Programme - Wednesday 11 March
Conference: Mental Health and Wellbeing
Wednesday 11 March 2026 - In-Person and Virtual
Conference - Mental Health and Wellbeing
All speakers are attending and presenting in-person
| 08.15-09.10 | Trainees' Network Meeting A chance to meet and network with fellow trainees from across the country. Open to all paediatric trainees with an interest in childhood disability. |
| 08.30-09.15 | Registration, Refreshments, Exhibition |
| 09.20 | Welcome and Housekeeping |
| 09.25 | Healthy Parent Carers: peer-led group-based health promotion programme to improve health and wellbeing parent carers of disabled children Prof Chris Morris, Professor of Child Health Research, University of Exeter |
| 09.45 | “I am the only man in the room." The psycho-social experiences of fathers caring for children diagnosed as autistic Dr Louise Cooper, Lead Children’s Learning Disability Nurse, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust |
| 10.05 | Parent Carer Trauma: Insights for Transforming Practice Rachel Wright, parent and Founder of Born at the Right Time |
| 10.25 | Panel Q&A |
| 10.40 | Refreshments, Posters, Exhibition |
| 11.20 | BACD Strategic Research Group Update |
| 11.35 | Oral Presentations |
| 12.10 | Paul Polani Lecture: The impact of language disorders on mental health and wellbeing Prof Courtenay Norbury, Professor of Developmental Language & Communication Disorders, University College London |
| 12.55 | Lunch and Networking, Posters Exhibition BACD Annual General Meeting |
| 14.00 | Prevalence of mental health conditions in adults with CP Dr Jennifer Ryan, Senior Lecturer, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Director, Cerebral Palsy Lifespan Health and Well-being (CP-Life) Research Centre |
| 14.20 | Addressing health inequalities to improve mental health and wellbeing Dr Guddi Singh, Consultant in Neurodevelopmental & Social Paediatrics, Broadcaster, and Founder of the Wellbeing and Health Action Movement (WHAM) |
| 14.40 | Integrating Psychological Care into Acute Paediatrics: Promoting wellbeing beyond the bedside for hospitalised children and young people Dr Isabel Paz, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| 15.00 | Panel Q&A |
| 15.15 | Refreshments |
| 15.30 | Mental health of children with complex physical disabilities: the importance of meaningful activity and participation Annemarie Simms, Occupational Therapist, Evelina Children's Hospital; and Dr Ashley Liew, Consultant Paediatric Neuropsychiatrist, Evelina Children's Hospital |
| 15.55 | The Lucy Project – drop in service for CYP with mild to moderate psychological difficulties Dr Steve Jones, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Sheffield Children’s Hospital; and Sophie Bennett, Reader in Clinical Psychology, Kings College London |
| 16.15 | Panel Q&A |
| 16.25 | Mac Keith Press Prizes awarded |
| 16.30 | End of Day |
