Forensic Mental Health and Women - 14th September 2010. London

Event location: ORT House Conference Centre, London NW1

Date: 14th Sep 2010

Event time: 09:30 to 16:30

Forensic Mental Health and Women: Delivering effective care and recovery services

This conference, chaired by Professor Graham Towl of Durham University (formerly Chief Psychologist at the Ministry of Justice), will examine whether there have been effective changes and progress in delivering women’s forensic health services since the recommendations of the Corston Report of 2007. 

View programme & booking form 

An update on progress post-Corston will be followed by an exploration of how the third sector will play a key role in delivering effective services to women who are forensic mental health service users. The third sector will be represented at the conference to speak about how they see their role developing in providing care and recovery services. A discussion will also explore what changes need to happen to deliver care and recovery services against a background of likely budgetary constraints. 

Specialised sessions will evaluate how early intervention and prevention strategies can prevent re-offending among the young female population. The approach to recovery in secure settings will be explored, including the design and implementation of care. A practical session will focus on the recovery approach in a specialist secure women’s service. 

Workshops will provide the opportunity to gain some practical pointers on offender management; self-harm management and reduction; and storytelling in forensic units. 

Finally, the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health will present their evidence and research in the forensic mental health field. 

Key themes 

  • Progress in care and recovery services since the 2007 Corston report
  • Securing partnerships and working effectively with the third sector
  • How early intervention among girls in secure settings can prevent re-offending
  • Approaches to recovery and rehabilitation Managing dangerous offenders
  • Understanding self-harm among females in forensic mental health care recovery for long-term service users.

Speakers at the event

Chair: Professor Graham Towl Durham University, Formerly Chief Psychologist, Ministry of Justice 

Maria Eagle MP 

Dr Sarah Birch Clinical Psychologist, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 

Elana Moore Occupational Therapist, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 

Clare Vickers Team Manager, Pelham Woods Hospital, Partnerships in Care 

Dr Jay Sarkar Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Personality Disorder Unit & Secure Women’s Services, East Midlands Centre for Forensic Mental Health 

Christine Milburn Nurse Consultant, Women’s Services, Rampton 

Jane Jones Lead Practitioner of Trauma and Self Injury Programme (TASI), Women's Services, Rampton

Jessica Wilson Senior Staff Nurse, Llanarth Court Hospital, Partnerships in Care 

Jez Spencer Senior Project Manager, Offender Health/NOMS, Department of Health

Who should attend?

  • Frontline mental health workers specialising in women’s forensic mental health care provision
  • Psychologists and psychiatrists working with girls and women in secure settings
  • Mental health commissioners
  • Mental health nurses working in secure settings
  • Prison staff working with female offenders in young offender institutions and prisons
  • Women’s mental health services
  • Mental health charities and charities supporting women offenders and their families
  • Academics and researchers in the forensic mental health field

Workshops will include:

  • Offender management
  • Self-injury issues including strategies for management and reduction
  • Storytelling in forensic units