Designing for wellbeing and recovery

Work is continuing apace on the Government’s pledge to update mental health facilities across England from dormitory-style ward accommodation to single en-suite patient rooms.

With a host of projects underway or nearing completion, the spotlight is firmly on the impact of good design on wellbeing and recovery.

And you can find out more about the importance of the physical environment at the 2022 mental health & dementia facilities forum, to be held in the Cotswolds on 18-19 November.

To be held over two days; the annual event offers suppliers of specialist mental health and dementia products and services the opportunity to meet key decision-makers involved in the design and construction of health and care facilities.

Creating a productive networking environment through which delegates can create long-lasting business relationships; supplier and project delegate schedules are matched in advance to ensure their time at the event is maximised.

There are also three speaker sessions, with experts from the sector offering advice on making the most of what is a challenging marketplace.

This year the speakers include:

• Maarit Heinonen-Smith of IBI Group who will be giving an overview of the Heathlands Care Centre development in Berkshire, a first-of-a-kind local authority/NHS collaboration providing step-down and dementia care for older people
• Sean Taylor of BRE, who will be updating delegates on the newly-launched certification scheme for mental health building products
• Lesley Palmer and Martin Quirke from the University of Stirling, whose presentation will introduce EADDAT, a new tool to help people designing environments for dementia and ageing
• Maria Luigia Assirellifrom Floyd Slaski Architects who will be exploring the impact of design on people with autism
• Mark Nugent of Medical Architecture who will be comparing differences in the approach to mental health design in the UK and Canada, focusing in particular on whether single-storey developments really deliver the best outcomes

And this year’s event will have a focus on the patient experience, with a thought-provoking presentation from mental health service user and ‘expert by experience’, Nick Smith, who will be sharing his views on the impact of good design on recovery.

The event also includes a project delegates drinks/canapes networking reception and a gala dinner with after-dinner speaker.

There is still time to book your place at the event.

For more information visit the website at www.mhdf-forum.co.uk or call 020 8288 1080.