Speakers at the mhdf forum

Fraser Smith
Policy Lead (Ethical Commissioning) | Scottish Care

'Prioritising Human-Centred Design in Scotland: An Ethical Approach'

An outline of the innovations in human-centred design across the Scottish adult social care sector, alongside the current barriers and opportunities for upscaling such design.

This will include the current fiscal, statutory and regulatory context in Scotland, and recent efforts to imbed such design as part of an ‘ethical approach’ to service design and delivery

Jaime Bishop & Kai Xin Tan
Director & Associate | Fleet Architects Ltd

'Subtle Intervention, Systemic Improvements: Rethinking what’s possible in existing mental health wards'

The refurbishment and extension of the CAMHS Unit at Berrywood Hospital, Northampton, explores how small yet strategic architectural interventions can have a meaningful impact on mental health care environments. The design combines a sensitive retrofit with a modest new extension for art and education spaces, creating a calm, light-filled setting that supports recovery and self-expression. The project focuses on choice, dignity, and wellbeing, offering a range of spaces that balance privacy and community- demonstrating how thoughtful design, even within the constraints of existing NHS estates, can deliver spaces that are both practical and deeply human.

Maria Luigia Assirelli
Director | Floyd Slaski Architects

'Mental Health Urgent Emergency Centre'

This presentation explores the lessons learned from an extensive co-production process to define the requirements and brief for mental health urgent and emergency care environments. It reflects on how collaborative engagement with clinicians, service users, and operational teams revealed key priorities around safety, dignity, and therapeutic experience. Drawing on evidence-based practice and comparative insights from the UK and US, the session will also highlight the main differences between the EMPATH model and current UEC approaches. It will demonstrate how participatory engagement can inform more responsive, effective, and compassionate environments for mental health crisis care.

Yvonne Ophaus
Medical Architecture

'Transforming Dorset’s Mental Health Estate: Small Steps, Big Impact'

In 2017, Medical Architecture and Rubicon Health Consulting partnered with Dorset HealthCare to develop a strategic estate plan enhancing mental health and community care delivery. A Sustainable Transformation Plan was developed with business cases for projects including a 10-bed Eating Disorders Unit (completed 2023), and a new 35-bed PICU and Adult Acute facility (completing 2026). These developments will enable refurbishment of existing sites, eliminating dormitory accommodation and achieving various strategic objectives. In this presentation, Yvonne will explore the estate transformation and explore how small but targeted projects can deliver great value within the context of an integrated healthcare system.

Liz Lavender
Interior Designer Expert by Experience

Liz Lavender is an Interior Designer Expert by Experience and DiMHN Associate , specialising in creating sensory-informed environments that feel safe, calm, and responsive — particularly for people with sensory needs, autism, or a learning disability. She combines over 20 years of professional design, project management, and global procurement experience with lived insight as a parent navigating the mental health and autism service landscape.

Liz works across healthcare and residential settings, bringing sensory-informed thinking into everyday spaces. Whether redesigning a community clinic, planning improvements to a mental health ward, or co-producing a bespoke home, she shapes environments that support comfort, dignity, and wellbeing for everyone.

Guided by the belief that good design supports wellbeing, she applies the principle that impact comes from thoughtful, informed choices rather than simply spending more. Her purpose is to improve mental health outcomes through better design. She champions a collaborative, network-based approach, working closely with NHS England South West, Devon Partnership NHS Trust, service users, clinicians, and national design networks to ensure environments are inclusive, evidence-based, and practical.

Simon Crosby
Group Director – Public Sector | Corstorphine & Wright
Custody Suite – Refurbishment, Quality and Current Initiatives

A brief look at current trends in custody — from refurbishment and how it’s working, to achieving quality in custody refurbishments, and current initiatives such as designing for neurodiversity and trauma-informed design