NEWS

Bild International PBS conference: Speakers and workshops

With three weeks to go until this year’s International Positive Behaviour Support Conference 2022 Co-production: Giving the Power back, we are looking forward to a fantastic programme of speakers and workshops. 

We are really excited for this year’s conference, with leading researchers, practitioners and experts by experience offering a varied, stimulating and informative range of keynotes and presentations exploring the theme of coproduction. The full programme, including all keynotes, presentations and workshops, is listed online.  

International Journal of Positive Behavioural Support Research Symposium 20th June 

The conference begins on Monday 20th with the International Journal of Positive Behavioural Support Research Symposium:  Co-production in PBS Research and Practice. Opened by Dr Anne MacDonald, Senior Teaching Fellow at University of Glasgow and New Senior Editor IJPBS and featuring speakers including Dr Joe Lucyshyn, Associate Professor at University of British Columbia and Associate Editor IJPBS, presenting on ‘PBS with families of diverse cultural backgrounds: The co-production of PBS planning,’ it promises to be an insightful afternoon considering co-production in research and practice.  

Spotlight on Tuesday 21st June 

The main conference opens on Tuesday 21st June with a keynote by Darren Bowring, Head of Children’s Health and Wellbeing for the Government of Jersey and Seema Islam, parent-carer and chair of the Parent Career Forum, setting the context for the day, ahead of a roundtable on PBS and Human Rights, led by Bild’s Professor Edwin Jones. 

Later in the morning Darren will speak alongside Lisa Clark, Samantha Jamieson and Matthew Protheroe of Sunderland People First and Andrew Smith from Sheffield Voices on ‘Developing a charter of co-production’ and Seema will later present on ‘Coproduction – moving from an afterthought to the first thought’ in the afternoon.  

We are also excited to share that Professor Edwin Jones and Val Kewley, expert by experience, will launch a new PBS resource – developed by Bild and the UK PBS Alliance – aimed at helping inspectors, practitioners, supported people and families identify how well PBS is being implemented in their session ‘What does good PBS look like now?’  

For the final speaker of the day, we are delighted that Dr Jill Bradshaw, Senior Lecturer in Intellectual and Development Disabilities at the Tizard Centre, University of Kent, will present on ‘The challenges of co-production for people with complex communication needs.’ 

Spotlight on Wednesday 22nd June 

Wednesday 21st June promises another day of thought-provoking presentations, opening with Emma Saysell, expert by experience and Bev Murphy, Head of Practice at United Response. This is followed by morning sessions including Dr Sheridan Forster exploring ‘Power sharing using video interactive guidance’ and Professor Peter McGill, Emeritus Professor at University of Kent, on Capable Environments.  

Amongst the afternoon speakers, Dr Rachel Freeman of the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota will present ‘Systems change – involving people with learning disabilities in leadership roles’.  

This is followed by Steve Wilson, Nurse at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust, Paul Flindell of North Somerset Community Partnership and Adelle Kennedy, Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist, with their thought-provoking presentation, ‘Whose quality of life is it anyway?’ 

As we move towards the close of the conference, we’re delighted that Emma Saysell, CEO of St David’s Hospice Care and Cormac Duffy, Clinical Lead at Stafford House, will present ‘To Co-produce or not to Co-produce, why is that even a question?’

Join us in Bristol this June, develop your skills and knowledge of co-production in PBS and meet others who can demonstrate how the process works, with a diverse range of people, families and services.  Book your place today. We look forward to seeing you there!