Attendees will gain information and insight into the current theoretical and research perspectives, which seek to improve practitioners support of young people or children in conflict with the law in Scotland.
Our varied mix of speakers will broaden the knowledge of how to improve outcomes for young people who present with complex difficulties related to risk and vulnerability, and highlight practical methods to take forward into frontline practice. The conference has been organised by The ACAMH Scotland Branch.
Booking
Sign up at this link or on the Book Now button at the top of the screen, and complete the form that follows. You’ll then receive an email confirmation and a link to the webinar, plus we’ll send you a calendar reminder nearer the time.
- ACAMH Members MUST login to book onto the webinar and get their discounted rate
- Non-members this is a great time to join ACAMH, take a look at what we have to offer, and make the saving on these sessions
ACAMH Members £99
Non Members £149 Join now and save
Lunch and refreshments are included in this price.
This session is not available for ACAMH Undergraduate & Masters Members or ‘Low-Income Countries’ Members discounted rate.
Don’t forget as a charity any surplus made is reinvested back as we work to our vision of ‘Sharing best evidence, improving practice’, and our mission to ‘Improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 0-25’.
Who should attend
Anyone working with children who come into conflict with the law including Social Work, CAMHS, Residential Services (both private and council) and other Care Support Services including Third Sector (particularly youth justice) and the NHS.
Key learning takeaways
- How the teenage brain may affect risk taking and impulsivity
- How formulation can help enhance trauma informed practice
- The political and legal context for children in conflict with the law in Scotland
- Mental Health and Risk – how do we work when there is no mental health diagnoses?
About the talks
Emily Towner – Adolescent Development & The Teenage Brain
In this presentation, I will navigate the complex landscape of adolescent brain development. Adolescence, a transitional phase connecting childhood and adulthood, has captivated scholars and thinkers for centuries. My presentation will illuminate diverse facets of this developmental period, highlighting not only the physiological changes but also the concomitant transformation in cognition and mental well-being. Contrary to popular belief, brain maturation persists beyond adolescence and extends into the late twenties. I will delve into research exploring adolescent tendencies such as risk-taking, reward-seeking, impulsivity and heightened social sensitivity. Further, I will explain scientific evidence that helps explain some of the emotional volatility that characterises this age group. I will also discuss the impact of early life stress. By emphasising both the vulnerabilities and opportunities inherent in adolescence, I hope to underscore its potential as a transformative period to enhance young lives. I look forward to engaging with practitioners, fostering a dialogue on translating scientific insights into strategies for real-world settings.
Key learning points
- To appreciate the protracted nature of adolescent brain development
- To better understand thoughts and behaviours driven by adolescent neurobiology
- To recognise adolescence as a transformative period of both vulnerability and opportunity
Jo Staines and Patricia J Lucas – Younger children in contact with the law: what do we know about what works?
Scotland has led the way in the UK in raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12, yet across the 4 UK nations younger children will still come into contact with the criminal justice system. In this session we will present the findings of a structured review commissioned by the Local Government Association, undertaken to establish what we know about works to reduce offending and improve outcomes for children aged 8-13 years in contact with the criminal justice system. We included reviews of international research evidence and practice examples from the UK. We found little research specific to this younger age group of children. Both in practice and in research, few programmes were found that considered the needs of this younger group distinct from older adolescents. We will present evidence from international research studies and from case studies of practice in England and Wales, highlighting what looks likely to work, what we don’t know, and reflecting on our conversations with Youth Offending Teams and practitioners about their approaches.
Key learning points
- To understand that different context for younger children (aged 8-13 years) in contact with the criminal justice system
- To learn about international and national research evidence on this topic
- To recognise some of the knowledge gaps when working with younger children in conflict with the law.
Programme
Overview of the day (NOTE: subject to change)
09:00 Registration
09:30 Emily Towner – Adolescent Development & The Teenage Brain
10:00 Mark McSherry – OLR and implications for young people
10:30 Break
11:00 Donna McEwan – The secure pathway, CARM and Whole Systems approach (Care and youth justice bill)
11:30 Martin Gallagher – Forensic Formulation
12:00 Claire Reily and Tracey Daley – Team Formulation
12:30 Lunch
13:30 Layla Kennelly – Thresholds risk and mental health
14:00 Dr. Ethel Quayle – Technology assisted sexual offending
14: 30 Jo Staines and Patricia J Lucas – Younger children in contact with the law: what do we know about what works?
15:00 Break
15:30 Ambit – mentalisation
16:30 Close
About the speakers
Emily Towner is a PhD Candidate in Psychology at the University of Cambridge and a Gates-Cambridge Scholar. Her research in the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab under Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore primarily explores learning and mental health in adolescents, including investigating the effects of social isolation and social media. Prior to Cambridge, Emily served as a research associate at UCLA, completing a Master’s Degree in Social Science. With a keen interest in science communication, Emily is committed to bridging the gap between research, policy and the public, aiming to influence evidence-informed interventions to support adolescent mental health.
Patricia J Lucas is a social researcher who aims to use research evidence to reduce health and social inequalities for children and young people. Her work is interdisciplinary and applied; she has a PhD in Psychology, spent many years as an academic in a Social Policy department, but now works independently undertaking research projects with charities, local authorities, and government agencies.
Venue details
Hotel in Glasgow | voco Grand Central Glasgow Hotel by IHG
Booking
Sign up at this link or on the Book Now button at the top of the screen, and complete the form that follows. You’ll then receive an email confirmation and a link to the webinar, plus we’ll send you a calendar reminder nearer the time.
- ACAMH Members MUST login to book onto the webinar and get their discounted rate
- Non-members this is a great time to join ACAMH, take a look at what we have to offer, and make the saving on these sessions
ACAMH Members £99
Non Members £149 Join now and save
Lunch and refreshments are included in this price.
This session is not available for ACAMH Undergraduate & Masters Members or ‘Low-Income Countries’ Members discounted rate.
Don’t forget as a charity any surplus made is reinvested back as we work to our vision of ‘Sharing best evidence, improving practice’, and our mission to ‘Improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 0-25’.