DIMHN WORKSTREAMS


up’ of the testing. However, during August, a group had met in Watford to undertake what the team members dubbed ‘testing the test’. i.e. assessing the test rigs and test methods BRE currently has, and any ‘gaps’ in tools, test regulations, and test procedures in need of resolution prior to opening the doors for testing. The opportunity was also taken to train some of the test engineers on some of the ‘ligature ingenuity’ employed within mental healthcare environments. Philip Ross, and the BRE’s lead author on the guidance, Richard Hardy, had also hosted a joint webinar (visit www.designinmentalhealth.com/previous- webinars/ to view it) explaining ‘the motivation’ behind it – ‘how it can foster the next generation of innovation, and facilitate safer, and better, recovery-led designs’. It was hoped that manufacturers would be able to begin submitting products for testing and certification with BRE by the end of 2020; a number had already expressed interest. It had also been agreed that in recognition of its contribution to the guidance’s development, the DiMHN would receive a financial contribution from every test undertaken.


Next annual event this June The next report was from Conference & Exhibition Workstream lead, Jenny Gill – who explained that having initially postponed the 2020 DIMHN Conference


Philip Ross, who leads the Network’s Testing & Innovation Workstream, and became DiMHN chair at the 2020 AGM, reported on the successful launch of the ‘Informed choices’ testing guidance and certification scheme, a joint initiative with BRE. He also reported on editorial and marketing activity.


& Exhibition from June to last November, it was subsequently decided that, due to the pandemic, the annual event would now not take place until 9-10 June 2021, again at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena. While an unprecedented number of entries to the 2020 Awards had been received, the judging did not take place. However, invited to join the existing judges to whittle


down the entries – which will be carried forward to 2021, were architect, Paul Yeomans, Victoria Jordan of Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, Mark Reed of Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Trudi Beswick, and architect, Neil Orpwood. The Conference & Exhibition Group was now busy planning the June 2021 event, with much of the


18


JANUARY 2021 | THE NETWORK


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