SoHPS Annual Conference

1st Society of Health Play Specialists Conference

Friday 21st June 2024, UCLH Education Centre, Euston Road, London, NW1 2PG

Conference sponsored by Rescape Health

Theme: Celebrating our Profession

SoHPS Registrants £70

Non SoHPS Registrants £85

Students £50

2023 Innovation and Creativity in Play speakers:

• Key Note Speakers; Kate Pye, Krutika Pau, Adrian Voce & Irene O’Donnell who will be delivering the keynote on the NHS England and Starlight Children’s Foundation Taskforce project
• Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: Paediatric Screening – new play specialist approach
• Leeds Children’s Hospital: ‘upporting children and young people in the transition from liquid to table medication
• Moorfield Eye Hospital: Being playful in eye and vision research
• UCLH: Can play preparation be delivered virtually in the long term now the COVID-19 pandemic is over?
• P. Perez-Duarte Mendiola: Improving patient experience around the world
• Charlotte Fairall: Sophie’s Legacy
• Spread a Smile: Therapeutic entertainment programme for improving patient experience

2022 Conference speakers

• Keynote Speaker: Kate Pye, Professional Lead of NHS England, Children & Young People; National Update and developing play services across the NHS
• Charlotte Fairall; Sophie’s Story, a mother’s campaign
• Melanie Peeke, ADHD and Autism Lead, ADD-Vance; One size doesn’t fit all, nuggets of knowledge about children with ASD and/or ADHD
• Victoria Kempster, Noah’s Ark Hospice; ‘Play: the Bigger Picture’
• Peg Belson Lecture: Frenchesca James-Young, Senior Youth Support co-ordinator & advanced South Youth Support Specialists, UCHL
• The OnWArd Programme – outreach service for the Wellbeing of Adolescents
• Lisa Beaumont and Tracey Martin, Leeds NHS and Sandra Gulyurtlu, Starlight Children’s Foundation; Virtual is the new reality. A study of the use and impact of VR in hospital procedures.
• Adrian Voce, Interim Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Starlight Children’s Foundation; A new framework for children’s healthcare: Challenges and opportunities for the health play community
• Paulina Perez Duarte Mendiola, Paediatrician, MSc Medical Anthropology & PhD Student; Children’s perspectives of Hospital Specialised Play Interventions

2021 – Virtual Conference speakers

• Irene O’Donnell & Charlotte Mayhew-Goodwin The UCLH virtual pre-assessment clinic; sharing the story of how a health play specialist adapter their role during covid
• Laura Walters – Director of Services, Update from Spread a Smile charity
• Paulina Pérez-Duarte Mendiola; Exploring the Power of ‘Play’ and the role of ‘Health Play Specialists’ in the United Kingdom
• Krutika Pau –Director of children’s services; Update from Starlight charity