Events

Due to popular demand, the SDO Network, in association with the Mental Health Network, is hosting an additional acute mental health ward seminar on Wednesday 24 March 2010. 

We will showcase some of the latest research on how we can improve the acute mental health ward experience for service users, carers and staff as part of our interactive learning seminar series.  This free one-day event will be held at The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, London SE1 (near Waterloo Station) from 10am-4pm.

The programme includes:

·        Len Bowers, Professor of Psychiatric Nursing from City University will present his findings on keeping patients safer on acute mental health wards. Len will discuss the results from the 136 study which draws on 13 years of research experience. 

·        Sonia Johnson, Professor in Social and Community Psychiatry from University College London will highlight the factors affecting staff morale in mental health in-patient care.

·        Melba Wilson, National Programme Lead for Mental Health Equalities, National Mental Health Development Unit will provide a BME perspective on the acute mental health ward.  Melba is a mental health champion who is concerned with tackling discrimination against people from black and minority ethnic communities.

·        Larry Ayuba, Consultant Psychiatrist from Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust will talk about how the pioneering role of Great Yarmouth adult acute services in promoting true continuity of care for its patients stands out as a model of excellence.

·        We will have a service user perspective to input their real world experience of trying to engage with these issues.

·        The NHS Employers 'Open your mind' campaign will be showcased, which aims to reduce stigma and discrimination in mental health.

Paul Wrake and Jason Matthews from Bedford and Luton Mental Health and Social Care Partnership Trust will talk about their experience of planning and implementing the Productive Mental Health Ward programme at their trust.

Claire Henderson from the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London will discuss research on the effectiveness of joint crisis plans for mental health service users.

Steve Shrubb, Director of the Mental Health Network, will be chairing the event.

First run in Nottingham in December 2009, delegates at the event described the seminar as "an extremely valuable conference" and "one of the best I have been to in a long time."  Many said they would change their practice as a result of attending the event; "it has inspired me to address areas of practice in my clinical role and given me ideas on how to support both patients and staff more effectively".

For further information, including a copy of the draft programme, and to book online, please see the NHS Confederation website events section. <http://www.nhsconfed.org/Events/Pages/AcutementalhealthwardseminarMarch.aspx>