Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 556 | 12th October 2018

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In this week's edition...

CLINKS BRIEFING: Female Offender Strategy

In June, the Ministry of Justice published its long-awaited Female Offender Strategy, which sets out the government’s commitment to a new programme of work for women in contact with the criminal justice system (CJS) across England and Wales. The strategy recognises the distinct needs of women and recognises that short custodial sentences do not deliver the best results. This Clinks briefing summarises the key commitments made in the strategy, including the development of up to five residential women’s centres and a concordat for women in contact with the CJS, and outlines the implications for voluntary organisations. You can read the briefing here

CLINKS RESPONSE: consultation on secure schools

Clinks has responded to the Ministry of Justice’s draft guidance on applying to open secure schools. The response focuses on the draft quality indicators included in the guidance that will form part of the monitoring and accountability structures. We make a series of recommendations, including: national training standards to be introduced, rooted in an understanding of children’s psychosocial development and the importance of relationships; quality indicators should draw upon HM Inspectorate of Prisons indicators for adult male prisons; and an additional quality indicator is introduced around meeting the needs of specific groups of children and young people. You can read the response here

CLINKS EVENT: mental health for people in prison

Clinks is holding 'Supporting good mental health for people in prison' [14th November, Manchester | 21st November, London | free], in partnership with the Association of Mental Health Providers. The event is a workshop for voluntary sector organisations to discuss what participants consider is supportive of good mental health in prisons, barriers or trigger points, and their views on the key elements of a whole prison approach to good mental health. This is a VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance project, which is also looking into the mental health of equalities groups. Find out more and book here

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE EVENT: media training

The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance is holding 'Media training on the arts in criminal justice settings' [13th November, London, £75]. This one day training course will teach you how to positively navigate conversations with the media about work in arts and the criminal justice system. You can expect to go away armed with tools and techniques and feel able to speak confidently with journalists about your work. Spaces are very limited and are offered on a first come, first served basis. Find out more and book here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: prisoner re-integration

Prison Reform Trust has launched the Robin Corbett Award for Prisoner Re-integration, which celebrates outstanding rehabilitative work with prisoners done by a charity or community group. Nominations are invited from prison governors, directors and senior management, with the emphasis on work that fosters personal responsibility and calls on people in prison, and people with convictions, to help others through mentoring and other similar work. The closing date for nominations is 7th December. Find out more here.

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: directing course

Synergy Theatre Project is offering a free directing course to those with experience of the criminal justice system [26th-30th November, London, free]. Through practical exercises, theatre trips and meeting industry experts, participants will gain an understanding of the role of a theatre director, and how they work with the rest of the creative team. Applications close 12th November. To apply and for further information contact studio@synergytheatreproject.co.uk

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: training for women

BehindBras, working in collaboration with Fashion Capital, is looking for women to take part in two fully-funded fashion courses: ABC Level 1 for Stitching or Pattern Cutting skills. Participants must be currently unemployed or work part time and want to start a career in the fashion industry. BehindBras aims to support current and former prisoners to build skills and forge careers. The courses will run in October and November 2018. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: tackling racial disparity

The Ministry of Justice has published Tackling Racial Disparity in the Criminal Justice System. This report marks one year since the release of the Lammy Review into the treatment of, and outcomes for, black, Asian and minority ethnic individuals in the criminal justice system. The report includes the progress that has been made so far in responding to the Review and the implementation of its recommendations. Clinks will be publishing more details on the report and what it means for the voluntary sector in the coming week. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: health of young people

An updated Children and Young People Secure Estate National Partnership Agreement for 2018-2021 has been published by NHS England, to enable a more fully integrated approach to the commissioning and delivery of excellent health services for children and young people within the secure estate in England. Whilst there is a much reduced number of children and young people in the secure estate, they are over-represented in terms of their physical, mental, neuro disability and substance misuse needs. Meeting these complex needs requires whole system collaboration, which the partnership is seeking to achieve through high quality outcome and evidence based health services. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: probation inspection

In the second report of HM Inspectorate of Probation's new series of annual rated inspections of probation service providers in England and Wales, inspectors have rated Essex Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) as ‘Requires improvement’, but acknowledged some aspects of its service are delivered well. Inspectors identified public protection work as a key area for improvement and found a lack of focus on the understanding, identification and management of risk of harm to the public. Essex CRC’s method of supervising people on probation by telephone also came in for criticism. They found the organisation was well led by committed, able and forward-looking senior managers and had an outstanding approach to local partnership working. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: healthcare in prison

