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Practical Update on Child and Adolescent Mental Health 2025
Broadcasting live online on Tuesday 4, Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 March 2025
- Aimed at Consultants, Registrars and Staff Grades working in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Paediatrics.
- Format: Short theory lectures followed by interactive Q&A sessions
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RCPCH has approved this activity for CPD in accordance with the current RCPCH CPD Guidelines
Certificate available for 18 study hours
THURSDAY 4 MARCH 2025 - The link between Physical and Mental Health
09:20 - 09:30
Welcome and introduction
Mr Jack Hodson
Online and IT Services Manager, Infomed Online
09:45 - 10:30
Endocrinology 1 - The management of Eating Disorders
Dr Ian Rodd
Consultant Paediatrician, Royal Hampshire County Hospital
- Increased rates and differential diagnosis during Covid
- Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder, ARFID
- Practical management and the risk of refeeding syndrome
- Controversies regarding hospital admission
10:30 - 10:35
Screen Break
10:25 - 11:20
Endocrinology 2 - The medical late effects of Eating Disorders
Dr Ian Rodd
Consultant Paediatrician, Royal Hampshire County Hospital
- Diabetes and mental health
- Common growth and pubertal problems
- Fertility
- Bones osteoporosis
11:20 - 11:45
Break
11:45 - 12:30
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome(ME/CFS) and Long Covid in children and young people- update and practical tips
Dr Terry Segal
Consultant in General Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University College London Hospital
- Common presentations and investigations
- On the path to recovery – setbacks/relapses
- CBT – anxiety or low mood or difficulty with change
- When to refer to the neurologist
12:30 - 13:15
Haematology
Dr Suhas Hydros
Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, St George’ Hospital, London
- Red and white cells and mental health
- Sickle cell disease and Thalassemia and the challenges for the psychiatrist
- Depression and anxiety secondary to hematologcial malignancies
- Multidisciplinary and psychological interventions for the chronically ill child
13:15 - 14:00
Lunch break
14:00 - 14:45
Neurology
Dr Rachel Howells
Consultant Paediatrician in Acute Paediatrics / Neurology
Royal Devon University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,
- Epilepsy and pseudoseizures
- Headaches and migraine
- Impact of psychiatric medications
- When to refer to the neurologist
14:45 - 15:30
The link between mind and body presentations
Dr Naomi Phillips
- Making sense of Functional Neurological Disorder
- Potential overlap with other disorders, diagnosis, and treatment avenues
- The window of tolerance and “body up” strategies for emotional regulation
- Reflective practice groups for physical health teams
15:30 - 16:00
Break
16:00 - 16:45
Emotion dysregulation and personality disorders
Dr Alessio Bellato
Lecturer in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, School of Psychology, University of Southampton,
Honorary Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Nottingham Malaysia.
- The origin of emotion dysregulation
- The link with emerging BPD
- The link with neurodevelopmental disorders
- Prevention and early intervention
16:45 - 17:30
Sexual Health
Dr Alex Edwards
Community Sexual and Reproductive Health, The Wolverton Centre, Kingston Hospital NHS Trus)
- Puberty and mental health
- Menstrual cycle and teenage pregnancy – effects on mental health
- Contraception
- STDs – risk management, common and uncommon manifestations, where to send them next
WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2025 - Lessons, opportunities and challenges ahead for your clinical practice.
09:45 - 10:30
Digital technology and mental health
Dr Mariana Pinto Da Costa
Senior Lecturer, Consultant Psychiatrist, Department of Psychological Medicine,
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London
- The new opportunities
- Telehealth to monitor mental health and deliver care
- Electronic health records, electronic prescription, sensors, smartphone apps, robots.
- Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
10:30 -11:15
Working with families who have complex trauma
Dr Nicola Cosgrave
Consultant Clinical Psychologist, National & Specialist CAMHS, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- Child maltreatment and its impact on child mental health and development
- Attachment focused interventions
- Adaptations to clinical practice
11:15 - 11:45
Break
11:45 - 12:30
Ethnicity and mental health inequalities:
Dr Alice Debelle
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
- Lessons from the pandemic
- Barriers to accessing mental health care
- Ethnic differences in psychiatric diagnoses
- Risk of suicide in children from ethnic minorities
12:30 - 13:15
Education and Mental Health
Dr Carlos Hoyos
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
- The interaction between education and mental health
- Non-attendance and risk of self-harm and suicidal ideation
- The impact of mental health problems on school attainment
- The need for an effective link between schools and mental health services
13:15 - 14:00
Lunch Break
14:00 - 15:00
The relevant Medico Legal issues
Dr Catherine Wills
Medico Legal Advisor, MDU Services Limited
15:00 - 15:15
Break
15:15 - 16:00
Legal frameworks in child and adolescent mental health
Dr Suyog Dhakras
Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Southampton Specialist Community CAMHS
- Updates on legal aspects in CAMHS
- Legal frameworks for eating disorders
- Legal frameworks for intellectual disabilities and autism
- Managing complex cases in Emergency Department
16:00 - 16:45
Child and adolescent mental health The challenges ahead
Dr Valeria Parlatini
Associate Professor/Hon Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
University of Southampton/Solent NHS Trust
- Lessons learned from the Covid pandemic
- New opportunities and challenges in clinical practice
- Moving forward
THURSDAY 6 MARCH 2025 - Advances in managing ADHD
09:30 - 10:15
ADHD and ASD
Prof. Emily Simonoff
Professor of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Head of Department Director,
King’s Maudsley Partnership for Children and Young People, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience,
King's College London.
- Differential diagnosis and co-comorbidities – the dilemmas
- Associated mental health issues
- Treatment plans
- Practical cases and how they are being managed
10:30 -11:20
Dilemmas on clinical assessments
Dr Violeta Perez Rodriguez
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- When parents and teachers have different views
- Screening measures and parents’ narratives – the discrepancies
- Benefits and pitfalls of school observations
- Children with complex social background
11:00 - 11:30
Break
11:30 - 12:15
TICS and Tourette's syndrome and ADHD
Dr Holan Liang
Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Honorary Associate Professor,
UCL Developmental Neuroscience Research and Teaching Department
- Tics, Tourette’s syndrome and functional tics
- What movements may be confused with tics?
- Common co-morbidities
- Initial assessment, management and treatment
12:15 - 13:00
ADHD in the child with intellectual disability
Dr Matthew Fernando
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- Diagnosis in children with moderate/severe disability
- The non-verbal child
- Multiple morbidities – multiple challenges
- Medication trial and sensitivity to side effects
13:00 - 13:45
LUNCH
13:45 - 14:30
ADHD and the looked after/abused child
Dr Rani Samuel
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- Biological aspects and social context in symptom manifestation
- Effects of exposure to drugs/alcohol in pregnancy
- Assessing the impact of early life adverse experiences
- Abuse as cause or effect of ADHD
14:30 - 15:15
Dilemmas on stimulant treatment
Prof Sam Cortese
Professor of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Southampton
- The challenges
- Children with personal/family history of cardiac abnormalities
- Drug of abuse and stimulants
- When stimulants are not the right medication
15:15 - 15:45
BREAK
15:45 - 16:30
Transition - the challenges
Dr Nicoletta Adamo
Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (
- Evolution and persistence of ADHD in adulthood
- Importance of transition
- Options and key issues with transition
- When it is a good time to plan transition
Course director
Dr Valeria Parlatini
Dr Valeria Parlatini is an associate professor and honorary consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Southampton/Solent NHS Trust. Her research aims at the identification of predictors of mental health outcomes that can be used to personalise and improve clinical care, especially for children and adults with ADHD.
During her PhD in Biological Psychiatry at King’s College London, she investigated predictors of treatment response in adult ADHD, primarily using neuroimaging techniques. As an appreciation of her research, she received three international awards, including the Young Scientists Award at the World Congress on ADHD.
During her clinical lectureship at King’s College London and Maudsley Hospital, she was awarded the Academy of Medical Sciences Starter Grant to carry out epidemiology research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and young people under CAMHS.
Faculty members
Dr Joanna Begent
Paediatrician with special interests in Adolescent Medicine
Dr Alessio Bellato
Lecturer in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, School of Psychology, University of Southampton,
Honorary Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Nottingham Malaysia.
Prof Sam Cortese
Professor of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Southampton University
Dr Nicola Cosgrave
Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Director, London Infant Family Team, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Alice Debelle
Consultant Child and Adolescent, Psychiatrist, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Suyog Dhakras
Suyog is a Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist working in Southampton at the Brookvale Adolescent Service (for 14-18 years). He leads the provision of assertive outreach and intensive community packages of care for young people with acute and severe mental illness. Suyog also works as Consultant to the Local Authority through the BRS, which is a multi-agency service for children in care who need coordination of the multi-agency input due to their complex needs. As a part of this work, Suyog also leads the Forensic Community CAMHS Project for Southampton City and the New Forest. He is the Training Programme Director for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Specialty Training Rotation across the Wessex region (Wessex Deanery).
