Forensic psychiatry CESR Portfolio Guide
Complete guide to the Forensic psychiatry Portfolio Pathway: 9 High Level Outcomes (HLOs), 11 evidence sections, and a 10-year currency window. Based on official GMC Specialty Specific Guidance, published by Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych).
SSG Version: 13/11/2025
High Level Outcomes (HLOs)
The Forensic psychiatry SSG defines 9 High Level Outcomes (HLOs) that Portfolio Pathway applicants must demonstrate competence in.
Professional Values and Behaviours
Demonstrate professional values and behaviours.
- 1.1 Professional Relationships
- 1.2 Professional Standards
Professional Skills
Demonstrate professional skills in forensic psychiatry.
- 2.1 Communication
- 2.2 Clinical skills
- 2.3 Complexity and uncertainty
Professional Knowledge
Demonstrate professional knowledge of legal and organisational frameworks.
- 3.1 Knowledge of legal and organisational frameworks in your UK jurisdiction
- 3.2 Working within NHS organisational structures
Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
Demonstrate health promotion and illness prevention.
- 4.1 Health promotion and illness prevention in community settings
Leadership and Teamworking
Demonstrate leadership and teamworking skills.
- 5.1 Teamworking
- 5.2 Leadership
Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
Demonstrate patient safety and quality improvement.
- 6.1 Patient safety
- 6.2 Quality improvement
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups
Demonstrate safeguarding of vulnerable groups.
- 7.1 Safeguarding
Education and Training
Demonstrate education, training, and supervision skills.
- 8.1 Education & Training
- 8.2 Supervision
Research and Scholarship
Demonstrate research and scholarship skills.
- 9.1 Undertaking research and critical appraisal
Evidence Requirements
The SSG specifies 11 evidence sections. Each section describes what evidence to provide and how to present it.
Evidence of training and qualifications
Evidence of your core competencies and specialist training/qualifications.
What to provide
- KSE cohort statement
- Up to date CV
- Primary medical qualification (PMQ)
- Specialist medical qualification(s) including MRCPsych certificate if applicable
- Specialist training curriculum/syllabus and evidence of formal periodic assessment (e.g., ARCPs)
How to present
Grouped by qualification/training.
Evidence of employment in posts and duties
Evidence of your employment history.
What to provide
- Employment letters confirming dates, post title, grade, and type of employment
- Job descriptions matching CV information
How to present
Grouped by employment.
HLO 1 Professional Values and Behaviours
Evidence of professional relationships and standards.
What to provide
- Feedback from colleagues and patients
- Correspondence demonstrating collaboration
- Reflective practice
- Structured reports
- Successful annual appraisal in the last five working years
How to present
Grouped by the type of evidence (e.g., all patient feedback together). Submitted in one PDF bundle by organisation. Naming: HLO1.1/ [Organisation Name] / Patient feedback/01.01.2021 - 01.12.2022
HLO 2 Professional Skills
Evidence of clinical skills, communication, and managing complexity.
What to provide
- Case histories (10 for Cohort 1A, 20 for Cohort 1B, 30 for Cohort 2) demonstrating full psychiatric history, MSE, forensic history, risk assessment (e.g., HCR-20), and management plans
- Evidence of working across interfaces
- Evidence of psychotherapeutic principles
- Discharge summaries, parole hearing reports, tribunal/managers' panel reports
How to present
Organised by case and coordinated to tell the story of the patient. Organised by diagnosis within the organisation. Naming: HLO2/ [Organisation Name] /C.H 6 – 18/02.02.2016 - 04.04.2018
HLO 3 Professional Knowledge
Evidence of knowledge of legal and organisational frameworks.
What to provide
- Documentation of approval under the Mental Health Act (e.g., Approved Clinician)
- Tribunal reports, Court reports, or MOJ reports
- Redacted legal forms for detention under the Mental Health Act
- Appraisal of completion of CPD in this area
How to present
No evidence is required to be uploaded into this section directly; all evidencing requirements for HLO3 will be submitted under other HLOs (e.g., within HLO2 case histories).
HLO 4 Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
Evidence of health promotion and illness prevention in community settings.
What to provide
- Evidence in case histories of psychoeducation, lifestyle interventions, and social prescribing
- Evidence of working with carers
- Wellness recovery action plans
- Evidence of taking an advocacy role
How to present
No evidence is required to be uploaded into this section directly; all evidencing requirements for HLO4 will be submitted under other HLOs.
