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Apologies for Cross Posting International Forensic Mental Health Conference 5th - 7th June 2003 For more information and a booking form please contact Emma Woodward, [log in to unmask] or +44 (0) 1772 892654. Background This is the fifth joint international conference, the previous conferences in Preston in 1999 and 2001 and New York 2000 and 2002 proved to be a great success. The conferences have been multi-disciplinary, multi-agency events across the health and criminal justice systems that allowed participants to gain an understanding of the common issues and differences in service needs and provision. This conference will provide a further opportunity to continue the dialogue and further develop established networks. Mentally Ill or Mentally Disordered Offenders continue to present practitioners, policy makers and family members with a number of dilemmas and challenges. In managing this care, service providers within Mental Health Care, Social Care and the Criminal Justice System have to maintain a balance between the needs of the individual patient, professional role and responsibility and the expectations of society. Forensic Mental health services have been frequently criticised for their isolation from mainstream mental health care. The contemporary challenge for these services is how they can integrate with generic services and ensure that the users of the services have access to the full range of mental health care in the least restrictive environment. The issues raised by this client group transcend service boundaries and are common to many countries. This International Forensic Mental Health Conference provides an opportunity for practitioners, policy makers, researchers and educationalists to share ideas and to discuss common issues affecting Mentally Ill Offenders. Aims and objectives This conference provides an opportunity for individuals from a range of organisations and agencies to meet together with the aim of - creating an organisation/association where practitioners, policy makers, researchers and advocates from multiple countries could find ongoing opportunities for learning and collaboration. - exchanging information on effective models of care, intervention strategies, research, training and policy making to be ready utilised in different countries to improve care on a local, regional and national basis. Content The key areas for the conference will include: Violence in Mentally Ill populations Education and Training strategies Policy and Legislation Promoting advocacy to improve policy and services Victims of Mentally Ill offenders Who should attend? Mental Health Care, Voluntary Organisations, Prison Service, User Groups, Social Work, Community Services, Probation, Education, Independent Sector. Site visits Site visits to nearby facilities serving Mentally Disordered Offenders may be organised for participants if requested. If you are interested in partaking in a site visit please inform us on registration for the conference Topics to Include: - - The UK Policy Perspective - Risk Assessment and Management in Forensic Mental Health Care - Reducing Restraint and Seclusion and Responding to Violence and Aggression - Treatment Approaches: what works? - Commissioning Services - Juvenile forensic mental health care treatment in the USA - The Legal Climate in the USA for mentally Disordered Offenders - Mental Health Legislation and Offenders with Learning Disabilities - Forensic Learning Disabilities: An International Perspective - Panel Session, Where to Next? For more information and a booking form please contact Emma Woodward, [log in to unmask] or +44 (0) 1772 892654.