Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 891 | 25 July 2025

Light lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group recruitment 

The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) is the key interface between the voluntary sector and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). Chaired and convened by Clinks, the group provides policy advice, supports commissioning strategies, and helps identify gaps in service provision. We are now recruiting for two new seat holders on the RR3. Please see below for more details. 

Seat holder for Employment
This seat is available for a senior leader who works for an organisation supporting people who have had contact with the criminal justice system into employment, and brings expert knowledge of service delivery and sector challenges. Find out more and apply here

Seat holder for substance misuse
The successful candidate will represent the experiences of organisations delivering substance misuse support to people in contact with the criminal justice system, and contribute expert insight on service delivery and systemic challenges. Find out more and apply here

MEMBER FOCUS: Welsh Women’s Aid

Welsh Women’s Aid is the national charity in Wales working to end violence against women and girls in all its forms.

They are a federation of specialist organisations in Wales that provide lifesaving services to survivors of violence and abuse and deliver a range of innovative, preventative services in local communities.

Their success is founded on making sure the experiences and needs of survivors are central to all they do. Find out more

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: Financial analysis of Women's Problem Solving Courts 

The Centre for Justice Innovation (CJI) has published new financial analysis of Women's Problem Solving Courts (WPSCs), which has been built on a cost estimation model by Alma Economics. 

The analysis finds that the average annual cost of a WPSC placement is £11,325 compared to £13,386 for a six-month custodial sentence, and that through the use of a WPSC instead of custody, a financial break-even point is reached after just 78 days in prison.

Further details can be found in the CJI's updated evidence and practice briefing on problem-solving courts (PSCs) for women. 

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Mental health in prisons

A new policy paper from Pact (Prison Advice and Care Trust) and the Centre for Mental Health  sets out how greater investment in community mental health services would help to ease the pressure on the prison system by diverting more people from custody. 

The two charities call for an element of the £9bn earmarked to build new prison places to be allocated to community mental health care for people in contact with the criminal justice system. Read the report Mental health in prisons: crisis and opportunity

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: The single justice procedure

Half of all crimes are prosecuted through a little-known practice - the single justice procedure.

In a new report "Industrial-scale prosecution? Why the single justice procedure needs radical reform", Transform Justice explains the process and highlights concerns about it. Suspects and defendants get no free legal help to understand the process and most don't respond to the prosecution at all. This suggests that there are significant barriers to accessing justice. There is also evidence that people who are vulnerable, and in the midst of a health crisis, are prosecuted for minor offences. Read the report 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Four years on: Neurodiversity in prisons

In this follow-up blog to their 2021 review, HM Inspectorate of Prisons highlights some progress in supporting neurodivergent individuals, but warns that systemic change is still lacking.

Key developments include the rollout of Neurodiversity Support Managers (NSMs) in 105 prisons and increased access to staff training. Examples of good practice – such as sensory rooms and tailored support plans – are promising, but provision varies widely and data gaps remain.

Too often, identification of need is not matched with consistent support. The report urges more accountability, better data collection, and a system-wide approach to inclusion. Read the blog

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Insights Festival early bird tickets

To improve access to HMPPS Insights Festival tickets for operational staff without regular access to IT, the Frontline Pass has been re-introduced.  

The Frontline Pass is for all staff who work in an operational setting (for example prison, probation office, court, approved premises, and unpaid work) and who deliver, or support, frontline services and interventions. This includes managers and administration staff who are based at operational sites.  

The Frontline Pass provides staff with early bird access to Festival tickets two weeks ahead of general release to wider criminal justice staff. To register, simply click here. You will get a membership code to access early bird tickets on the Insights Festival website from [1 September].    

To promote Front Line Pass sign up, you can download and print a copy of the poster here. 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: From Glass House to Class Act

As part of the HMPPS Insights Festival, a blog is shared by Vincent Kelly, Custodial Manager at HMP Wormwood Scrubs. He reflects on his visit to the Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC) as part of Insights23. He found a strong rehabilitative culture, high standards, and mutual respect between staff and detainees.

