Adolescent forensic psychiatry is a developing subspecialty that
sits between adult forensic psychiatry and child and adolescent
psychiatry. There is a growing network of adolescent
forensic psychiatrists working in specialist teams in the
UK and an Adolescent Forensic Psychiatry Special Interest
Group in the College.
These are exciting times for those interested in adolescent
forensic psychiatry: a network of five NHS adolescent
forensic in-patient units in England has been successfully
developed, and most Young Offenders Institutions/Young
Persons' Prisons or local authority secure children's homes (LASCH)
now receive specialist in-reach from CAMHS teams.
In the UK, our subspeciality has largely developed its base in
the NHS adolescent secure units. However, in addition to these NHS
services, a number of independent low secure adolescent units
have also been established. A recent CAMHS mapping exercise has
highlighted the need for more community forensic adolescent teams
as there is currently a relative paucity of this level of
service.
We are passionate about our field of work and would like to
encourage others to work, study and research in this area. By
writing this module, we hope to better inform our colleagues about
what adolescent forensic psychiatry is and to provide useful
information on the services available in the UK and Republic of
Ireland.
The Adolescent Forensic Psychiatry Special Interest Group in
the Royal College of Psychiatry is active and open for all
members/associates of the College to join, to share learning,
expertise and give a voice for patients' needs.
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