BISWG Annual Conference 2026

Event Notes:

This event will focus on acquired brain injury in marginalised groups and is kindly sponsored by Irwin Mitchell Solicitors.

Morning Session kindly Chaired by Professor Fiona Lecky, Clinical Professor / Hon. Professor / Hon. Consultant in Emergency Medicine, University of Sheffield / University of Manchester / Salford Royal Hospital, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Centre for Urgent and emergency care REsearch (CURE)

‘Understanding the needs of brain injury survivors within the margins of society and those that support them’
Steph Grant, Head Injury and Homelessness Group

‘Update on the NIHR Brain Injury and Social Care Incubator’
Professor Alyson Norman, Community Neuropsychology, Health & Wellbeing, Co Chair/Vice Chair/Chair, University of Plymouth/ Anchorpoint/UKABIF/Headway Somerset

‘Domestic abuse and brain injury: From research to practice’
Steffy Bechelet, Domestic Abuse and Brain Injury Researcher, Brainkind

‘Use and misuse: mental capacity, homelessness & multiple disadvantage’
Jess Harris, Senior Research Fellow, Health & Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King’s College London

‘When Families Become the Experts: Navigating Brain Injury, Military Trauma and Systems of Care‘
Kate England, Carer, Advocate, Military Brain Injury Campaigner, Military Advisor to the Concussion Legacy Foundation UK, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust Carer Governor

‘Acquired Brain Injury among Refugee Asylum Seeker and Migrant Communities’
Professor Andrew Bateman, Professor in Rehabilitation, University of Essex, Co Lead, NIHR Brain Injury and Social Care Incubator and Jo Hunt, Occupational Therapist 

Afternoon Session kindly Chaired by  Professor Nathan Hughes, Professor of Adolescent Health and Justice, Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield, Chair, Acquired Brain Injury Justice Network

‘Social Work and Alcohol Related Brain Injuries’
Kevin O’Keefe, Senior Social Work Practitioner, Brighton and Hove City Council and Jess Overton, Senior Social Work Practitioner, AMHP/ Practice Educator/ Best Interests Assessor, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

‘Understanding and Meeting the Support Needs of Unpaid ABI Carers (Family and Friends) of ABI Survivors’
Craig Andrews, PhD Researcher, University of Sheffield in the Department of Sociological Studies, Politics, and International Relations

‘Criminal Justice ABI Social Work’
Dr Caroline Bald, Lecturer in Social Work, The Open University and Teaching Fellow in Probation, University of Portsmouth

Closing Panel discussion

There is an exhibition running alongside this event