CONFERENCE 2026
Substance Misuse and Vulnerability: Advancing Forensic Healthcare in Custody and SARC
Substance misuse remains one of the most significant drivers of risk, harm and inequality across police custody and sexual assault referral centre (SARC) pathways. This year’s conference will explore the current UK drug landscape and the wider vulnerabilities that often sit alongside substance use, including trauma, exploitation, mental ill-health, neurodivergence, homelessness, safeguarding concerns, and barriers to accessing care.
Join UKAFNP for a day of learning, reflection, and practical discussion as we consider how forensic healthcare practitioners can improve outcomes through evidence-informed practice, compassionate care, and effective multi-agency working.
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Conference Tickets
Join us at our annual conference to connect with fellow forensic nurses, paramedics and midwives from across the UK. The conference fee is £100 for non-members, but members enjoy a discounted rate of £70. Take advantage of this exclusive benefit by becoming a member today. Members can access their discount code in the Members Hub.
Agenda
08:30-09:00 | Registration & Coffee
Arrival, registration, networking and hot drinks.
09:00-09:15 | Welcome to Conference
The Baroness Bertin - House of Lords & UKAFNP Patron
Gabby was appointed to the House of Lords in 2016. She was Press Secretary for Prime Minister David Cameron and Director of External Relations in Downing Street between 2010-2016.
She recently led the Government's independent review on online pornography regulation 'Creating A Safer World: The Challenge of Regulating Online Pornography', and is now spearheading the campaign to bring about far greater scrutiny of the online pornography industry.
Gabby is a passionate campaigner to end violence against women and girls; she is the Vice Chair of the APPG on Domestic Violence and sits on the Justice and Home Affairs Committee.
09:15-09:30 | President's Welcome
Ms Jennie Smith - President
Jennie will, in addition to welcoming everyone to the conference, outline the work of the UKAFNP steering group, the ongoing work streams and developments and aspirations for the future.
09:30-09:45 | Education Update
Matthew Barker - Education Officer
Matthew will provide an overview of the education elements over the past year, successes, next steps, and aspirations for ongoing success.
09:45-10:45 | Paul Hannaford
Paul Hannaford
Paul brings an extraordinary lived-experience perspective to #UKAFNPConf26.
A recovering heroin and crack cocaine addict and former gang member, Paul spent much of his life between the ages of 13 and 35 involved with drugs, gangs and the criminal justice system.
Now 19 years clean and sober, Paul has spent the past 15 years using his experiences to educate others. He has delivered drugs awareness education to around one million children and young people aged 8–18, as well as working with headteachers, doctors and police.
Paul strongly believes that every child deserves access to effective drugs awareness education and will bring a powerful perspective on addiction, vulnerability, offending and recovery.
10:45-11:15 | Morning Coffee Break
An opportunity to network with delegates, the steering group, speakers and exhibitors.
11:15-12:15 | Professor Robin Murray
Professor Robin Murray is Professor of Psychiatric Research at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience and a leading international researcher in psychosis.
His presentation will explore the relationship between cannabis and psychosis, including the evidence surrounding heavy and high-potency cannabis use, THC, genetic vulnerability and the risk and outcomes of psychosis.
Professor Murray will also consider the less frequently discussed relationship between cannabis, paranoia and violence, before exploring the challenges people with cannabis-induced psychosis can face when they fall between traditional mental health and addiction services.
Drawing on the work of a dedicated cannabis and psychosis clinic, he will discuss approaches to treating both psychosis and cannabis dependence.
13:15-14:15 | Expert Speaker Session #2
Mike Linnell - Public Health & Drug Information Specialist
Mike did his first degree in Fine Art and his Master's degree in Health Education. He has spent most of his career in the drugs and alcohol sector, doing everything from working in needle exchanges when they were still illegal in the UK, to managing research projects in Siberia. He has worked extensively with a range of groups and individuals from the most marginalised and stigmatised sections of society.