HLO 5 Leadership and Teamworking
Evidence of leadership and teamworking.
What to provide
- Job description and reflection on leadership/management role
- Log activity of role covers
- Appraisal of role
- Attendance at management/leadership CPD events
- Assessment of chairing a clinical meeting (e.g., DONCS)
- Reflection on change management or service development
How to present
Grouped by activity. Naming: HLO5/[Organisation Name] /CPD/2021-2022
HLO 6 Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
Evidence of patient safety and quality improvement activities.
What to provide
- Appraisal evidence demonstrating learning from SUIs/complaints
- Shadowing a Serious Incident review or PSIRF Investigation
- Involvement in resolution of complaints or adverse events
- Meeting minutes demonstrating clinical governance participation
- Written report or presenting evidence at Coroner's Inquest
- Minimum of one quality improvement project
How to present
Grouped by activity/event. Quality improvement projects bundled together. Naming: HLO6/ [Organisation Name] /Serious Incident review/2022
HLO 7 Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups
Evidence of safeguarding knowledge and experience.
What to provide
- Completion of child and/or adult safeguarding training with reflection
- Summary of patient case involving safeguarding concern
- Child protection reports
- Meeting minutes evidencing attendance at safeguarding meetings
How to present
Grouped by activity. Safeguarding/child protection meetings submitted together. Naming: HLO7/ [Organisation Name] /UK prevent training/2020
HLO 8 Education and Training
Evidence of education, training, and supervision.
What to provide
- Job description and reflection on teaching/supervisory role
- Teaching activities with actual material (slides) and feedback
- Evidence of undertaking assessment and supervision of junior colleagues (WBPAs)
- Appraisal of completion of annual CPD
How to present
Grouped by activity. Teaching evidence collated by session, assessment, and supervision. Naming: HLO8/[Organisation Name]/Teaching role/ 2017-2020
HLO 9 Research and Scholarship
Evidence of research and critical appraisal.
What to provide
- Job description and reflection on research commitment
- Critical appraisals reflecting on research methodologies (Journal club, peer review)
- Relevant research qualification/dissertation
- Attendance at CPD events for good clinical practice in research
- Publications and posters
How to present
Grouped by activity. Each critical appraisal with corresponding triangulated evidence submitted separately. Naming: HLO9/ [Organisation Name] /Critical Appraisal/ 2017-2020
Knowledge Requirements
Primary Path
Completed Core Psychiatry Training (or equivalent) AND MRCPsych (or equivalent) passed
Alternative Path
Completed all elements of Core Psychiatry Training (or equivalent) BUT MRCPsych NOT passed (Cohort 1B) OR Cannot demonstrate completion of all elements of core psychiatry training (Cohort 2)
Applicants must self-identify their KSE cohort (1A, 1B, or 2) based on core competencies and specialist training/experience. This dictates the volume of evidence required.
Volume and Assessment Targets
The SSG specifies minimum volume and assessment targets for this specialty.
Case histories demonstrating proficiency in receiving full psychiatric history and MSE (Cohort 1A)
Case histories
Case histories demonstrating proficiency in receiving full psychiatric history and MSE (Cohort 1B)
Case histories
Case histories demonstrating proficiency in receiving full psychiatric history and MSE (Cohort 2)
Case histories
Quality improvement project relevant to clinical practice
QIP
Case demonstrating variation from established care pathways
Case history
Cases demonstrating management of complex presentations of multimorbidity and polypharmacy (Cohort 1A)
Case history
Currency Window & Evidence Volume
Currency Window
Years
Evidence is expected to be submitted from the timeframe as described within each HLO (WTE, doesn't need to be consecutive) and overall, within the last ten years. If you have worked LTFT or had a break in practice in the last five years, evidence can be provided from additional years.
Evidence Volume
no more than 1500 pages
Additional Notes
It is your responsibility to ensure you choose the correct KSE cohort based on your knowledge, skills and experience.
Do not submit more than one PDF document for each organisation per HLO.
If you have a piece of evidence that is relevant to more than one area, do not include multiple copies. Include one copy and cross-reference it.
Case histories must be from real world settings rather than a review written retrospectively.
All cases must include any physical health issues that are relevant such as may be relevant to differential diagnosis, treatment such as side effects, medication interactions, any specialist liaison or referrals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Forensic psychiatry CESR portfolio?
How many framework units does Forensic psychiatry require?
What evidence is required for Forensic psychiatry specialist registration?
How long is the currency window for Forensic psychiatry?
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