Expertise Centre for Forensic Psychiatry

The Expertise Centre for Forensic Psychiatry (Dutch: Expertisecentrum Forensische Psychiatrie, EFP) is an independent Dutch foundation based in Utrecht. It was established in 2002 on the initiative of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, and Dutch forensic psychiatric institutions, and was formally constituted as an independent foundation in 2003 to safeguard the independence of research. Its mission is to support the forensic care field in raising the quality of care, with the ultimate aim of promoting public safety. EFP positions itself as the place where professionals collaborate on better forensic care. It serves everyone who provides forensic care and everyone who makes it possible, from outpatient to clinical settings. As an independent foundation, it brings together expertise and professionals to strengthen the field. Its work spans the entire forensic care sector, covering all partners with whom the Forensic Care Division/JJI (ForZo/JJI) has concluded care and procurement contracts. In its early years, EFP focused primarily on supporting the scientific foundation of forensic psychiatry. It directed and coordinated research and methodology development, collected treatment programmes and best practices, and promoted knowledge transfer between forensic psychiatric institutions, universities and research institutes. It developed and managed knowledge databases and provided substantive, organisational and logistical support for forensic care. After a number of years, EFP changed course to maintain support within the forensic care field. Its focus shifted from research alone to facilitating the field more broadly. It repositioned itself as the place where all parties in forensic care collaborate on quality of care, with the goal of promoting public safety. Its work now centres on collaboration, adding both substantive and organisational knowledge, guiding and executing projects for and with the field, and stimulating knowledge sharing and the bringing together of parties. Results and outcomes are shared broadly and made accessible to as many parties as possible. EFP's work is divided into four themes: knowledge sharing, quality networks, craftsmanship (vakmanschap) and research. The Quality Framework for Forensic Care (Kwaliteitskader Forensische Zorg) is the basis for these themes. The organisation also addresses specific topics such as clients with mild intellectual disability (LVB) or lower intelligence, who are overrepresented in forensic care; collaboration with relatives (naasten); support for new employees, students and interns; collaboration in the care chain; and addiction treatment. It organises events such as a Researchers' Day and a travelling exhibition on experiential expertise (Ervaringsdeskundig).

The Expertise Centre for Forensic Psychiatry (EFP) was started in 2002 on the initiative of the Dutch Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, and the Dutch institutions for forensic psychiatry. It responded to a need among TBS clinics for specific research and coordination of research into forensic psychiatry and the effectiveness of TBS treatments. To safeguard the independence of the research, an independent foundation was established in 2003. In its first years, the foundation mainly served to support the scientific foundation of forensic psychiatry. It directed and coordinated research and methodology development, collected treatment programmes and best practices, and promoted knowledge transfer between institutions in forensic psychiatric care, universities and research institutes. EFP was primarily concerned with stimulating joint research by research institutes, universities and institutions in forensic psychiatry. Its activities included the development and management of knowledge databases, coordination and facilitation of research carried out jointly by institutions, and substantive, organisational and logistical support of forensic care. After a number of years, EFP changed course in order to retain support within the forensic care field. The focus shifted from research alone to facilitating the field in a broader sense. EFP increasingly positioned itself as the place where all parties in forensic care collaborate on quality of care, with the aim of promoting public safety. Its field of work covers the entire forensic care sector, namely all partners with whom the Forensic Care Division/JJI (ForZo/JJI) has concluded care and procurement contracts. EFP focuses on collaboration and adds both substantive and organisational knowledge. Its work consists mainly of guiding projects and carrying them out for and with the field. It also stimulates knowledge sharing and the bringing together of parties. Results and outcomes are shared broadly and made accessible to as many parties as possible. The work area is divided into four themes: knowledge sharing, quality networks, craftsmanship and research. The Quality Framework for Forensic Care is the basis for these themes.

• 2003

  Independent foundation established to safeguard the independence of research.

• 2002

  EFP started on the initiative of the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, and Dutch forensic psychiatric institutions.

• EFP changed course from focusing solely on research to facilitating the broader forensic care field.

Independent foundation and collaborative hub for the Dutch forensic care field, focused on quality of care and public safety.

• Kwaliteitskader Forensische Zorg

  Quality Framework for Forensic Care, the basis for EFP's four themes.

• Knowledge databases

  Development and management of knowledge databases for forensic psychiatry.

1. 1EFP: Expertisecentrum Forensische Psychiatrieefp.nl
2. 2Expertise Centre for Forensic Psychiatry - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Expertisecentrum Forensische Psychiatrie - Wikipedianl.wikipedia.org