Dr Alex Edwards
Community Sexual and Reproductive Health, The Wolverton Centre, Kingston Hospital NHS Trust
Dr Matthew Fernando
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Dr Ruchika Gajwani
Senior Research Fellow in Clinical Psychology/Honorary Clinical Psychologist, School of Health & Wellbeing | Academic CAMHS, University of Glasgow
Dr Rachel Howells
Consultant Paediatrician in Acute Paediatrics / Neurology, Royal Devon University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Nicoletta Adamo
King's College London
Dr Suhas Hydros
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, National & Specialist Paediatric Liaison Team, St Thomas Hospital, London
Dr Holan Liang
Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Honorary Associate Professor, UCL Developmental Neuroscience Research and Teaching Department
Dr Jackie Phillips-Owen
CAMHS, Leader of project linking school and Mental Health Services
Dr Omer Moghraby
Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Lead Clinician at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Mariana Pinto Da Costa
Senior Lecturer, Consultant Psychiatrist, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London
Dr Ian Rodd
Consultant Paediatrician, Royal Hampshire County Hospital
Dr Violeta Perez Rodriguez
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Rani Samuel
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Terry Segal
Consultant in General Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University College Hospital
Prof Emily Simonoff
Professor of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Head of Department Director, King’s Maudsley Partnership for Children and Young People, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London
Dr Jenny Taylor
Jenny is the Assistant Director for Clinical Practice in the London Borough of Southwark Children & Families Service. She is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years experience leading NHS and local authority clinical services within CAMHS, Children’s Social Care, Youth Justice, and the CYP Secure Estate, and is the lead developer of the STAIRS framework used in a number of local authorities and in the secure estate. In her current role she oversees clinical staff embedded within each social work and management team throughout Southwark’s Children & Families department; social work staff embedded within SLAM inpatient units; and the Pause project for women who have had their children removed, as well as helping ensure NHS and private mental health providers are working well with the local authority to meet the needs of Southwark’s children. She is Southwark’s Virtual Mental Health Lead for our Looked After Children. Jenny is also twice Past Chair of the British Psychological Society’s Division of Clinical Psychology.
Dr Catherine Wills
Medico Legal Advisor, MDU Services Limited
Aimed at
Aimed at Consultants, SAS, STs working in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Paediatrics.
About the course
This must attend Infomed online course has been organised in response to calls and suggestions from many child and adolescent psychiatrists and paediatricians who have attended the paediatric mental health and child and adolescent psychiatry updates in the last few years, and are now in need of an update targeting the multifaceted needs of their professions. When we first ran this course last April, it had excellent feedback from delegates. This three-day comprehensive online course, under the direction of Dr Valeria Parlatini, comprises a faculty of top experts, who are recognised nationally and internationally
The course will run over three days:
- The first day will address the link between physical and mental health and the management of mental health problems in the context of complex medical conditions or disabilities.
- The second day will focus on the post Covid implications for child and adolescent mental health, and changes in clinical practice.
- The third day will be dedicated to advances in our understanding and management of ADHD, one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders.
By the end of the course, you will have:
- A better understanding of the link between physical and mental health conditions and more confidence in the management of mental disorders in children with complex medical problems.
- A clear insight into post-pandemic changes in clinical practice and a sense of direction on how clinical services are evolving.
- A deeper awareness on how ADHD may present in the context of complex comorbidities or challenging social context, and more confidence in its management.
Feedback comments from this course in 2024
- Excellent choice of topics. addressed most needs/burning topics, lots of learning points for me.
- Very good variety of topics, very informative and relevant to my field of work
- Good breadth of topics to connect the work of Paediatricians and CA Psychiatrists, very well organised IT and using Slido was particularly good
- Great and wide range of content, thank you, I achieved lots
- I value the range of topics covered, the level of technical support, attending virtually (allows for other commitments and reduces costs).
- Very helpful, informative lectures and well delivered; lots of use of media, audience participation and very well organised
- I feel I have learnt many new and interesting perspectives and have gained expert knowledge to implement in my daily work to aid patients in the best way possible
- This consolidates and updates knowledge allows for how to better work with colleagues in other relevant professional areas
- Very useful , informative sessions from experts, a very significant effect – will be shared with other members of our team
- Good time keeping, clear slides and knowledgeable speakers, good breaks and good level of content…and Online
- This course gave me a much better understanding of the current issues and interplay between paediatrics and mental health, feel more able to consider these in clinic.
- A very good range of rarely covered and very relevant subjects.
