Navigating Complexity: Trauma‑Informed Safeguarding, Dementia Care, Hoarding/Self‑Neglect and Hospital Discharge.

If you work with adults at risk in Portsmouth, whether in primary or secondary care, mental health services, adult social care, housing, emergency services, criminal justice, higher education or the voluntary and community sector – this conference is for you.

The Portsmouth Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Conference 2026 will explore how complex lived experience, trauma, dementia, hoarding and self‑neglect intersect with safeguarding practice, and what this means for professionals working across multi‑agency systems.

Through expert input, practice perspectives and lived‑experience‑informed approaches, the conference will examine how we can:

Apply trauma‑informed safeguarding principles in complex situations

Have a basic understanding of Dementia

Respond effectively to self‑neglect and hoarding, including environmental health, fire safety and housing challenges

Strengthen multi‑agency working in high‑risk, high‑complexity cases

Speakers include:

Professor Graham Stokes, Director of Dementia and Specialist Services Innovation, exploring how trauma‑informed understanding improves safeguarding responses in dementia and complex living situations

Provider colleagues, bringing their perspectives from domiciliary care, residential care and housing, highlighting frontline challenges and solutions

Dr Bill Cutter, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust with an overview of dementia to enhance your approach to adult safeguarding

Environmental Health and Fire & Rescue Service speakers, addressing roles, powers, limitations and collaborative approaches in hoarding and self‑neglect cases

Jo Cooke, Director of Hoarding Disorders UK, sharing current evidence and best practice on hoarding

Multi‑agency panel discussions, bringing together speakers and partners to explore practical learning and shared solutions

The conference provides a valuable opportunity to network with professionals from across Portsmouth, exchange experiences, and reflect on how safeguarding practice can adapt to increasing complexity while staying person‑centred and proportionate.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Description supplied by the event organiser.