Publish date: 11 June 2025
Mohammed Kisitu, a senior mental health practitioner in the specialist community forensic team at West London NHS Trust, has completed his Advanced Mental Health Practitioner (AMHP) training with distinction. The first nurse in West London Forensic Services to do so!
In his current role, Mohammed helps people move from secure hospital settings back into the community. His team plays a key part in making sure that the transition goes smoothly, offering both care coordination and social supervision. It’s work he finds incredibly rewarding - seeing people move forward in their lives beyond hospital care.
Mohammed says he wouldn’t have taken this path without the encouragement of his former manager, Marion Clarke. She saw his potential and suggested he look into AMHP training. She also helped him connect with the right people to get started. That support, he says, set him on a journey of professional growth he hadn’t imagined for himself.
“The training itself was intense but transformative”. It combined academic study, hands-on placements, and reflective supervision. Mohammed says it gave him “more confidence and helped him discover skills he didn’t know he had.”
It also deepened his understanding of mental health law and the ethical challenges that come with the job. He feels more resilient and empathetic, and he has come to value the power of working closely with other professionals to get the best outcomes for patients.
He’s also grateful for the support he received from the Trust. His current manager, Enock Murinyu, and Service Director, Paula King, gave him the flexibility he needed to juggle work and study. He points out that the forensic service encourages learning and growth in lots of ways, not just AMHP training, but also courses in nurse prescribing, dual diagnosis, and learning disabilities.
Looking back, Mohammed says the experience has strengthened his commitment to learning and improving his practice. “This isn’t just a job,” he says. “It’s a true vocation, and I’m passionate about making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.”
He encourages other nurses to consider AMHP training too. “It’s a big commitment, but it’s worth it. It will change you, both personally and professionally. If you’re thinking about it, go for it. Your skills are so valuable, and this training will help you make an even bigger impact.”
Well done, Mohammed!