ANNUAL BRANCH REPORT (presented to the AGM 2007)
by Dr Mark Bowers, Chair, Midlands Branch
Our committee of enthusiastic members includes: Dr Mark Bowers (Dudley CAMHS), Dr Gordon Bates (Solihull CAMHS and private practice), Gareth Savage (NSPCC), Dr Rob Walker (Dudley CAMHS), Dr Paliwal (Birmingham CAMHS), Madan Mall (Lindsworth school). We welcome Dr Sang Ambegoakar (Birmingham CAMHS & HIAH) who is nominated for the committee this evening. Professor Judith Trowell (University of Worcester) and Professor Rita Jordan (University of Birmingham) have both decided to step down owing to their many other commitments. We thank them for their help over the years and hope to keep in contact.
We have continued to focus on maintaining a regular program of evening meetings and based ourselves at Parkview Clinic, which has modern facilities and is centrally located.
Since the 2006 AGM we have organized five evening meetings. These included:
- June 2006: Dr Leslie Kilshaw spoke about in-patient services for adolescents with learning difficulties.
- September 2006: Dr Sang Ambegoakar spoke about services for substance using adolescents.
- November 2006: Dr Gingell & Mr John McCracken spoke on the past and future of CAMHS. This special branch event marked the Association's 50th Anniversary (1956-2006); past and current committee members joined us to celebrate this achievement with good food and mulled wine.
- February 2007: Dr Julie Withecomb spoke about adolescents who engage in stalking behaviour.
- April 2007: Nicola Swales spoke about user and carer participation.
Events planned for the remainder of 2007 have been circulated by flyer to members and are available on the ACAMH website (www.acamh.org.uk). They include meetings on Hypnosis with Children and Adolescents, Pathological Demand Avoidance and Early Intervention for Psychosis.
The aim of the committee over the past years has been to select topics of current interest that would be of value to a wide range of CAMHS professionals; the ongoing mission of the committee is very much to continue delivering quality presentations that contribute to continuing professional development and the sharing of best evidence and practice in the West Midlands. In the days of ever decreasing CPD budgets, it seems particularly important to be able to carry on hosting low cost events that are accessible to busy people. We welcome suggestions on future conference topics.
We have in the Midlands an enthusiastic group of volunteers on the committee and access to enlightened speakers. Although we have increased membership of the branch, the issue of low attendances remains. One of our key goals is to increase the numbers who get to participate in these events. We would like to invite your suggestions for increasing access and participation at our events.
If you would like to get involved in any way please contact a member of the committee.
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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
email
