Forensic Issues Conference - 19 December 2018 - London

A one day Conference on 19 December 2018 at Friends House, Euston, London NW1 2BJ.

This conference is about people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism in the Criminal Justice System (CJS). It is widely known that people with ID or autism may receive a poor deal in the CJS, often not being identified as needing extra help, not being considered eligible for services or for treatment programmes, and frequently being incarcerated in prison or hospital for excessive periods of time. We will explore issues about autism and the CJS, and consider how screening for intellectual disabilities is advancing in various parts of the Criminal Justice System (eg police stations and prisons). There will be presentations from experts on new treatment programmes available in prisons and in the NHS/health sector. We will hear about the recent and forthcoming changes to probation services and consider the progress made through the Government’s Transforming Care programme.

The conference is specifically designed for those who care for or work with those people with learning disabilities who have come into contact with the Criminal Justice System. This includes carers, health professionals, staff from social services, probation services, prisons, police, lawyers and people with learning disabilities themselves.

Speakers include:
Prof Glynis Murphy , Tizard Centre, is a chartered clinical and forensic psychologist, HCPC member and fellow of the British Psychological Society. She was President of the IASSIDD from 2008-2012 and co-editor of the Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities until the end of 2014. She was co-editor of Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities until the end of 2014 and works at the Tizard Centre, University of Kent. She was chair of the UK Government’s NICE guidelines development group for challenging behaviour and learning disabilities 2013-2015. In 2013 Prof Murphy was awarded the MB Shapiro award for clinical psychology by the British Psychological Society. In 2014 she was elected a member of the Academy of Social Sciences. For many years, she has had research interests in challenging behaviour, autism, sexuality, abuse, forensic issues, mental capacity and the law in intellectual disabilities.

Laura Shepherd is a National Specialist Lead working within Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). Laura is also currently undertaking the Stage 2 Route to Chartered and Registered Status as a Forensic Psychologist with the British Psychological Society. Laura has worked for HMPPS in her current role for the past 11 years and before that, was a Treatment Manager for one of the organisation’s Substance Misuse Programmes for men and women in custody. Laura has been involved in the clinical oversight of HMPPS programmes for men with Learning Disabilities and Challenges (LDC), since their accreditation in 2017. Laura is the National Specialist Lead for the New Me Strengths (NMS) Programme and HMPPS’s Substance Misuse Programmes. This programme is for men who are medium risk and who have moderate needs in relation to their offending behaviour. Laura also works closely with the leads for the organisation’s other LDC programmes, Becoming New Me Plus (BNM+) and Living as New Me.

Prof Peter Langdon, Tizard Centre, is an Honorary Consultant Clinical and Forensic Psychologist working for Hertfordshire Partnership NHS University Foundation Trust in Norfolk within secure services for people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism. He is also Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the Tizard Centre, University of Kent. He has twice been an NIHR Research Fellow and has published widely in the area of forensic issues with people who have intellectual disabilities and/or autism. He is currently the co-Editor of the Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities.

Tania Tancred, Kent Probation Services

Clare Melvin, MSc, DipPsych, BA (Hons), is completing her PhD at the Tizard Centre, University of Kent, exploring sexual offending behaviours in individuals with autism spectrum conditions. Clare’s research interests focus on adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities detained under the Mental Health Act, particularly the therapeutic treatment of offending behaviours. Clare has clinical experience in this area and, in addition to her PhD, works at Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust on research involving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who display offending behaviours. Clare also works as an Associate Consultant for the British Institute of Learning Disabilities.

Dr Viv Cooper, OBE, Challenging Behaviour Foundation, a charity for people with severe learning disabilities who display behaviour described as challenging. The Foundation aims to make a difference to the lives of children and adults across the UK by providing information and support, running workshops and speaking up for families on a national level. Their vision is for all people with severe learning disabilities to have the same life opportunities as everyone else.
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation started 15 years ago from the garage of her home, with a borrowed photocopier and a group of dedicated friends; today it helps almost 2,000 families across the country.

Vivien Cooper has contributed to a number of leading journals in the field, including the British Journal of Social Work, the Tizard Learning Disability Review, the Journal of Intellectual Disability Research and, Child: Care, Health and Development. Through the CBF, Vivien established, and now chairs, the Challenging Behaviour National Strategy Group.

Gavin Nigel Xavier Harding MBE, has worked in the self-advocacy movement for people with learning disabilities for many years. He has previously been an expert by experience with the Care Quality Commission and co-chaired the Transforming Care Assurance Board with the then Health Minister, Norman Lamb.He was the first person with a learning disability in the UK to be elected as a local councillor in 2011 and achieved another first in 2015 when he was appointed Mayor of Selby Town Council. He was awarded an MBE for services to people with Learning Disabilities. Gavin also works for NHS England as a Learning Disability Adviser in the Learning Disability Programme working at a strategic level and speaks up within the organisation to make a difference and help improve people’s lives and care. Gavin believes that he has come a long way since being an inpatient in an assessment and treatment unit.

Registration: Please go to the University of Kent online store. The full programme for the day is also available on this page. This is a one day course including refreshments £190 per delegate (lunch is not included in the fee)

Directions to Friends House, 173 Euston Road, Euston, London NW1 2BJ

For more details or further information please contact Prof Peter Langdon
Administrative assistance: Jackie Fotheringham