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Working Groups and What's Happening

Working Groups

The ABPN involves members in various Working Groups. These Working Groups aim to provide a focus on issues of interest both internally and externally to the Association. If you are interested in joining any of the Working Groups, please contact the respective individual by email as identified below.

An update of our Working Groups' activities is included in each ABPN newsletter
Enhancing Membership Working Group
The aim of this Working Group is to explore potential avenues to increase and retain members, developing potential member offers and promoting membership benefits.
Michael Tatterton, ABPN Fellow currently chairs the Working Group. Others involved include:
  • Fiona Smith, ABPN Fellow
  • Mary Brady, ABPN Membership Officer​
  • Teresa Tanner, ABPN Member
  • Zoe Warren, ABPN Member
  • Lucie Planner, ABPN Member
  • Jack Saunders, ABPN Member
  • Belinda Chideme, ABPN Member
  • Lynne Farley, ABPN Student Member
  • ​Emily Rayner, ABPN Student Member
If you're interested in anything about the Enhancing Membership Working Group, please contact Fiona.
Contact Fiona

Policy Development Working Group
The aim of this Working Group is to develop policy position statements and UK wide policy background briefings for members, proactively advising and informing members on policy and legal issues relevant to children’s nursing.
Katrina McNamara, ABPN Fellow currently chairs the Working Group. Others involved include:
  • Jean Davies, ABPN Chair and Welsh representative
  • Fiona Smith, ABPN Fellow 
  • Terri Salt, England representative
  • Ray McMorrow, England representative
  • ​Charlotte Yale, England representative
  • Jayne Price, NI representative
  • Patricia Coulter, NI representative
  • Liz Gillespie, Scottish representative​
  • Victoria Causer, Scottish representative
If you're interested in anything about the Policy Development Working Group, please contact Katrina.
Contact Katrina

Communications and Raising the Profile Working Group
The aim of the Working Group is to develop the communication strategy and work programme to increase the profile of the ABPN.
Fiona Smith, ABPN Fellow currently chairs the Working Group. Others involved include:
  • Nicola Fielding, Deputy Programme Lead (Child Health), University of Plymouth
  • ​Jessica Semedo, Roald Dahl Transition Nurse Specialist, Barts Health
  • Adaobi Okai, Student Nurse, University of Greenwich​
  • ​Lorraine Tinker, ABPN Member
  • Sherice Malcolm, Senior Lecturer and Children's Nursing Lead, University of West London and ABPN website Lead
  • Professor Bernie Carter, Edgehill University, President of ABPN and ABPN newsletter editor​​
If you're interested in anything about the Communications and Raising the Profile Working Group, please contact Fiona.
Contact Fiona

What's Happening?

Update on our Oral History Project

ABPN President Bernie Carter and ABPN Fellow Katrina McNamara handed over the Oral History Honouring Our Past project to Birmingham Children’s Hospital Librarian and Archivist Ann Daly in the peaceful garden outside Magnolia House at the Hospital on 29 July.
 
A huge thank you to all who have taken part in the National Lottery Heritage Fund funded project.  103 histories were recorded, covering over 37 centuries of children’s nursing history from all parts of the U.K. from the 1950s, through to those currently on educational programmes to become children’s nurses.  The overwhelming sentiment was one of pride in our profession and gratitude for the decisions that led them into nursing.
 
The project is lodged in the Library of Birmingham and you can listen to and read the stories. Click the link to go direct to the stories.
Link to the oral histories
85th Anniversary Tea Party celebrations
The Anniversary Tea Party on the 27th April 2023 was a great success creating an opportunity for guests from Scotland, Wales and England to share in our celebrations of 85 years of the ABPN advocating for children’s nursing education and children’s nursing.  Our guests included local dignitaries, members and ex-Officers of the Association. We were delighted to appoint eight Honorary Fellows. We thank Kyowa Kirin for their sponsorship of the event.
We are delighted to be able to share a short movie of the event.
​
You can read the Presidential Address (Prof Bernie Carter) and the Chair's Address (Caron Eyre).
Presidential News
Professor Bernie Carter 
was appointed President of the Association in March 2020. To read more ehu.ac.uk/5wx
​
Past activity
We were involved in undertaking a national survey of student nurses from across the UK who were currently studying to register as an RN (Child). This survey was linked to the Shape of Caring consultation and provided evidence to against the call for generic nurse training and the need for high quality education to specifically educate future nurses about caring for children, young people and their families.
The first paper published from this survey and associated work is:
Carter, B., Clarke, D., Crawford, D., Smith, F. (2015)
Generic training will not prepare nurses of right calibre to care for children and families. Nursing Children and Young People. 27, 6, 8-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.7748/ncyp.27.6.8.s8 Open access