14:15-15:15 | Thomas Delaney
Thomas is a community development practitioner, researcher and public speaker whose work explores the intersection of trauma, substance use, stigma and recovery.
Drawing on both professional and lived experience, Thomas has spoken across educational, community and professional settings throughout the UK. His collaborations with organisations including the BBC, The Guardian and LADbible have also helped bring conversations about addiction, recovery, trauma and social inequality to wider audiences.
A First-Class Honours graduate in Community Development from the University of Glasgow, his work challenges deficit-based and dehumanising approaches to substance use and advocates for responses grounded in trauma-informed practice, compassion, evidence, dignity and connection.
Thomas is also the founder of YouthWISE – Empowering Youth, Inspiring Change, a trauma-informed social enterprise developing lived-experience-led drug education and wellbeing workshops.
His presentation will encourage us to look beyond labels and consider the wider social, psychological and structural factors influencing vulnerability, risk and recovery.
15:15-16:00 | Awards, Prizes and Closing Thoughts
- Presentation of The Julie Tekin Award
- Raffle Prize Drawers
- Finall reflections from Ms Jennie Smith - President
16:00 | Conference Closes
By attending this conference, you will:
- Enhance your knowledge: Develop a stronger understanding of substance misuse in forensic healthcare settings and how vulnerability shapes risk and clinical need.
- Learn from experts and lived experience: Hear from specialist speakers and people with lived experience to strengthen insight, empathy, and practice.
- Stay informed: Explore the evolving drug landscape across the UK, including emerging trends, patterns of harm, and implications for custody and SARC.
- Strengthen your clinical practice: Apply learning to real-world challenges such as intoxication, withdrawal, risk assessment, safeguarding, and referral decision-making.
- Challenge stigma and improve care: Reflect on language, bias, and stigma — and how these can influence clinical decisions and patient experiences.
- Network with peers: Connect with forensic nurses, paramedics, colleagues, and partner agencies working at the intersection of health and justice.
Expect sessions and discussion across topics such as:
- The current UK drugs landscape: trends, emerging substances, polydrug use, and changing patterns of harm
- Understanding addiction: dependence, recovery, relapse, and what “evidence-based” support looks like in forensic settings
- Vulnerability in custody and SARC: trauma, exploitation, safeguarding, homelessness, and barriers to care
- Challenging stigma: language, attitudes, and reducing exclusion from healthcare pathways
- Drug-induced psychosis and acute presentations: assessment, risk, differential considerations, and safe management
- Lived experience: what people need from custody/SARC healthcare — and what good looks like
- Pathways and partnership working: improving continuity of care, referral routes, and multi-agency responses
Who should attend?
This conference is designed for professionals working in (or alongside):
- Police custody healthcare
- SARC services
- Liaison & diversion/crisis and mental health services
- Ambulance services / urgent care settings
- Substance misuse services and safeguarding teams
- Health, justice, and partner agencies supporting vulnerable people
Tickets and membership
Tickets: £70 for UKAFNP members and £100 for non-members.
Non-members can join UKAFNP and access the discounted ticket immediately.
Eastwood Hall,
Nottingham
- Address: Mansfield Road, Eastwood, Nottingham, NG16 3SS
- Telephone: 01773 532 523
- Website: www.eastwood-hall.co.uk
- Email: eastwood.enquiries@thevenuescollection.co.uk
We will update delegates on any available discounts.
feedback from Previous Conferences
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
As we prepare for our much-anticipated annual conference, we are delighted to share that we have a range of sponsorship opportunities available for businesses and organisations interested in supporting our event and connecting with our diverse community of forensic nurses, paramedics and midwives.
By sponsoring, you will not only support the continued growth and development of the forensic healthcare community in the UK but also have the opportunity to showcase your products, services, and commitment to the field.
To learn more about these sponsorship opportunities or to discuss a tailored package that suits your needs, please contact us at contact@ukafnp.org. We would be more than happy to assist you in finding the perfect fit for your company.