We are very pleased to announce that our next  AMHP conference will be held on 16th January 2026.

 This one-day conference will explore issues pertinent to AMHP practice. It can contribute towards the statutory requirement of 18 hours relevant training per year.

SPEAKERS :

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: SOPHY MILES, BARRISTER AT DOUGHTY STREET CHAMBERS

 Choice and Autonomy- What will the MHA 2025 mean for you?

Sophy Miles looks at the reforms to the Mental Health Act, and takes a deep dive into detention criteria and the new Nominated Person.

 Sophy qualified as a solicitor in 1989 and was called to the Bar in 2015. She has a busy and varied Court of Protection practice. 

Sophy advises in all areas of mental health law, where her long experience as a mental health solicitor gives her a practical understanding of the issues.  She also advises on human rights and community care law, as well as complex Tribunals and disputes over entitlement to aftercare. 

She is a member of the Law Society’s Mental Health and Disability Committee.  Sophy  regularly trains on the Mental Health Act, the Mental Capacity Act and on the Court of Protection.

SIMON BAPTISTE & COLLEEN SIMON

Pain to Passion: The Power of Lived Experience

Simon Baptiste is Co-Chief Operating Officer & Chair of The Muslim Lived Experience Network, Director of Growth and Progression & a Forensic-Peer Support Worker for CNWL NHS Mental Health Trust. Simon is a dynamic Lived Experience Practitioner, respected leader, facilitator & advocate with multiple peer support qualifications. Simon has already proved that the integration of the  Lived Experience can drive change in AMHP work & for individual AMHPs.

Colleen is Head of Social Work & Social Care, Adult Safeguarding & MCA for CNWL Mental Health Trust. She is a registered social worker & has specialised in mental health & substance misuse/criminal justice. Colleen has been a lecturer/practitioner on the Bournemouth University AMHP training course & Brunel University social work courses. Colleen practised as an AMHP & BIA for many years. She delivers anti-racist & anti-discriminatory practice training for Edge.

AMIR FAROOQ & COLLEAGUES, WE ARE GROUP:

Navigating the Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space (Overview, eligibility and pain points for AMHPs)

We Are Group deliver training, advice & guidance services that empower people to live better lives. Since their launch, they have supported over 100,000 people across the UK. We Are Group deliver the Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space (MHCBS) scheme on behalf of the Money & Pensions Service. MHCBS gives people in mental health crisis treatment a break from the organisations they owe money to, so they can focus on their recovery. 

CO-CHAIRS FROM THE AMHP LEADS NETWORK (ALN)

The New Mental Health Act: Setbacks, Successes and Opportunities for AMHPs

Dominic Marley - Dom is co-chair of the AMHP Leads Network (ALN) and, with his fellow co-chairs, coordinated the network's lobbying during the Bill stage of the new Mental Health Act. He is the Lead AMHP for Brighton & Hove City Council and has been a practicing AMHP for over 18 years. He managed AMHP services across two London local authorities before taking up his current post in 2020. He has previously chaired the London AMHP Leads Group and now co-chairs the Southeast ADASS AMHP Leads group.

 Dr Jill Hemmington - Jill is programme lead for university qualifying and post-qualifying (CPD) national AMHP training. She is co-lead of the AMHP Research Group and the Critical AMHP Blog. 

Kirsten Bingham  -  Kirsten Bingham has been an AMHP and Mental Health Social Worker for 18 years.  Between 2021 and 2024, she served as AMHP Service Lead in Hull, and  was chosen as the Social Worker of the Year Awards AMHP of the Year in 2023.

Kirsten became Strategic Lead for Mental Health in Manchester in 2025, driving culture change and embedding strengths-based, person-centred approaches that amplify the voices of people with lived experience as well as practitioners.

Her influence reaches to a national level as co-chair of the AMHP Leads Network, where she contributes to the shaping of policy and practice right across mental health social care.

Nick Perry - Nick has been practising as an AMHP continuously since 2007 and is currently seconded as a practice lead. He has taught on the Brighton University AMHP training programme since 2020.   He has been in a dedicated AMHP and practice educator role for his employing local authority since 2016 and is currently seconded as a practice lead.  He is a visiting lecturer and has taught on the Brighton University AMHP training programme since 2020.  Nick undertook a foundation training in Systemic Therapy with the Kensington Consultation Centre in 2005; and during the pandemic was able to undertake the BRIEF online certificate in Solution Focused Practice.  He went on to complete the Advanced Certificate in 2022 and became accredited by the UK Association for Solution Focused Practice in 2023.  

DAVID COCHRANE MBE

Confidentiality and dilemmas for AMHPs

David Cochrane is a registered social worker and former Head of Forensic Social Work for the High, Medium and Low Secure services at West London NHS Trust. He now works as a part-time social work consultant for the Trust, sits as a Specialist Member of the Mental Health Tribunal, and delivers specialist training on s37/41 MHA and Conditional Discharge, MAPPA and victims’ issues.

He brings extensive experience in analysing risk and navigating the real-world dilemmas AMHPs face around legal duties, confidentiality and information sharing. https://www.edgetraining.org.uk/trainers-1/cochrane 

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*New venue for 2026!* : Central London EC4 (exact address confirmed with ticket purchase)

Start: 10:00 (Registration from 09:15)

End: 16:15

Price: IN PERSON TICKET £195 plus VAT per ticket -  fee includes refreshments and a sandwich lunch along with a paper conference pack and a PDF certificate.  

ONLINE TICKET £155 plus VAT per ticket - fee includes access via Zoom, a PDF conference pack and a PDF certificate.   

Conference details will be emailed direct to delegate(s) upon completion of their booking.  10% discount for groups of 10 or more in one booking.

Questions? Call 07341 277487 or email events@edgetraining.org.uk