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AMBIT Conference: Minds in Crisis

Join us for the first AMBIT conference since 2017 as we explore 'Minds in Crisis'. Hear from global teams using AMBIT across mental health, education and social care, and be inspired by innovative responses to complex challenges.

About this conference

Our guest speakers, practitioners and leaders from AMBIT-influenced teams working across diverse settings in the UK and internationally, will share their experiences of 'minds in crisis' and the role AMBIT has played in shaping their responses.

The conference will explore systemic inequalities and epistemic injustice, creating space for reflective discussions about our responsibilities as practitioners in recognising, addressing and challenging these issues. There will also be opportunities to connect with and learn from others applying AMBIT in a range of contexts.

What is AMBIT?

AMBIT (Adolescent Mentalization-Based Integrative Treatment) is an approach that supports teams to build effective, joined-up systems of help around particularly vulnerable, excluded and underserved people.

It is often used with clients who may have little confidence or trust that services can help, and whose complex needs can involve multiple teams and professionals. Without clear coordination, this can feel confusing and overwhelming - both for practitioners and for the people they are trying to support.

AMBIT helps teams work more collaboratively and relationally, clarifying roles and strengthening shared ways of thinking so support is more coherent, humane and effective.

Why 'Minds in Crisis'?

From children, young people and adults experiencing growing social, mental health, physical health, educational or occupational pressures, to workers in helping services under increasing strain, and commissioners and policy-makers responding to funding cuts and political change, the AMBIT Programme regularly hears from teams working amid multiple ‘minds in crisis’.

Teams in the UK and worldwide describe how these crises are often shaped by wider challenges such as social inequity, environmental threats and increasingly polarised political and societal discourse. For AMBIT, these systemic pressures matter because of their impact on mentalizing — and therefore on the capacity of services, teams and networks to offer effective support.

Aims of this conference

  • To share learning between practitioners about AMBIT-influenced practice across a range of contexts.

  • To reflect on this learning can be applied within your own team’s practice.

  • To deepen awareness of, and capacity to respond to, systemic inequalities and epistemic injustice in work with children, young people, families and adults.

  • To build connections within the AMBIT Community of Practice to support the ongoing development of team-based work.

Who should attend?

This conference is suitable for anyone interested in using AMBIT to better understand and address the challenges teams face when supporting people with multiple needs, including those who may have developed adaptive mistrust in services.

It will be especially relevant for:

  • workers from existing AMBIT-influenced teams

  • practitioners and leaders who want to learn more about the AMBIT approach

  • teams working across health, social care, justice, education, community and voluntary sectors.

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