Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 337 | 28th March 2014

In this week's edition....

CLINKS RESOURCE: for those working in offender health

Clinks has produced the first edition of a new monthly 'Offender Health Bulletin', featuring the latest news for voluntary sector organisations involved in, or with an interest in, the health and care of offenders, ex-offenders and their families. This regular round-up of news, interesting resources, upcoming events, and funding opportunities is one of our exclusive member benefits. Click here to see the first edition. If you’re not yet a Clinks member, join Clinks today to carry on receiving future editions. Prices rise on 1st April, so to join now and get your membership at this year’s rates, click here

CLINKS RESOURCE: tools to help with evidence collection and use

Produced as part of Clinks and NPC's Improving your Evidence project, this guide introduces you to the increasing number of software tools that may help you to better collect and analyse data and raises some issues to consider. Download it here

ARTS ALLIANCE NEWS: books in prison

Clinks and Arts Alliance members have expressed concern this week about the books in prisons issue, which focuses on changes made in November 2013 to the ‘Incentives and Earned Privileges' policy (PSI 30), restricting items than can be sent into prison by family members and charities. The PSI has an impact wider than books, relating to arts materials, musical instruments and access to pens and paper for writing letters. We know that the Government support and encourage related programmes of work which enable innovative rehabilitation activity to take place and we very much hope this policy doesn’t compromise this important work. Find out more about the issue and the Arts Alliance's position on it here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: taking babies away from their mothers

U R Boss's Youth Participation Officer Jess spoke to one of their Young Advisors about what really impacts on women in prison. The interviewee speaks candidly about the impact of taking babies away from their mothers, and how this affects chances of rehabilitation. Read the short blog here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: funding for restorative justice work

The Restorative Justice Council (RJC), the independent membership body for the field of restorative practice, is to receive funding in 2014-15 of £1 million from the Ministry of Justice. This funding is part of a significant government investment to ensure victims, services and commissioners have access to high quality restorative justice. Graham Robb, chair of the RJC, said: “This is another very welcome sign of the government’s commitment to the development of high quality restorative justice services. There is still a lot of work for the RJC to do with our partners to build the capacity to provide good restorative justice services.” Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: reducing women's imprisonment

Prison Reform Trust have launched a three year programme to reduce women’s imprisonment and to raise awareness of the extent to which women in prison may have been exposed to emotional, physical or sexual abuse as children and/or as adults, and how this may have been a factor in their offending. Download the briefing here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: new focus on female offenders

The Ministry of Justice has published 'Strategic objectives for female offenders', a short report by Helen Grant that sets out the MoJ's priorities and announces the formation of a new Advisory Board. Download the report here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: IOM inspection report

A joint inspection by HM Inspectorate of Probation and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary of the Integrated Offender Management Approach was published yesterday. The Chief Inspectors said: "In the six areas we visited, we found a very mixed picture, with differing degrees of commitment to the approach among the relevant agencies. The police were usually the lead agency and, in some cases, were attempting to fulfil both rehabilitative and control functions where Probation Trusts had not committed sufficient resources. Where Probation Trusts were fully engaged at a strategic and operational level alongside the police and other organisations, the approach had the greatest potential for success." Download the full report here

EVENT: managing commercial activity for trustees

Light Lunch readers from the voluntary sector can get free places at the Charity Trustee Investment conference [9th April, London, free with code 'CLK6']. All charities are able to invest, and investment return can be a major source of funding at a time when grant-giving bodies are under financial constraint themselves. Such commercial activity, however, also exposes charities to risks which, if not properly managed, can affect both the individual charity and the public's trust and confidence in the sector more generally. This event aims to help key charity officers and trustees in their efforts to maintain the financial and reputational health of their organisations. Find out more here

PUBLICATION: personalisation in the CJS

Criminal Justice Alliance has published a policy briefing on the potential for personalisation within the Criminal Justice System and lessons that can be learned from the social care sector over recent decades. The paper examines how a personalisation agenda could be achieved within a justice reinvestment model, focusing on community budgets, and whether the Transforming Rehabilitation changes are likely to help or hinder a personalised approach. Download it here

RESOURCE: race in probation toolkit

IARS has released its new 'Race in Probation Toolkit'. The toolkit was developed following consultation with probation service users and contains practical recommendations for the direct involvement of the users in the planning and delivery of the services. It also includes additional resources and guides that can further support service providers to understand and respond effectively to specific needs of the BAME offenders. It was supported by a Clinks Innovation Grant. Download it here (£4.99 charge to download, £11.45 for hard copy)

RESOURCE: helping PCCs improve services for multiple and complex needs

Revolving Doors Agency have created the ‘Revolving Doors Checklist’, which provides a series of recommendations as to how police and crime commissioners can help to improve responses to groups of people who face multiple and complex needs, including mental health problems, substance misuse and homelessness, and become caught in a ‘revolving door’ cycle of offending. Download it here
 

RESOURCE: Rehabilitation of Offenders Act changes

Business in the Community (BITC), supported by T2A Alliance has produced an up-to-date 'Guide and Top Tips' to assist candidates with how, when and what to tell an employer about their criminal record. The recently implemented changes to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act reduce the length of time most criminal convictions must be declared by ex-offenders to employers. Download the guide here

OPPORTUNITY: for social enterprises wanting to work in prison

NOMS is creating a database of social enterprise providers. This information will be available to prisons that would like to directly commission from social enterprises. NOMS are particularly interested in social enterprises who can provide support for people with learning difficulties in prisons. This is an opportunity exclusively available to social enterprises who are signed up to the National Consortium of Social Enterprises (NCSE) and is available until the end of March. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Member vacancies this week include: a Trustee at Pact [London], an Arts Worker at Koestler Trust [London], 2 x Support Workers with Stonham, Home Group [Leeds and Kirklees], a Complex Needs Support Manager with Only Connect [London], a Project Manager with Foundation [Scarborough], a Catering Worker [HMP Forest Bank], a Resettlement Programme Worker [Eastwood Park], a Family Engagement Worker [HMP Cardiff] and a Play Worker [HMP Woodhill] all with Pact, a Volunteer Tbar Worker [HMP Wakefield] and a Family Support Worker with POPS [Manchester], a Relief Support Worker with Langley House Trust [Coventry], and a Fundraiser with One25 [Bristol]. For further information about these vacancies and many more click here 

TIPS OF THE WEEK

Tip of the week I: Save 55% off tickets for Northern Ballet's 'Cinderella' at Hull New Theatre next week. Details

Tip of the week II: For £49 two people can enjoy a 3-course meal for two with champagne and coffee at the 2-AA-Rosette Ellington Hotel in Leeds. Details

Tip of the week III: Get free tomato seeds by liking Heinz's Facebook page. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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Joe Gardham

Clinks

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