What does the Rehabilitation Psychiatrist do?
Specialists in Rehabilitation Psychiatry have expertise in the long-term
treatment and care of a client group with severe mental illness and consequent
social disability and disadvantage. Co-morbidity and offending behaviour
commonly occur in this client group.
Specialists in Rehabilitation Psychiatry work within a variety of settings that
include:
1. community rehabilitation teams;
2. inpatient rehabilitation and continuing care units;
3. functional mental health teams providing early intervention for psychosis
and assertive outreach; and
4. tertiary care inpatient units for people with challenging behaviours and
complex needs, including low secure and medium and high secure
Forensic settings.
Key tasks of the Rehabilitation specialist include
1. the detailed assessment of and care planning for people with complex
needs, comorbidity (notably comorbid substance misuse) and offending
behaviour;
2. advice to colleagues on the management of patients with severe mental
illness who are resistant to standard treatments;
3. consultation to services that are providing residential care and complex
community care packages;
4. management of patients in rehabilitation and long-term hospital settings;
5. advice to commissioners regarding service development and the
management of high-cost placements; and
6. joint working with voluntary sector agencies that facilitate social inclusion.
Rehabilitation psychiatrists adopt a Biopsychosocial approach that embraces
Recovery-oriented practice and always work within a multidisciplinary team.
Specialists in Rehabilitation Psychiatry possess the core competencies of the
General Adult Psychiatrist with additional expertise to undertake the core tasks
outlined above.
FH 15/6/08