Improving Outcomes in Talking Therapies

Improving Outcomes in Talking Therapies
£49+VAT 5 CPD Hours
Mercure Sheffield St Paul’s Hotel, 5 CPD Hours
Tue 15 Sep 2026 08:30-16:40

Now in its 13th year, this practical training day designed to equip you with ready-to-use strategies, actionable insights, and innovative approaches 

Whether you are a clinical lead, service manager, therapist, psychologist or transformation lead, this highly regarded annual educational forum is designed for you. Come together to network with your peers and explore the latest direction from NHS England, alongside practical strategies to implement AI and digital tools, better support neurodivergent clients, streamline assessments while supporting staff wellbeing, and improve client engagement and therapy outcomes. 

Sponsored by:

            

How to improve your service

Enhance your knowledge with expert led, structured NHS learning 

By focusing on experience and practical takeaways, this dedicated and interactive day will support you to improve your client pathways, and join peers from across the country to benchmark and explore how to: 

  • Improve patient retention and recovery rates through better assessments 
  • Reduce dropout rates and optimise client pathways 
  • Adapt therapy to meet neurodiverse client needs 
  • Streamline assessments and reduce waiting times 
  • Manage caseloads and prevent staff burnout 
  • Engage and retain younger clients effectively 
  • Implement AI and digital tools to improve outcomes 
  • Optimise group therapy for efficiency and impact

Education designed to inspire

Join your peers in Sheffield for a day of networking, learning and innovation

With a comprehensive and engaging agenda, interactive discussions and dedicated networking time, you and your team will have the opportunity to: 

  • Benchmark your approach nationally: understand how other services are meeting targets, offering support for staff, and managing caseloads
  • Engage in valuable peer discussions: share ideas on improving accessibility, meeting client needs and expectations
  • Advance your knowledge: gain insight on what digital tools are available, and how to best implement them into your service
  • Enhance your service: hear from experts on how to optimise different therapy approaches and successfully retain clients to improve outcomes

Meet your sponsors

SBK Healthcare would like to thank Psychology ToolsSilverCloud and Limbic for sponsoring this unique forum.

Opportunites to sponsor:

NHS Talking Therapies National Networking Forums enable providers of Talking Therapy technology and treatments to support healthcare professionals

If you would like to sponsor this forum please email Vanessa Pearce or call Vanessa on 01732 897788 to find out about all the engagement and branding opportunities available in the full sponsorship package.

8:30
Registration and networking opportunity
9:00
Welcome, introduction and chair’s opening remarks
Stephen Skinner, Service Development Lead, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
NHS England update
9:10
Meeting recovery rate targets: improving assessments and reducing in-pathway therapeutic attrition
  • Reframing the initial assessment process to clarify client expectations of your service
  • Practical tools in managing and reducing client dropout rates
  • Maximising budget allocations in your talking therapies service to improve client pathways and outcomes
9:35
Questions and answers with your speaker
Implementing AI and digital tools
9:45
How to effectively incorporate AI and digital tools, and elevate your service
  • Integrating AI and digital tools into your service to maximise therapeutic time
  • Supporting clients: digital safety tools and interventions during in-pathway waits
  • Evidence-based outcomes: evaluating the success of AI and digital tools in meeting KPIs
10:10
Questions and answers with your speaker
10:20
Sponsored presentation from Limbic
10:30
Sponsored presentation from SilverCloud
10:40
Questions and answers with your speakers
10:50
Networking and refreshment break
11:10
Interactive discussion: Implementing AI and digital tools in your NHS Talking Therapy service
  • What AI and digital tools are you currently using to support both your clients and your staff? What has worked well and what hasn’t?
  • What challenges have you faced in implementing digital tools (e.g. staff adoption, training, capacity or client accessibility)?
  • What tools or approaches are you looking to introduce in the future to improve both service efficiency and client support?
Adapting to support neurodivergence
11:30
Upskilling your team to support and manage neurodivergent clients in your service
  • Adapting your practice for clients with sensory needs to improve your therapeutic approach
  • How to manage expectations: ensuring that neurodivergent clients understand the role of your talking therapies service
  • Exploring multidisciplinary work across primary and secondary care, and talking therapies
11:55
Questions and answers with your speaker
12:05
Interactive discussion: Optimising your service for neurodivergent clients
  • How does your service manage neurodivergent client expectations?
  • What therapeutic approaches are available in your service to support your neurodivergent clients?
  • What changes would you make to ensure you can better support your neurodivergent clients in the future? What challenges could this pose?
12:25
Symposium Talk from Psychology Tools
12:50
Questions and answers with your speaker
1:00
Networking Lunch
Improving client engagement and therapy outcomes
2:00
Enhancing communication skills with clients aged 17-25 years to maximise therapeutic impact
  • How to adapt your communication and delivery style to align with young adult needs
  • Applying practical retention strategies through client-centred approaches
  • Understanding what young adult clients value in a talking therapy environment
2:25
Optimising the experience and outcomes of clients in your therapy groups
  • Taking different practical approaches: how to optimise group delivery and improve client outcomes
  • Utilising resources and promoting positive client experience within group therapy
  • How to maximise attendance and efficiency of group therapy within your service
2:50
Questions and answers with your speakers
3:00
Networking and refreshment break
Streamlining assessments and supporting wellbeing
3:20
Facilitating an efficient assessment process and cutting wait times
  • Identifying pressure points and bottlenecks within existing assessment pathways
  • Implementing practical strategies to improve assessments and wait lists
  • Maintaining a positive client experience whilst handling wait times
3:45
Handling caseloads, staff wellbeing and preventing burnout in your service
  • Maintaining boundaries whilst managing complex cases to ensure best possible care
  • Implementing practical steps to mitigate staff burnout within your service
4:10
Questions and answers with your speakers
4:20
Interactive discussion: How to prevent burnout and successfully handle caseloads
  • What are the biggest pressure points in your current pathways or caseloads, and how are you addressing them?
  • What practical changes have you made to improve assessment efficiency or reduce waiting times? What impact have they had?
  • How are you balancing service targets with staff capacity and wellbeing?
  • What approaches have been most effective in reducing burnout and supporting staff retention in your service?
4:40
Chair’s closing remarks and close of day

