Call for Workshop Submissions/Early Bird Bookings
Youth Justice - Targeting Interventions Effectively
Nacro's Annual Youth Crime Conference
22-24 April 2010, University of Nottingham

Early bird bookings - Nacro are currently taking early bird bookings for the conference. The deadline for early bird bookings is Thursday 31 December 2009.

How to book

If you would like to download a copy of the conference flyer and booking form, please click here to download brochure

Bookings can be faxed back to us on Fax 020 8181 6662.

If you would like to book your place on-line, please click here to register on-line
Invoices can be issued for on-line bookings. Alternatively, to book a place by phone/email please call Caroline Fuller on 0797 44066 73 caroline.fuller@nacro.org.uk

25/11/2009 Employment Opportunity - Vice President, Forensic Services, Vancouver, Canada

Colleagues in British Columbia, Canada have asked the Forensic Network to share details of a job opportunity: Vice President, Forensic Services, BC Mental Health and Addiction Services, Vancouver, BC, Canada.  

For further information about this exciting opportunity please click here or contact Barbara Morrison by email, Barbara.morrison@odgersberndtson.ca or  telephone 00 1 (604) 685 0261.  

Mental Health & Forensic Practice Across the Lifespan: Prevention & Promotion

Call for abstracts | Click here for PDF Version

The IAFMHS Board of Directors and the 2010 Local Organizing Committee (LOC) is pleased to invite you participate in the 10th annual IAFMHS conference. Proposals for papers, symposia and poster presentations will be accepted online at www.iafmhs.org Abstracts must be submitted using the online submission form, please follow the instructions provided on the website. Presenters are responsible for their own registration, transportation and accommodations costs. Presenters must register in advance.

Like Scotland, Sweden has recognised the importance and challenges of providing sound evidence-based risk assessment reports to Courts and other decision making bodies. Rättsmedicinalverket, the National Board of Forensic Medicine, is a government agency that brings together all forensic disciplines, and in addition to providing expert reports, has research and education duties. The National Board of Forensic Medicine is seeking to establish relationships with other jurisdictions to share best practice in the spirit of international knowledge development. The RMA is recognising their visit to Scotland by arranging a best practice seminar at which discussion of common interests, challenges and approaches will be facilitated by a number of brief presentations illustrating current practice issues and research interests. Presentations will be given by Rättsmedicinalverket, RMA assessors and the Forensic Network.

Places on this event are strictly limited and will be allocated to ensure representation across a wide range of agencies. Please indicate if you are interested in attending this seminar and contributing to the discussion.

The seminar will take place on Tuesday 1st December 2009 at 10.00 a.m. at the Hilton Glasgow Hotel, 1 William Street, Glasgow.  Lunch will be provided.

Please confirm if you wish to attend by contacting Joanne McFarlane on 0141 567 3112 or email: Joanne.mcfarlane@rmascotland.gsi.gov.uk

05/11/2009 Mental Welfare Commission Annual Report & Annual Monitoring Report 08-09

The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland has published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2008-09. The document provides an overview of MWC work to safeguard some of Scotland's most vulnerable people. It demonstrates how we have delivered on our key duties on relation to mental health and incapacity law; including

- details of visits to mental health and learning disability service users
- provision of expert and advice and promotion of best ethical, legal and professional practice
- investigations into deficiencies in the care and treatment of individuals with a mental illness, learning disability, dementia or other mental disorder

You can view the Annual Report and Accounts here

The Forensic Network and School of Forensic Mental Health are delighted to invite you to attend "Forging the Future" a conference focused on recent Scottish research and innovation within the field of Forensic Mental Health. As is appropriate for St Andrews day "Forging the Future" maintains a Scottish focus both in terms of the work presented and the audience invited, providing a great opportunity to network with colleagues from partnership organisations across the Network.

The primary aim of the conference is to showcase a range of work recently presented to an international audience at IAFMHS 09, giving Scottish colleagues a specific opportunity to access recent research findings and innovative practice developments from across the country. However the conference will also aim to collate the views, expectations and needs of network partners in relation to support provided for research by the School of Forensic Mental Health.

Feedback from the conference will be used to inform the range of research specific courses provided by the School; and will also assist in developing the agenda of the Forensic Network Research special interest group.

Keynote Speaker: Frances Elliot, Chief Executive, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland

For more information and cost to attend please following this link to the conference homepage

The IAFMHS Board is pleased to invite you to participate in the 2010 annual IAFMHS Conference on 25-27 May in Vancouver, Canada. Proposals for papers, symposium and poster sessions will be accepted via website www.iafmhs.org. read more

The above festival gets underway on 1st to 22nd October 2009. The Forensic Directorate have two entries:

After almost two years as Head of the Scottish Government's Public Protection Unit, Tom McMahon will now take over the responsibility within the Police Division for the Resources and Performance Unit, leading on police finance and capacity issues.

The Public Protection Unit, dealing with policy around sex exchange, football banning orders and police custody issues will be led on a temporary basis by Susan Ferguson (susan.ferguson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk).

To view further information regarding the open days being held at Murray Royal Hospital on 4th and 5th September 2009 please click here.

A Review Group, chaired by Professor Jim McManus, was appointed in January 2008 by the Minister for Public Health and Sport to undertake a limited review of the 2003 Act, considering its efficiency and patient experience. The Review Group's report to the Minister focuses on five main areas of activity; advance statements; independent advocacy; named persons; medical matters; and mental health tribunals, as well as some related issues. This report is now open for consultation until Friday 6th November 2009. The aim of the consultation is to seek stakeholders' views on the recommendations made by the Review Group, together with some further options for consideration, to enable the Scottish Government to make decisions about changes to the legislation. click here to access report

This Consultation paper seeks views in relation to 2 main issues: the future structure of the MWCS in terms of its functions and how it sits within the broader scrutiny and improvement landscape; and the future governance of the MWCS assuming it remains an independent entity. Written responses to this consultation paper are welcomed by Friday 25 September 2009. To access this consultation paper, please click here