The visit sparked an ongoing partnership between MCTC and Wormwood Scrubs, with staff now sharing best practice on drug reduction, team building, and leadership. It has also opened new routes for prison staff to join the military reserves.

Kelly encourages others to take up opportunities to learn and connect, saying, “It’s all about making a difference.” Read the blog: From Glass House to Class Act

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: CRS Regional market engagement events

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has now confirmed the dates for a regional market engagement event for East Midlands [30 July, 14.30 - 16:00] focused on Men’s Rehabilitation Services, designed to support upcoming commissioning activity. These events are being held to offer providers additional regional information about forthcoming procurement opportunities for people on probation and invite organisations to raise questions to help shape programmes.

Register here

FUNDING: Support for people in temporary accommodation

The Stef and Phillips Foundation’s vision is of a brighter future for individuals and families living in temporary and emergency accommodation, through personal and project grant funding for individual and community needs.

Helping vulnerable families and individuals improve their lives and fulfil their potential. Through their funding they provide dedicated support and essential resources to individuals and families living in temporary and emergency accommodation in London. Their grants for project fund is [open for applications until 1 August] – this is for grants to organisations of [up to £2,000]. To be eligible to apply you must be supporting individuals and families living in emergency or temporary accommodation within a London Borough and be able to demonstrate how the funding will enrich the lives and wellbeing of those supported. Find out more and apply here

PUBLICATION: Smaller, but tougher - Young adults face harsher justice

A new report from the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, by Liat Tuv, reveals stark trends in England & Wales: over the past 15 years, fewer 18–24  year-olds are prosecuted for serious offences, but those who are, face tougher outcomes. Young adults now experience higher rates of pre-trial remand, receive prison sentences more often, and serve longer terms.

Notably, young women are more likely than young men to be remanded in custody for offences that don’t result in imprisonment. Ethnic disparities have also widened, but deteriorating data quality (with ethnicity often unrecorded) makes full understanding difficult. The report challenges policymakers to explore the intersection of age, gender, and ethnicity in sentencing. Read "Smaller, but tougher: How the criminal justice system is processing young adults"

FEATURED VACANCY: Manager Criminal Justice Services 

Birth Companions is a charity that supports women experiencing multiple disadvantage during the perinatal period in the community in London and the southeast, and in prisons across the country. They are recruiting for the role of Criminal Justice Services Manager [£37,000, 4.5 days per week London and home based] to manage and develop all aspects of our criminal justice-based services and line-manage the criminal justice services Coordinators.

The Criminal Justice Services Manager will also contribute to the policy, engagement and strategic work of the organisation where appropriate. They are looking for an individual with significant experience of working with services supporting women in the criminal justice system as well and demonstrable management skills and experience. [Find out more and apply here by 26th August 2025]

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Reading Support Specialist - HMP Wakefield with Shannon Trust [£28,274, HMP Wakefield, part time]; Specialist Support Worker 25/39 with Imagine Independence [£25,658, Oldham, full time]; Manager: Criminal Justice Services with Birth Companions [£37,000, London & prisons (HMP Eastwood Park, HMP Foston Hall), part time]; Neurodiversity Lead with ADVANCE [£26,000 – £32,000, Hammersmith and HMP Bronzefield, full time]; Practitioner with Lucy Faithfull Foundation [£40,149, Bromsgrove or Epsom, full time]; Senior Practitioner with Phoenix Futures [£24,750, Thetford, full time]; Data Administrator with Phoenix Futures [£24,637, Norwich, full time]; Mentor Advocacy, FBD NE with The Wise Group [£25,664, Durham (HMP Deerbolt), full time]; Reading Strategy Coordinator - HMP Stoke Heath with Shannon Trust [£28,274, HMP Stoke Heath, full time]; Support Worker 25/38 with Imagine Independence [£23,870, Liverpool, full time].

For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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