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.
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.