This conference focuses on improving the management and outcomes of people with co-occurring mental health and substance misuse conditions, and managing demand during and beyond Covid-19 whilst ensuring adherence to the NICE National Quality Standard Coexisting severe mental illness and substance misuse.

This conference will enable you to:

• Network with colleagues who are working to improve services, practice and treatment for people who are experiencing co-occurring mental health substance misuse conditions (dual diagnosis)
• Reflect on the lived experience of people experiencing coexisting severe mental illness and substance misuse
• Ensure Adherence to the NICE Quality Standard for coexisting severe mental illness and substance misuse
• Reflect on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and how you can meet demand for services by challenging traditional ways of working
• Understand how you can engage and support people to improve outcomes and avert crisis, and reduce the risk of exclusion or drop out from services
• Identify key strategies for ensuring early intervention
• Develop your skills in risk assessment
• Improve inpatient provision in assessment and management of people presenting with coexisting mental health illness and substance misuse
• Understand how the Quality Standard can be applied to older people including treatment evidence and age-specific programmes
• Engage people to reduce missed appointments and ensure effective follow up if this does occur
• Improve your skills and competence in delivering dual diagnosis services
• Learn from current best practice case studies in dual diagnosis focusing on homeless people
• Understand how to effectively develop and support peer support networks
• Self assess and reflect on your own practice
• Gain CPD accreditation points contributing to professional development and revalidation evidence