ANNUAL BRANCH REPORT (presented to the AGM 2007)
by Derek Smith, Chair, Devon and Cornwall Branch

The Devon and Cornwall Branch had a flying start to the year with ambitious plans to host a series of three day-conferences on different aspects of Challenging Behaviour. The first conference held in March this year, focused on Challenging Behaviour resulting from ASD, Learning Disabilities and ADHD. This day proved extremely popular with 85 delegates attending from a variety of backgrounds - parents, therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, teachers and mentors to mention just a few of those who came together in a truly interdisciplinary audience. The practical day-to-day aspects of the conference and the choice of afternoon workshops contributed to its success and gave participants the opportunity to explore various strategies for dealing with challenging behaviours.

The second conference, which will focus on challenging behaviour resulting from substance misuse, family issues and offending or anti-social behaviour will be held later this year, with the third in the series: what works with sensory integration dysfunction, Tourette Syndrome and dysfunctional emotional development, planned for early 2008.

During my tenure as Chair, I have been struck by the important role ACAMH plays in bringing informative, quality events to the South West, where there are otherwise very few such resources. It is true that we struggle to find speakers willing to travel all the way to Devon and Cornwall, but the welcome and appreciation they receive is truly genuine. Where we have needed to postpone an event, it is through the unavoidable unavailability of speakers, rather than through poor attendance (180 delegates in March 2006), which I guess makes us somewhat unique amongst the ACAMH Branches!

Whilst there is the great need for more events which are geared towards addressing the needs of those working in the more distant locations, there is also the complementary need for more committee members to plan the programmes. We have been fortunate in receiving expressions of interest this year from one other branch member, so very many thanks. However, we need a few more members to step forward to make the committee once more a lively multi-disciplinary group of members planning an active programme of annual activities. Even as a one-man committee, I can say that the contacts gained and friends made through planning events has been very rewarding and I am certain that, with the involvement of others, this will increase and we will all benefit. So please, if you can spare the time and energy and want to get involved, do get in touch.

It would, of course, be impossible to host events without strong support from the ACAMH Head Office in London and I would like to thank the admin team for their assistance over the past year. I would also like to thank all members who attended our conferences. I look forward to seeing you all again and I hope to welcome many new faces to branch events as well as to the committee during 2007/2008.

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For all enquiries please contact Jacqui Colgate at the ACAMH Head Office, St Saviours House, 39-41 Union Street on 020 7403 7458 or by
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