Alexandra Penfold

Qualifications

Dip in Mental Health Nursing

Specialisms

• CAMHS
• Acute In-Patient Mental Health,
• Suicide & Self Harm,
• Medicines Management 

Introduction

I qualified as a registered mental health nurse (RMHN) in 2013 and began my career as a staff nurse in an adult acute inpatient mental health hospital. Since then, I have worked as a community psychiatric nurse for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Lead Nurse for a Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team (CRHTT), Mental Health Nurse Educator for an Acute Medical Unit within a general hospital and as Deputy Ward Manager for a private mixed acute adult inpatient ward. I have also worked for a locum nursing agency as a RMHN across acute, intensive care and secure inpatient hospitals. 

My specialist area is adult acute mental illness, predominantly in nursing those at risk of suicide, self-harm. I am experienced in nursing patients suffering from severe mental illness such as psychosis, Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorders (EUPD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance abuse issues and other illnesses. I have a wealth of experience in managing highly complex risk in acute care settings. Having worked across both community and inpatient services, I have a very good understanding of service structure and the different pathways through primary, secondary and tertiary mental health services. Although I have community experience within both adult, my specialist area is inpatient nursing. I have undertaken internal investigations of incidents such as those related to safeguarding issues, failure to return from Section 17 leave, medicines errors and incidents of self-harm or suicide or near-misses. I have extensive knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and deprivation of liberty safeguards and this has been strengthened by my experience in teaching post and pre-registration nurses on legal frameworks. I have strong leadership skills and management experience as a deputy ward manager and also led projects on wards such as interventions to reduce restrictive practice and improve patient and staff safety on inpatient mental health wards. I have an excellent understanding of the professional standards of registered nurses under the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Conduct.

In June 2022, I began a new journey as a CAMHS Community Mental Health Worker for an NHS Trust, whereby I manage a caseload of children and young people with moderate to severe mental health disorders. I am also undergoing training to become a Systemic Psychotherapist, and I work part-time in private practice as an Equine Facilitated Psychotherapist. 

I accept instructions from both claimant and defendant solicitors and insurers. I have undergone formal training in the medico-legal process and am fully aware of my responsibilities under Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) pertaining to expert witnesses.