The day was chaired by Dr Elizabeth Gethins, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist on Cygnet Hospital Derby’s Alvaston Ward, with the day split into service user issues in the morning and carer issues in the afternoon. We had a full programme which included service users and carers presenting on their own experiences and sessions from team members at Cygnet Hospital Derby. There was also a panel of guest speakers including:
- Ian Callaghan, National Service User Lead Recovery and Outcomes (now of Rethink Mental Illness) presenting on regional and national involvement initiatives
- Tina Coldham, Mental Health User Consultant, Trainer and Researcher presenting on the service user voice on a national stage
- PC Gareth Larreta from Derbyshire Police on embracing the relation between the police, secure services and the service user
- Debbie Stanton, Case Manager from NHS England covering the commissioning perspective in relation to the service user voice
We would like to say a huge thank you to all our collaborators on this conference, particularly the service users and carers who shared their personal experiences but also to all of our other speakers for sharing their expertise.
Feedback
98% of delegates rated the event good or excellent, with overwhelmingly positive feedback. Below is just a small sample:
“It’s hard to pick out one thing as the best part of the day. I thought it was great. The mix of speakers, also the real collaboration between service users, carers and professionals – a move forward from what feels like token ‘engagement’ at times.”
“Very well-planned, appropriate and well-informed conference.”
“Great collaboration with professionsals, service users and carers. Thank you for sharing.”
“The carers presentations – so powerful.”
“Very good event, one of the best I have attended for a while.”
“An excellent conference, well organised and well presented.”
“A really unusual event in that it was based around patients, friends and family, but all the more valuable for that.”
“Service user perspective was brilliant. Real food for thought.”
”Brilliant and thank you to Cygnet Health Care for investing in hosting this conference, it is so inspirational and forward thinking, great job.”
“I thought all the speakers were excellent but special praise needs to go to the service users from Alvaston ward for being so open and honest.”
“Powerful reminder of the importance of involving carers at all stages.”
“Hearing experts by experience talk and to see how far they’ve come and what they’ve achieved was so valuable.”
“Very inspirational. It is always a pleasure to be trained/taught by experts. Service users and carers are the experts.”