The Care Quality Commission has published its annual assessment of the quality of health and social care in England. The state of health care and adult social care in England 2017/18 warns of growing ‘care injustice’, with access to good care increasingly dependent on how well local systems work together. It finds that in criminal justice settings, regulations were breached in almost half of the 41 prisons inspected, mainly because of a lack of appropriate policies and processes to run services safely and effectively. Many prisoners receive substandard care for reasons beyond the control of registered providers, such as poor physical environments. Read the report here

FUNDING: tax obligations

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has launched a £1.6 million grant programme available to voluntary organisations in the UK. Organisations with an income that exceeds £40,000 a year and who provide advice and support to HMRC customers who need extra help understanding and complying with their tax obligations can apply now for funding that covers 2019 to 2020. This could include people leaving prison. The deadline for applications is 2nd November. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: restorative art

RJ4all is holding Restorative art through children’s eyes [25th October, London, free]. The event will discuss restorative justice, Black History Month and sharing power, and the power of digital art and education. Find out more and book here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: social investment

The Forward Trust in partnership with Homeless Link is holding a morning seminar on social investment, 'Let’s Talk Good Finance' [1st November, London, free]. If you are looking for new funding avenues or considering social investment, this event will bring together charities and social enterprises with social investors to understand what social investment is, when social investment is not suitable or appropriate and how it works. It is also an opportunity to network with social investors and hear from organisations that have received social investment. Find out more and book here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: housing solutions

Commonweal is holding 'Housing Helps' [15th November, London, free]. Commonweal’s project partners will be speaking about how Commonweal has supported them to identify and develop housing solutions to social injustices. It will also be launching the Housing Helps new ideas competition supported by 24Housing and Big Society Capital, where there is a £10K prize to fund a feasibility study into an area of social injustice, where the applicant feels housing could be part of the solution. Find out more and book here

FEATURED VACANCY: Restorative Justice Practitioners

Remedi is recruiting 14 Restorative Justice Practitioners [£20,280 - £21,588, West Midlands, full time] in various locations, which will be allocated on recruitment. The role will involve supporting individuals in the community and in prisons through the Restorative Justice process, and working with them to enable them to communicate effectively with each other in a final face to face meeting, ensuring risk assessing takes place throughout the whole process. The deadline for applications is 4th November. Find out more here

FEATURED VACANCY: Director

Cambridge Cyrenians is recruiting for a Director [£45,436 - £50,301, Central Cambridge, full time] with a passion for social justice, who will work closely with the Board of Trustees and the staff and volunteers to develop and drive strategic change facilitating the charity’s growth and financial sustainability. The role will provide strategic vision and leadership to the operation and development of the organisation, ensuring that the charitable objectives are achieved and that it delivers a high quality service to its users. The role is also pivotal in enabling Cambridge Cyrenians to develop its services over the coming years, maintaining exacting standards of service delivery and enhancing partnership working. The deadline for applications is 22nd October. Find out more here

FEATURED VACANCY: Volunteer Co-ordinators

Community Led Initiatives CIC is recruiting two experienced and dynamic Volunteer Co-ordinators [£21,000 - £23,000, Bedfordshire, full time]. The successful candidates will be able to work creatively as part of a team and take advantage of the opportunity to further develop a successful project. The key duties will be to co-ordinate the delivery of mentoring services for individuals in recovery from alcohol and substance misuse; to be responsible for the recruitment, supervision and performance of a team of volunteers, peer mentors and trainees; and to oversee the development of professional, voluntary and peer networks to expand the range of support and mutual aid activities for their service users. The deadline for applications is 16th November. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: a Trainee Drug and Alcohol Practitioner with The Forward Trust [HMP Elmley], Offender Supervisor (Prison based Caseworker) with Catch22 [HMP Ashfield], Youth Futures Mentors with Sova [Hemel Hempstead], Policy Officer with Prisoners Education Trust [Vauxhall], Innovative Practice Officer with Centre for Justice Innovation [London], Women's Advocate with Pecan [Southwark and Lewisham], Head of Finance and Governance with Women In Prison [London], Life Skills Coach with Adullam Homes Housing Association Ltd [Denbighshire], Recovery Coordinator with Humankind [various locations], and an Administrator with Nepacs [Durham]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

Did you know...?

Clinks has many guides and toolkits to support the work of your voluntary organisation working in the criminal justice system. From Engaging with Police and Crime Commissioners, Good practice in service user involvement, and Building successful partnerships involving volunteers in the criminal justice system. Find out more here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Unlimited pizza at Pizza Hut for £9.99. Details
  • Tip of the week II: Two-four nights in Krakow with flights from £69. Details
  • Tip of the week III: 50% discounted Yankee Christmas candles sets. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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