Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 329 | 31st January 2014

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In this week's edition....

NEED TO KNOW: consultation on TR subcontracting document

The MoJ is consulting the sector on its Industry Standard Partnering Agreement (ISPA). The ISPA is the standard contract document that is intended to be used for subcontracting arrangements, and aims to promote fair practices and assist in the development of diversity and transparency within supply chains. The contractual requirement is for Tier 1 organisations to use the ISPA when subcontracting with organisations at Tiers 2 and 3 of the supply chain. The deadline for responses is 20th February. Find out more here

LIGHT LUNCH NOTICE: 10,000 readers

Clinks is delighted to announce that this week's edition goes to 10,000 subscribers for the first time. Thank you for your support, and we hope you continue to find Light Lunch informative and relevant.

CLINKS NEWS: will small charities be squeezed out of the TR plans?

In December 2013 Clinks and Criminal Justice Alliance presented at the APPG on Penal Affairs. Both spoke about the role of the voluntary sector working with offenders and their families, focusing on the work of small voluntary sector organisations and gave their concerns about the future of these organisations under the Transforming Rehabilitation agenda. The secretariat for the APPG on Penal Affairs is provided by the Prison Reform Trust and minutes from this event are available here

CLINKS NEWS: Become an Associate consultant member of Clinks

Clinks have launched a new membership offer for consultants interested in working with criminal justice related organisations in the voluntary sector. Associate consultant members receive great benefits including exclusive monthly policy briefings and the ability to promote their services in a forthcoming online directory enabling them to highlight their areas of expertise to over 2,000 voluntary sector organisations. For more information and to apply, click here, or email luke.martin@clinks.org.

CLINKS TRAINING: improving your evidence

Clinks and NPC’s 'Improving your evidence' two day training course [24th & 25th February, London, free] will focus on practical rather than theoretical issues to support organisations to identify, produce and use good quality evidence and evaluation. We will be working in small groups, with plenty of opportunities to discuss the specific challenges you face. Topics include: the benefits of focussing on impact and outcomes and using evidence to inform decision making, planning, service improvement and funder engagement; how to identify relevant and appropriate outcomes for your work; and developing a theory of change or logic model.  For more information and bookings click here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: member to deliver offending behaviour programme

Congratulations to Clinks Member Kainos Community, who have been awarded funding from the MoJ to pilot the delivery of a generic accredited offending behaviour programme in a supported environment and offer post release support. The project will take place over two years at HMP Haverigg, HMP Guys Marsh and HMP Stocken. Find out more about Kainos Community here

CLINKS MEMBER'S CONSULTATION: people with convictions as trustees

Clinks member Unlock is writing a response to a new consultation by the Charity Commission, which could make it more difficult for people with unspent convictions to become charity trustees. As well as hearing from individuals with relevant experience, they are keen to gather evidence from organisations that have had people with unspent convictions serve on their board, or in management positions. Offences involving dishonesty or deception are particularly relevant. Clinks will collate any examples sent to us (ellie.cumbo@clinks.org) by 5pm on Wednesday 5th February; more information on the consultation itself can be found here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: new training programme for youth workers

myLife, a Reflex project, supports teachers, youth workers and mentors working with young people. The programme helps young people learn independent living skills, make good choices, and become positive contributors to society. Find out more about the range of accredited training courses they offer here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: offender cohorts in your area

In order to enable users to understand the approximate size, composition and re-offending rates of offender cohorts over time in each of the 21 new Contract Package Areas (CPAs), the MoJ has published modelled data for the six years from 2005 to 2010, showing the number of offenders in each PbR cohort and the 1-year re-offending rates among those offenders. Download the pdf here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: joint inspectorate report on offenders with learning disabilities

A joint inspectorate report, published this week, has found that the needs of many people with learning disabilities are going unnoticed when
they are arrested by police, go to court and are sentenced. Clinks member Prison Reform Trust said: "In light of this report, the Government must honour its Care not Custody promise. For too long people with a learning disability, many of whom should be diverted from police stations and courts into social care, have ended up in prison as a default option, while others are left without the support they need as they continue through the justice process." Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: supporting young people in the Criminal Justice System

The ‘T2A Pathway’ is a three-year national programme that will work with 16-25 year olds at different stages of the Criminal Justice System. The six T2A Pathway projects will include provision of mental health support, restorative justice, drug and alcohol treatment, family engagement and help with finding employment. They include partnerships with the police in London and Rotherham, with courts and probation in Liverpool and Sheffield, and with five prisons in the West Midlands. To find out more about the Pathways, click here

FUNDING: learning and skills in the East Midlands

Grants of up to £10,000 are available for projects that help unemployed or economically inactive people who are at a particular disadvantage in the labour market to move towards employment.  Small not-for-profit groups in the East Midlands are eligible to apply. Organisations should be based in and run by people from the community they support and help those living in areas of greatest deprivation and areas with the highest levels of unemployment. The deadline for applications is 21st February; details here

FUNDING: for social entrepreneurs in the North

The Social Incubator North Fund offers entrepreneurs an opportunity to submit a business idea and receive financial support in the form of an interest-free loan up to £25,000, coupled with supplementary support. The idea or business must make a lasting positive social or environmental impact, for example offering employment to vulnerable members of a community, or delivering a service with green credentials. Start-up and existing entrepreneurs and social enterprises across the East Midlands and North of England, including Yorkshire and the Humber, are eligible to apply.  The business idea must be new; however, proposals are accepted from existing organisations seeking a new strand to their business. The deadline for applications is 28th February, find out more here