- Very good, I enjoyed interactive polling, thanks to the tech team
- Good streaming service, very user friendly and good explanation given pre course by Infomed
- The streaming platform used is very good, the technical support relating to the course was effective and efficient and I particularly valued coverage/content
- Very useful clinical updates and information about specialist topics that provides me with a very helpful opportunity to reflect on – thanks
- Very good course that helped me to improve my understanding of the interface of physical and mental health – very useful and not commonly covered
- This course will make me more aware of the psychological/psychiatric consequences of physical illnesses suffered by my patient group
- I’m nearing CCT and hoping to help develop our local adolescent service; I picked up very useful tips about service organisation and pathways from some of the speakers.
- Excellent coverage and achievement, a well-balanced and very interesting day.
- Good choice of relevant topics, excellent presentations and good sessions of Q&A
- Good online and concise course with a wide range of targeted topics and lots of learning points.
- The information provided was helpful and will further my clinical practice and help me understand the wider network better
- Definitely got some insight that will change my practice and my management in several types of cases.
- Good discussions on medications, research paper updates, not rushed and well compartmentalised topics and excellent speakers
- Very well organized online course with a wide range of useful topics and very knowledgeable speakers.
- Useful update with perfect organisation, knowledgeable and experienced lecturers
- A course with lots of practical topics and practical advice making a difference to practice
- The online format, the IT support, the choice of topics, the excellent presenters; all great and addressed my practical requirements for good medical practice
- This course will have significant impact on how do I assess young people, thinking about comorbidity, it will help my daily practice.
- Positive impact definitely, many learning points to implement in future practice.
When will I receive my course login?
We will contact you by email one week before the course takes place with all the necessary links and joining information.
We will re-send the links the day before the course.
If you have not received an email from us please contact us at webinars@infomedltd.co.uk and we will respond ASAP.
Will I need any special software to partake?
NO. Infomed shall provide you, upon registration a link to stream the course within your web browser, or you can download a small application to run it as a separate window on your computer. If you would prefer a mobile device, we shall also include a link download an app from the Play Store/App Store.
Can I interact with the speakers?
YES! It is very much encouraged. There will be Q&A sessions chaired by Infomed. You can type your questions in the ‘chat’ facility and they will be put to the speakers.
How I do access my catch-up & CPD certificate?
You can find your catch-up in your account page.
At the end of the catch-up page you will find a link to the feedback form, which will generate your CPD certificate when you submit your feedback.
If the catch-up is not visible in your account, please contact us and we will amend your account ASAP.
How to connect to a live online course
Using the short videos below, we shall guide you through the process of joining a meeting using Webex.
If joining from your own computer
If you are connecting from your own device then it is likely that you will be able to join via the Webex application.
If joining from a trust/institution computer
However, if you are using a computer that is owned and restricted by your trust, then you may find it easier to join via your web browser. Please see the second video for guidance on this process.
Joining Webex using the application on your PC or Mac
Joining Webex using your web browser
I've connected to a course but can't hear anything
When you connect to a course you should see some introductory slides and hear music.
If you cannot hear any music please check you are connected to the audio.
At the bottom of the webex meeting you may see a button that says “Connect to audio”.
Click this and then select “Use computer for audio” in the pop-up box.
If you have connected by a browser you may need to give your browser access to your microphone in order to connect to the audio.
Click the padlock in the top left of your browser and make sure microphone access is allowed
If this does not resolve your issue please email us or call us on 0204 520 5081
What do I need to join a course?
To join an Infomed Online course you simply need an internet connection and a browser (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari).
You can also connect from a mobile device: Download the Webex Meetings app from your App Store.
To join a course with a smooth experience, your internet connection must be stable, not connected to a VPN and at least 20Mbps download.
Below you can use the tool to run an internet speed test.
You must test from:
- — the location that you intend the see the course from;
- — withing the location, if using Wi-Fi, the room or department area that you intend to view the course from to ensure a good signal
- — if connecting from home, a computer that is not connected to a workplace VPN
Speed test
Internet Speed Test
Please test your connection speed at www.fast.com
To join a course with a smooth experience, your internet connection must be stable, not connected to a VPN and at least 20Mbps download.
Course benefits
- Live online access
- Fee includes 90 days of access with unlimited playback during this time.
- CPD Certificate of attendance upon completion with up to 18 CPD points
- Opportunity to interact, ask questions directly to the faculty.
Early bookers rates:
(until 8 January 2024):
One day: £195
Two days: £325
Three days: £475
Standard rates:
One day: £225
Two days: £355
Three days: £515
Fees include VAT