Refresh your approach

Chaired by Steve Skinner, Service Development Lead at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, this inspiring and practical day will share the latest updates, best practice and clear guidance on how to apply it. 

Steve Skinner

Service Development Lead
Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Call for speakers

If you would like to give a presentation and share your work or the work of your service at this in-person conference, we would be delighted to hear from you. 

To discuss speaking opportunities, please email the conference producer Erin Griffiths, or call Erin on 01732 897 788.

Expected attendees

This in-person conference is ideal for NHS professionals working closely in or with talking therapy services. This includes but is not limited to: 

  • Clinical leads 
  • Service managers/operational leads
  • PWP’s and senior level therapists
  • Mental health nurse specialists
  • Clinical supervisors 
  • Clinical psychologists
  • Counselling psychologists 
  • High intensity and CBT therapists 
  • Mental health practitioners 
  • Service transformation/improvement managers

Past attendee feedback

Delivering high-impact events for 13 years, this extensive range of talking therapies educational forums have received positive feedback from past attendees, who learn from both expert speakers, and each other with interactive discussions and dedicated networking time. This is what they have to say: 

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“Great events, informative with diverse topics”
- Making Space Charity, Warrington, Developments and Innovations in Talking Therapies National Networking Forum, September 2025
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“Very good update – some new ideas, mainly affirming that we are doing some really valuable work. Good to speak to other services and hear they have the same challenges”
- Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Trust, Developments and Innovations in Talking Therapies National Networking Forum, September 2025
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“It has been brilliant. Very inspirational, informative and interesting”
- Talk Plus, North Hampshire Urgent Care, Developments and Innovations in Talking Therapies National Networking Forum, September 2025
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“Very expertly facilitated, and a good mixture between talking and listening”
- Impact on Teesside, Talking Therapies Digital Tools: Expanding Access, October 2023
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“Had a very informative day and really enjoyed the reflection. Also, meeting with such a variety of professionals has been really valuable”
- VitaMinds, Talking Therapies Best Practice Networking Conference, April 2023

Pricing structure

  • £49 + VAT - NHS, Public Sector or Charity

SBK Healthcare is charging the nominal attendance fee of £49+VAT to ensure attendance. If you are in a situation where you do not have the funding, but would like to attend, please do contact Grace Hillery on 01732 897788.

Commercial companies are invited to attend and sponsor this day. Please contact Vanessa Pearce on 01732 897788 for further details.

Venue Details

Venue name: Mercure Sheffield St Paul’s Hotel
Address: 119 Norfolk street, S1 2JE SHEFFIELD, United Kingdom 
Tel: 0114 278 2000

Email: H6628@accor.com

 

By train:

Sheffield Railway Station is only half a mile, 5 minute walk or 1 minute taxi from the hotel.

 

By car:

Mercure St Paul's Hotel is on junction 33 on the M1 is 6.6 miles or 20 minute drive.

