input and treatment into the care of patients including those with neurological, respiratory, orthopedic, burns, ambulatory, and spinal cord injuries. Our physiotherapists also facilitate an orthopedic clinic.
Radiology
Our radiology department provides a high quality and efficient digital radiology service to the adult prison population within custodial health. The statewide service model provides general and dental OPG X-rays at 8 correctional facilities (Long Bay, MRRC, Silverwater women’s, Goulburn, South Coast, Wellington and Mid North Coast ) and Ultrasound Services at Long Bay.
Rehabilitation coordinator
The rehabilitation coordinator is a hospital wide position, who primarily oversees the Centralised Group Program (CGP) which assists patients in their rehabilitation and recovery.
Drug and alcohol
Drug and alcohol clinical nurse specialist
The drug and alcohol clinical nurse specialist is responsible for the assessment and management of drug and/or alcohol intoxication, withdrawal and potential or actual overdose. They are also responsible for the assessment of patients requesting Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST) and the follow-up and review of these patients. They must have an excellent understanding and knowledge about all treatment modalities for drug and alcohol related issues currently available within the custodial setting and in the broader community.
Medical
Medico legal coordinator – health information record service
The role of the medico legal coordinator includes facilitating the timely release of clinical information to legal agencies, health providers and eligible applicants whilst ensuring compliance with the Governments Information (Public Access) Act 2009, Health Records Information and Privacy Act 2002, all Ministry of Health Circulars and Policies and procedures and related policies. The role is also responsible for coordinating subpoenas, legal requests, search warrants along with requests from the Coroners Court and NSW Ombudsman.
Visiting medical officer
Visiting medical officers (VMO) deliver general and specialised medical services in the correctional centre environment. They work collaboratively with the nursing unit manager as part of a multi-disciplinary team. This includes general practitioners, drug and alcohol, psychiatry and oral health staff.
“Knowing that most of the patients have never seen a regular doctor for medical treatment prior to coming into custody and then being able to assist them in achieving the best possible healthcare outcomes, is a huge win.”Justice Health NSW VMO.
Mental health
Clinician - community forensic mental health
As a community forensic mental health clinician, staff have opportunity to work with, and provide support to, a range of mental health clinicians, across 15 Local Health Districts, who are primarily responsible for the care of forensic patients and civil patients at risk of serious offending.
Our community forensic mental health clinicians are encouraged to develop specialist expertise in assessing and managing patients’ risk of harm to others, so that patients’ recovery can be supported in the most safe and effective care context. The role of a community forensic mental health clinician can be occupied by psychologists, senior nurses, social workers and occupational therapists with appropriate experience and post graduate training.
“It’s a very dynamic role where you get to work with a variety of team members in correctional centres as well as community-based service providers. There is a large scope to help a variety of patients. No one day is the same. There is always something to challenge you.”Justice Health NSW Community Forensic Mental Health Clinician.
Nursing
Clinical nurse consultant - youth health
Our clinical nurse consultants provide clinical consultancy services to nursing staff within Juvenile Justice Centres and liaison with the Community Integration Team (CIT), to ensure best practice care is delivered to young people in custody.
Clinical nurse consultants have the opportunity to travel across NSW visiting health centres and meeting with our patients to discuss their needs.
The focus of the role is youth health, bringing together the specialties of primary health, population/sexual health and women’s health. The role supports nursing staff by providing:
- clinical service and consultancy
- clinical leadership
- research and development of policies and procedures
- education programs including clinical teaching and practice development.
The position provides clinical consultancy to all nursing staff in Juvenile Justice Centres, the Kariong Juvenile Correctional Centre and nursing staff in Justice Health NSW adolescent community programs.
“Working with the young people in this system is exciting, challenging and very rewarding.”Justice Health NSW Clinical Nurse Consultant.
Nursing - custodial health
The nursing role within custodial health includes reception screening for all new patients, comprehensive health screening for long stay patients, assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing management. Nurses are also responsible for the day-to-day health care requirements of patients within NSW correctional centres and police cells which involves counselling, health promotion, and client advocacy, facilitation of change, clinical teaching, supervising, mentoring and research.
“If you are passionate about working with disadvantaged patients and if you are a team player, you will thrive here.
The incredibly friendly and approachable staff of both Justice Health NSW and Corrective Services NSW makes this hospital a place where you can flourish, find satisfaction, and feel safe in every sense.”Justice Health NSW Custodial Health Nurse.
Nursing - Forensic Hospital
Forensic mental health nursing practice involves undertaking assessments, formulations, planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing care within a therapeutic environment relationship in the treatment of people experiencing mental illness; and who have a history of criminal offending or who present a serious risk of such behaviour. Nursing staff work closely with the multidisciplinary team to address risk and support patients on their recovery journey.
Contact Justice Health NSW Recruitment
More options to contact us.
Email: JHFMHN-Talent@health.nsw.gov.au
Post: PO Box 150, Matraville NSW 2036
Phone:(02) 9700 3000