We are active on social media contributing as individuals as well as with a collective voice. Join us and contribute to making change happen for education and training.  
Facebook:  ​https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064581944266
Adolescence Unfiltered: Tackling the Impact of Social Media on Young Minds
WEDNESDAY 16th SEPTEMBER 2026
VIRTUAL, Online
The rise of social media has dramatically altered the way young people experience the world. From toxic content that can be accessed in seconds to the pressure of influencer culture, adolescents are navigating an increasingly complex digital landscape. This conference brings together healthcare professionals, educators, and policymakers to explore the effects of social media on young minds and how we can support youth in a hyper-connected world.
Following recent concerns around online safety and mental health, the focus on addressing the risks posed by social media is becoming urgent. Attendees will learn how harmful content spreads among young people and practical strategies to support them through these challenges. The conference will examine topics such as body image, online radicalisation, addiction, and the parental disconnect in the digital age.
https://www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/virtual-online-courses/adolescence-unfiltered  or click on the title above or email emily@hc-uk.org.uk
Follow the conference on X @HCUK_Clare  #Adolescence

CAMHS National Summit


Transforming Mental Health Services for Children & Young Adults
THURSDAY 17th SEPTEMBER 2026
VIRTUAL, Online
This national conference focuses on transforming mental health services for children and young people. The conference will support you to improve prevention, access and early intervention, and develop integrated services with clear care pathways from first intervention to crisis and inpatient care. There will be an in-depth focus on how we can improve early intervention through mental health and wellbeing support in schools. The conference will develop your skills to improve outcomes and will include a focus on crisis management, co-production involvement of children and families in CAMHS, inter-agency working, management of online influence, and supporting children in transition to adult services.
https://www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/virtual-online-courses/camhs-national-summit   or click on the title above or email aman@hc-uk.org.uk
Follow the conference on X @HCUK_Clare  #CAMHS2026


Improving Services & Outcomes for Children and Young People who Self-Harm
FRIDAY 18th SEPTEMBER 2026
VIRTUAL, Online
Through case studies and expert advice this conference will explore how we can support people who self-harm by ensuring a compassionate approach, understanding the common causes and drivers, as well as developing safety plans with a path to recovery.
This conference focuses on improving services and outcomes for children and young people who self-harm. The event will look at the latest national developments in self-harm interventions including current initiatives to reduce the gap in service provisions. We will also learn from findings from a report into the influence of social media platforms on self-harm and the impact of the Online Safety Act.
https://www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/virtual-online-courses/self-harm or click on the title above or email aman@hc-uk.org.uk
Follow the conference on X @HCUK_Clare  #SelfHarm


The Coroner Role & Preparing for Coroner's Inquest: Learning from Deaths
FRIDAY 2nd OCTOBER 2026
Virtual Online
This virtual conference focus on the role of the Coroner and preparing and attending Coroner’s Inquests. The conference will also update delegates on the implications of the 2024 Death Certification Reforms and roles, responsibilities and information flows under the new system. From preparing for an inquest, to ensuring change occurs as a result of the prevention of future death reports and local learning the conference will provide an important update on the coroner role and inquest process.
For further information and to book your place visit
https://www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/virtual-online-courses/coroner-role  or click on the title above or email aman@hc-uk.org.uk
Follow the conference on X @HCUK_Clare  #CoronerRole



Nurse Prescribing in Paediatrics & Child Health
WEDNESDAY 7th OCTOBER 2026
VIRTUAL, Online
This important national conference provides an essential update for non medical prescribers in paediatrics and child health. Elevate your practice, expand your knowledge, and enhance your impact on the well-being of our youngest patients.
Through national updates and practical case studies delegates will hear how to develop and maintain prescribing competence and skills. The conference will examine current issues and challenges for nurse prescribers in paediatrics and child health. The conference will include an extended session focusing on maintaining and demonstrating prescribing competence using the National Framework for Prescribing, developing confidence in prescribing practice and maintaining safety.
For further information and to book your place visit
https://www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/virtual-online-courses/nurse-prescribing-paeds    or click on the title above or email aman@hc-uk.org.uk
Follow the conference on X @HCUK_Clare  #NMPPaeds