FUNDING: social investment in Liverpool

Local Impact Funds are a new social investment product that aims to bridge the gap between supply and demand for social investment from local communities. The 18-month pilot will invest £2 million into 20 to 40 organisations by June 2015. Charities and social enterprises based in Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral looking for finance to help them grow and scale up their social impact are eligible to apply. Organisations can apply for unsecured loans of £50,000 to £250,000 for up to five years. The deadline for expressing an interest is 28th February. Details here

COMMISSIONING: education services for young offenders

The MoJ have launched a competition for the provision of education services at five Young Offender Institutions - HMPYOIs Cookham Wood, Feltham, Werrington, Wetherby and Hindley. The successful Bidders will be required to address many other key issues that lie at the heart of delivering education in a custodial environment, such as an awareness of security and discipline, the provision of a safe and decent environment and care for young offenders including working to prevent bullying or gang-related violence. An understanding of the challenges and complexities of educating an unstable and challenging cohort of young people will also be required. The five year, £12 million contract has an expression of interest deadline of 19th February. Full details here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: 25 years supporting partners and families of prisoners

'The anderson lectures' is a POPS (Partners of Prisoners and Families Support Group) event [6th March, Manchester, free] being held as the focal point of POPS' 25th anniversary celebrations. Focusing on desistance and the role of the family, the lectures will feature talks from academics Professor Fergus McNeill and Dr Martin Glynn, economist and business consultant Vicky Pryce and founder of POPS, Farida Anderson MBE. The event will be followed by a drinks reception. Find out more and register here

CLINKS MEMBER'S TRAINING: supporting homeless ex-offenders

'Criminal Justice: Supporting Ex-Offenders' is Homeless Link's one day course [4th March, London, from £90] which aims to provide participants with a greater understanding of how the Criminal Justice System operates and the implications that this has for the homelessness sector. The course, which is suitable for new frontline staff or experienced professionals wanting to update their skills, will look at how offending behaviour should be seen as a specific need and the roles and responsibilities of homelessness sector staff working with clients in custody and on community sentences. For details and bookings click here

OFFENDER HEALTH: new approach to health and wellbeing in prisons

A new paper from Leeds Met University says a radically new approach to health and wellbeing in prisons is needed if we are to empower prisoners to make positive changes to their lives and communities when released. The paper suggests that the current system of treating only immediate health needs is not sufficient for prisoners to begin leading healthier lives. Lead author, Dr Woodall, says: “The majority of prisoners spend a very short time in prison, around six months, and then return to the community. The vast majority of prisoners in HMP Leeds, for example, are from West Yorkshire; so by thinking in terms of supporting and enabling prisoners to take control of their lives whilst in prison this can have a positive knock-on effect on public health in our region.” Download it (paid subscription required) here

OPPORTUNITY: call for papers on youth offender management

Forensic Psychological Services at Middlesex University has been commissioned by the MoJ to conduct a Rapid Review of Evidence on what works in managing young people who offend, aged 10-18 years. They are looking for unpublished material and/or material published in non-academic places including documents, reports, briefings or other 'grey literature' that is in the public domain. The findings from the review are expected to be published later this year by the Ministry of Justice. To submit work, email WWYJ@mdx.ac.uk

PUBLICATION: providing mental health care for women

Clinks member Revolving Doors Agency and Street Talk launched an evaluation of Street Talk; a small charity that provides mental health care to vulnerable women, including those involved in street based sex work and who have been victims of trafficking. This process and outcome evaluation of the service explored the needs of the client groups and identified a ‘theory of change’ for the service. The evaluation findings suggest Street Talk is deeply valued by clients and the host organisations where it works. The report contains important lessons for those considering how best to provide mental health care for women with multiple and complex needs.  The evaluation report is available here

PUBLICATION: victims' views on restorative justice

'Restorative Justice in Europe: Safeguarding Victims and Empowering Professionals' is a new IARS report that presents the views of victims on restorative justice. Overall, victims felt positive about restorative justice and they would recommend it to others. The key reason victims opt for restorative justice is the promise to participate equally and meaningfully in the justice process. Safeguards and concrete reassurances that they will not be revictimised and traumatised were also considered a must. They also opt for restorative justice because they believe that they can help the offender understand the harm they caused and through their encounter re-integrate. Download it here

RESOURCE: for volunteer managers

Clinks member Skills for Justice have developed a new online Volunteer Management Competence Assessment Framework to provide skills advice, guidance and signposting for those managing volunteers in a justice sector context. Whether you manage volunteers full time or as part of a wider role, you can visit the user-friendly portal to find useful information and guidance on becoming highly skilled in the area of volunteer management. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Vacancies this week include: a Development Officer, a Domestic Abuse Service Coordinator and a Communications Officer at Foundation [Leeds], an Administrator/Receptionist [Rochdale] and a Night Security Officer [Taunton] with Langley House Trust, a Social Enterprise Development Manager with RAPt [London], a Resettlement Hub Volunteer with Hibiscus Initiatives [HMP Holloway], a Research and Evaluation Manager and Assistant with User Voice [London], Volunteer Mentors with Feltham Community Chaplaincy Trust [Feltham], 2 x Project Officers [HMP/YOI Isis/Rochester], and a Chief Executive Officer [Aylesbury] with Trailblazers Mentoring Ltd, 5 x Outreach Workers with WomenCentre [Calderdale]. For more information about these vacancies and more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Get £10 off a Family & Friends Railcard here
  • Tip of the week II: To get three free L'Occitane mini-hand creams (and a little woolly pouch), simply 'like' its Facebook page
  • Tip of the week III: Stay in an 11th century Northumbrian castle for £89 per room. Deal includes breakfast, 3 course dinner and bottle of wine. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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Joe Gardham

Clinks

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