9. Creative Engagement in the Delivery of Therapeutic Support to Children in Care

Location: Discover Ground Floor

After a successful pilot, the Symbol team at Lewisham CAMHS & Breathe Arts Health Research are embarking on a 3 year project to deliver a co-designed creative programme to improve engagement & mental health outcomes for children in care utilising multiple art forms to improve engagement with CAMHS. Providing an overview of the collaboration, rationale, learning & the process of co-design & insight into our innovative approach to engaging children in care through our collaboration. We will include presentations from both partners (Breathe & Symbol) & hopefully a creative demonstration to bring it all to life! Delegates will leave feeling inspired, uplifted and energised. https://breatheahr.org/breathe-awarded-maudsley-charity-bid-for creative-mental-health-programme-for-children-in-care/

Hannah Dye Head of Programmes Breathe Arts Health Research and Dr Rani Samuel Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Symbol at Lewisham CAMHS

10. Placement Choice: Therapeutic Lot but no placements, How do you increase provider offers?

Location: Imagine Ground Floor

Bringing together commissioners & providers to explore the challenges securing placements within the Therapeutic Lot of the West Midlands Residential Framework. Drawing on feedback gathered from therapeutic providers, the session will examine key barriers to successful placement matching, including: quality of referral information; requests for solo provision; communication & responsiveness; workforce pressures; access to health services; & the importance of strong Local Authority & provider relationships. Participants will discuss practical solutions to improve placement outcomes, strengthen partnership working, & ensure children & young people with the most complex needs can access the right therapeutic support at the right time.

Andy Sjurseth West Midlands Commissioning Hub Manager West Midlands Commissioning Hub

11. Quality Assurance of Therapeutic Settings. A regional co-designed Framework

Location: Innovation 1st Floor (in the middle section)

This workshop will explore how we have used Therapeutic Standards and Enabling Environment documentation to strengthen our quality assurance tool for commissioners undertaking focused visits to providers. We will guide attendees through the key lines of enquiry within the tool and share early findings from its practical application. Participants will hear about our journey in developing and implementing the framework, including challenges, successes, and shared learning along the way. The session aims to support reflective practice and collaborative improvement across services. Attendees will also have access to the tool and supporting resources should they wish to adapt and use it within their own organisations in future.

Steve Swinhoe & Nyree Guider Wigan Council (NorthWest ADCS) & Sara Chattun This is Capacity.

12. Integrating Emotional Wellbeing & Mental Health Support for Children in Care in Social Care Teams

Location: Rookeries Ground Floor

The Council & C&W ICB have developed its emotional wellbeing & mental health offer for Children in Care & Care Leavers. Partners have designed & implemented a new therapeutic pathway that strengthens early intervention, improves access to specialist support & embeds therapeutic practice directly within the CiC system. The pathway introduces a multi-layered model of support that includes:

1.Therapeutic professionals embedded within social work teams
2.Specialist drop-ins creating space for foster carers & social workers to discuss concerns
3.Blended VCSE & NHS Trust offer combining community-based therapeutic support with clinical expertise to ensure children receive proportionate, needs-led intervention
4.Use of social prescribing, widening access to community activities, wellbeing support & non-clinical interventions that build resilience & connection.

This integrated pathway aims to ensure that Children receive timely, relational & trauma-informed support that is closely aligned with their lived experience & the professional networks around them.

Rich Limb CAMHS Programme Manager Coventry City Council and Coventry & Warwickshire Integrated Care Board & Richard Thomas Service Manager COMPASS UK