The North London Forensic Collaborative (NLFC) welcomed clinicians, researchers, trainees and healthcare professionals from across the collaborative's partner organisations to its annual Research Conference on the 13th of July 2026 online.

Our Clinical Research Group covered a diverse range of topics, showcasing innovative research that is helping to improve patient care, clinical practice and staff wellbeing across forensic mental health services.

One of the presentations, explored ‘Dot Counting’ a commonly used neuropsychological assessment tool, which showed that people with lower arithmetic ability may be more likely to be incorrectly classified, as providing invalid responses. The talk highlighted the importance of considering alternative explanations when interpreting assessment results.

The conference explored trauma through language and the impacts on interpreters’ psychological wellbeing in secure and mental health settings, which found that resilience and coping strategies play a key role, along with access to psychological resources for interpreters regularly exposed to traumatic material. 

Attendees highlighted their appreciation of hearing first hand research, in-depth thought-provoking presentations, and how the conference welcomed open discussion on complex topics in a comfortable and safe space.

Across the event, presenters showcased how research can directly inform clinical decision-making and strengthen service delivery. Colleagues across the Collaborative engaged in discussion and shared ideas about translating research findings into practice. Attendees also had the opportunity to listen to a study which evaluated the reliability and predictive validity of the structured assessment tool DUNDRUM-1, in admission decisions within forensic services, as well as experiences of healthcare professionals in discussing sexual safety with service users with learning disabilities.

“It was inspiring to see the power of collaboration come to life, with colleagues sharing research, exchanging ideas, and driving innovation together. The energy throughout the conference made it an exciting milestone for the North London Forensic Collaborative, and we are already looking forward to the conference next year.” (Dr Filipa Alves Costa, Dr Nicholas Stokes, Dr Stefano Belli)

The conference reaffirmed NLFC's commitment to fostering a strong research culture across its partner organisations, helping teams develop evidence-based approaches, challenge assumptions and ensure services continue to evolve in response to the needs of patients and staff.

We look forward to welcoming colleagues back next year to see how these projects continue to shape practice and inspire future research across the collaborative.

The Clinical Research Group