*Please note there is no on-site parking at the hotel

 

A discounted rate available at the following two car parks:

 

Arundel Gate Car Park

Address: 11A Arundel Gate, Sheffield City Centre, S1 2PN

Location: 200 metres from the hotel or a 3 minute walk. To drive to the car park, you will need to follow the road round, taking between 6-12 minutes traffic depending

Payment details:

  • Full price is approx. £23 per day, however there is a hotel guest discount of 50% (approx. £12.50 for 24 hours)
  • Pay to park with your phone via the RingGo App 
  • Once registered please enter the hotel discount code: 45125 
  • Ensure you give your car registration number to a member of the front desk team 
  • Please note that the ticket for this car park is for single use only, and you will not be able to use the same ticket for re-entry

 

Q Park on Charles Street 

Address: 72 Charles St, S1 2NJ

Location: 200 metres from the hotel or a 3 minute walk. To drive to the car park, you will need to follow the road round, taking between 8-12 minutes traffic depending

Payment details:

  • Full price is approx. £22 per day, however there is a hotel guest discount of 50% (approx. £15.75 for 24 hours)
  • To book your discounted parking, use the following link: https://www.q-park.co.uk/en-gb/cities/sheffield/charles-street/
  • Once registered please enter the discount code: MHCS25 
  • We recommend that you book this parking in advance

What happens next?

Once you have booked your place, SBK Healthcare will correspond with you using the email address you provided at the time of booking and you will be sent a formal confirmation. If you have not received this within 48 hours of making your booking please check your junk folder and then email bookings@sbk-healthcare.co.uk or call 01732 897788

Approximately one week prior to the conference you will be sent an email which will include all the final details for attendance on the day, including a final agenda and venue information. 

Please inform us by writing to bookings@sbk-healthcare.co.uk if you have any special dietary or other requirements.

You can reserve a no-obligation place whilst you apply for funding

If your funding has not yet been secured or you would like to hold your place with no obligation whilst waiting for your study leave to be approved, you can reserve your place with us. Please email the reservations team at SBK Healthcare with your details:

  •  Booking contact: name, job title, department, email and telephone number
  •  Event(s) to reserve for: title and date
  •  Delegate details (for each delegate): name, job title, department, email and telephone number
  •  Organisation details: name and address

Alternatively you can make a confirmed booking by emailing the above information to the bookings team

Registration fees

You will be sent an instant payment option or invoice on registration. Your payment is required in advance. If your fee has not been received prior to the event, and you are not able to provide a PO or proof of payment, you will be asked to make a credit or debit card payment on the day.

Modify registration

To let us know if your details are not correct when you have already registered, please email bookings@sbk-healthcare.co.uk.

Cancellations and substitutions

A full refund of fees will be made only for cancellations received within the first 48 hours of the booking being made. Notice of cancellation must be received in writing by emailing the bookings team at SBK Healthcare. Should you need to cancel your registration after this date, the registration fee remains payable in its entirety although a substitution will be accepted and conference documentation will be provided. Substitution attendees for delegates unable to attend after registering are acceptable at any time.

Conference changes

It may be necessary for reasons beyond the control of the conference organisers to alter the content, speakers or the timing of the programme. We will endeavour to keep you abreast of such changes but any unavoidable change to the format will not constitute a reason to refund the fee. Should the event be postponed, we will endeavour to reschedule the event. If, for reasons beyond the control of the conference organiser, the event is cancelled, a full refund will be made. We do not accept any liability for any incurred costs resulting from a postponement or cancellation.

Certificate of attendance

A certificate for Continuing Professional Development will be given to every attendee, as a record of continuing professional training and development.

Privacy notices

To view the details on how your data is being collected and used, please view our Privacy policy.

Industry partners...

SilverCloud by Amwell a leading provider of evidence-based digital mental and behavioural healthcare solutions. Supporting 80% of NHS Talking Therapies Services, with up to 70% clinical recovery rates.


Psychology Tools is a global resource trusted by mental health professionals, offering evidence-based tools across a wide range of therapeutic approaches and conditions.

Limbic is the first UKCA-marked clinical assessment support tool for IAPT. Across 21 services, Limbic consistently frees up staff time, reduces costs, and improves patient experience and accessibility. Find out more from our founder, Dr Ross Harper on ross@limbic.ai.

Why sponsor?

We believe in knowing our customers and working with them in tandem to create strategic and well-conceived solutions that provide all the necessary sales and marketing levers to achieve their objectives and deliver the required level of engagement across the event. It is widely accepted that sponsorship provides a great means of broadening your competitive edge by improving your company’s image, prestige and credibility. Aside from enhancing visibility and image it provides a level playing field.

Your event, managed by us

SBK Healthcare also provides in-house forums. Working closely with you as the client we can research, produce, market and deliver the conference or online forum that best suits the audience and meets your goals.

Reach out today

If you would like more information on our sponsorship options an in-house forum or if you wish to discuss your needs and what solutions may be appropriate for your business, please contact:


Vanessa Pearce
Contact: 01732 897788
Email: vanessa.pearce@sbk-healthcare.co.uk