Violence Against Women and Girls Conference
Delivering the National Strategy
WEDNESDAY 14th OCTOBER 2026
VIRTUAL, Online
The Government’s new Violence Against Women and Girls strategy marks a clear shift: violence against women and girls is being treated as a national emergency requiring urgent, whole-system action. For those working with children and young people, this signals an immediate responsibility to strengthen prevention, safeguarding, and early intervention. The Violence Against Women and Girls Conference 2026 brings together those working with women and girls to examine what this strategy means in practice and how early action can help stop harm before it escalates.
https://www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/virtual-online-courses/violence-against-women-and-girls or click on the title above or email kerry@hc-uk.org.uk



IV Therapy Summit 2026
Improving Practice and Patient Safety
FRIDAY 23rd OCTOBER 2026
VIRTUAL, Online
The National IV Therapy Summit 2026 will focus on improving practice and patient safety in vascular access and intravenous infusion therapy across hospital, community, OPAT and Hospital at Home services. There will be a focus on implementing the 2026 National Standards for Vascular Access and Intravenous Infusion Therapy.  The National Infusion and Vascular Access Society (NIVAS) is introducing new UK standards in 2026, featuring over 150 evidence-based standards covering device selection, insertion, care, and complication management and expected to be published in July 2026. These standards provide an important opportunity for NHS organisations to review practice, improve consistency, strengthen governance and ensure staff are competent and confident in the safe delivery of IV therapy. The Summit will support delegates to understand the new standards, assess current practice, identify gaps, and develop practical approaches to implementation.
For further information and to book your place visit
https://www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/conferences-masterclasses/iv-therapy-summit-extravasation or click on the title above or email aman@hc-uk.org.uk
Follow the conference on X @HCUK_Clare  #IVTherapy 


Saving Young Lives
Preventing Suicide in Children and Young People
THURSDAY 12th NOVEMBER 2026
VIRTUAL, Online
Saving Young Lives: Preventing Suicide in Children and Young People will focus on the urgent national priority of reducing preventable deaths by suicide and improving mental health support for children, young people and families. The conference comes at a critical time. In May 2026, the Department of Health and Social Care launched a call for evidence to inform a new cross-government Mental Health Strategy for England, setting a clear direction towards prevention, earlier intervention, faster access and whole-system support. DHSC has highlighted the need to shift mental health care from crisis response to earlier, more proportionate help, with particular focus on children and young people, school and college-based support, community services, neurodivergent children and young people, and groups experiencing inequalities in access and outcomes.
https://www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/virtual-online-courses/preventing-suicide-in-young-people-children or click on the title above or email emily@hc-uk.org.uk
Follow the conference on X @HCUK_Clare  #savingyounglives

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Sepsis in Children and Young Adults
Suspected sepsis in under 16s: recognition, diagnosis and early management
THURSDAY 26th NOVEMBER 2026
VIRTUAL, Online
The NICE guideline for Suspected sepsis in under 16s: recognition, diagnosis and early management was released in November 2025. This timely conference focuses on early recognition and management of Sepsis in Children and Young Adults and will support you to improve practice and outcomes.
The conference will also cover the implementation of Marthas Rule in paediatrics.
For further information and to book your place visit
https://www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/virtual-online-courses/sepsis-in-children-and-young-adults  or click on the title above or email aman@hc-uk.org.uk


Mental Health Act 2025
Preparing for Implementation in Practice
FRIDAY 27th NOVEMBER 2026
VIRTUAL, Online
The Mental Health Act 2025 received Royal Assent in December 2025 and is now law. It amends the Mental Health Act 1983 and introduces the most significant reforms to mental health legislation in England and Wales for decades. The changes are designed to strengthen patient choice, autonomy and dignity; tighten the criteria for detention; improve safeguards around treatment; increase access to advocacy; and create a clearer legal framework for care, treatment planning and involvement of families, carers and nominated persons.
Implementation will be phased. Some provisions came into force in 2026, including changes affecting restricted patients and further provisions from April 2026 extending Human Rights Act duties to certain private care providers delivering NHS-funded mental health care. However, many of the major reforms will require secondary legislation, revised Codes of Practice, workforce preparation and service redesign before they are fully implemented.
https://www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/virtual-online-courses/reforming-the-mental-health-act  or click on the title above or email emily@hc-uk.org.uk

 
  • Home
  • Membership and enquiries
  • About Us
  • Our Newsletter
  • Webinars
  • Press Releases
  • Position Statements
  • Honorary Fellows of the ABPN
  • The Journal of Child Health Care
  • Working Groups and What's Happening
  • Key Documents, Policies and Resources
  • Discounts-Courses & Summits
  • Members Only Page
  • National Children's Nurses Day
  • ABPN Podcast
  • Blog