Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 375 | 16th January 2014

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In this week's edition....

CLINKS BLOG: Labour's plans for the voluntary sector

Before Christmas, Ellie Cumbo, Clinks Policy Manager, went to hear Labour’s shadow civil society minister, Lisa Nandy, outline her party’s plans for the voluntary sector. Ellie's blog captures the content of the speech, which covered the collapse of Northern Rock, the Lobbying Act, and the role of the sector in the delivery of public services. Read Ellie's blog here

CLINKS RESOURCE: making partnerships work for you

'Making partnerships work for you' is a new guide that highlights some of the issues arising when developing partnerships, and some of the benefits you should be looking to secure from your partners. It includes important principles that will apply in the new Transforming Rehabilitation arrangements across sectors, across other contracting opportunities, and in other areas of your work. It offers advice on how to consider the partnership that you are entering into, or the ones you would like to develop. The guide has been written by ACEVO and Candour Collaborations, in partnership with Clinks. Download it here

CLINKS EVENT: supporting people with multiple and complex needs

'Introduction to MEAM Approach' is a MEAM (Making Every Adult Matter) event [23rd February, Taunton, free] that will introduce the MEAM Approach and how it can support those working with people with multiple and complex needs to develop effective, coordinated and flexible services. We will introduce MEAM, discuss the problems around multiple needs, highlight the impact of doing something different, and introduce how to design and deliver coordinated interventions using the MEAM Approach. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS SUPPORT: free legal advice

Until the 6th February, Clinks is offering a limited amount of free legal advice to the voluntary sector engaged in Transforming Rehabilitation (TR). Priority for legal support will be given to small and medium sized organisations who are currently in negotiation to deliver services under TR as tier 2 or 3 providers. In partnership with Russell-Cooke Solicitors we can offer advice on contract negotiations, contract management, and identifying and handling TUPE, intellectual property and data protection law, identifying and effectively managing risk. Email the helpline here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: partners sought for TR consortium

aBandofBrothers are part of the MTCnovo consortium in London and the Thames Valley. Nathan Roberts, Chief Executive, says: "We will be expanding our rites of passage based personal transformation and mentoring programme in the region over the course of the next 18 months. We are looking for partners across the area who may be interested in working with us to deliver services." Find out more and get involved here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: help shape the future of restorative services

Restorative Justice Council are developing two new projects: a Competency Framework and a Training Approval Scheme. To support the development of each, they would like to consult the sector: "your views and your vast collective experience as practitioners will greatly inform the ongoing development of our projects". The deadline for responses is 28th January. Find out more and have your say here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: Butler Trust award winners announced

The 2014/15 Butler Trust Award Winners and Commendees have just been announced. Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Patron of The Butler Trust, will present Award Winners and Commendees with their certificates at the next Butler Trust Award Ceremony, to be held at St James’s Palace in April 2015. The full list of winners, along with write-ups of their work, can be found here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: changes to stop and search

Thirty-five police forces across England and Wales have fully implemented the Home Office's 'Best Use of Stop and Search' scheme. The voluntary scheme is part of a range of measures that aim to contribute to a reduction in the overall use of stop and search, lead to better and more intelligence-led stop and searches, and more effective outcomes. College of Policing lead on stop and search Inspector Nick Glynn said: "Stop and search powers are necessary to help us tackle crime and keep people safe. It is clear that the service has not always got its use of these intrusive powers right, and this has left resentment in our communities. Under this scheme outcomes will be recorded in more detail so we have a greater understanding of how the powers are being used." Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Feltham inspection

A report into HMYOI Feltham got lots of media attention this week, afer a prisons inspectoracte report found it is suffering "unpredicatable and reckless" violence, linked to the number of gang members present, a new type of drug, and staff shortages. The BBC provided an insightful article, featuring perspectives from a former prisoner, a prison officer, and the mother of a former prisoner. Find out more here

COMMISSIONING: advice and support services

The Department for Education has launched an open procurement process to award four new contracts to deliver against four existing voluntary sector contracts which are due to expire at the end of March 2015. The contracts cover service delivery for FromCare2Work, Young carers, Advocacy Advice Line, and Families of Offenders projects. These projects are currently delivered by Catch22, NYAS, Voice, Barnardo’s, Carers Trust and the Children’s Society; and contractors will need to ensure continuity of service. It is anticipated that these new contract agreements will be for 12 months (March 2015 - March 2016) with a total value of up to £1.7million. The deadline for application is 31st January, find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: museums working with prisons

'UK museums working with prisons and young offender institutions' is a Lemos & Crane seminar [24th February, Liverpool, free] on fostering engagement between museums and prisons. Collections of museums and archives have enormous potential for enhancing the lives of offenders and helping them to avoid re-offending, and this seminar will be of interest to staff working in Learning, skills and education; Resettlement and rehabilitation; Interventions to reduce offending behaviour and re-offending; Health and wellbeing; Mental health; and Arts and creativity. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: sex in prison

'Behind closed bars: Sex in prison' is a Howard League for Penal Reform conference [17th March, London, from £75] that will discuss sex behind bars and the implications for prisoners, health practitioners, prison staff, policy makers, criminal justice professionals and the wider community. It will explore why a mature approach to consensual sex in prison is needed and why sex in prison should be seen within the wider agenda of public health. The conference will highlight the complexities of sexual development and sexual activity within the confines of prison and the implications for staff in responding to sex behind bars. Find out more here

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS & TRAINING

  • 'Creating Connections 9: bringing together universities and charities' | 5th February, London, free | Details

  • 'Police corruption, spying, racism and accountability' | 6th & 7th February, London, £15 per day | Details

  • 'Making personalisation and integration a reality' | 24th February, London, free | Details

PUBLICATION: new research into Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programmes

'Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programmes: Steps to Change' is a Respect research report that sought to move away from the fatalistic 'nothing works' message, to provide findings that are useful to policy makers, funders and programmes themselves. The report concludes that "whilst there is more work to be done, and improvements to be made to group work with men, support for women and children, and the location of Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programmes, overall we are optimistic about their ability to play an important part in the quest to end domestic violence." Download the report here

PUBLICATION: independence and voice for service delivery organisations

'Saying Less and Doing More' is a report from the National Campaign for Independent Action that looks at whether voluntary groups delivering services still campaign for the interests of their service users and communities. The report finds that "local voluntary services groups who historically combined their services with advocacy and campaigning are under increasing pressure to button their lips. While some of the larger charities who are 'contract heavy' show much less interest in campaign work for their disadvantaged clients." Download the report here

BLOG: stopping phones in prison

Prisons Minister Andrew Selous recently announced an amendment to the Serious Crime Bill which would compel phone networks to block mobile phones and SIM cards which were illegally being used in prison. In 2013 a total of 7451 mobile phones or SIM cards were seized in English and Welsh prisons, with some privately run prisons slowly introducing phones in prison cells to try to combat the problem. Russell Webster has written a blog looking at the problem of phones in prison, and how different establishments are trying to combat it. Read Russell's blog here

CONSULTATION: time limits for pre-charge bail

The Government is consulting on statutory time limits on the use of pre-charge bail to reduce both the number of individuals on, and the length of, pre-charge bail. The consultation closes on 8th February; have your say here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Vacancies this week include: a Project Worker with 1625 Independent People [Bristol], a Communications Officer/Executive with the Nelson Trust [Stroud], an Arts Administrator with the Koestler Trust [London], a Programme Manager with User Voice [Birmingham/West Midlands], a Group Work Facilitator with Changing Lives [Blyth], a Senior Quality Assurance Manager with Restorative Justice Council [London], a Prison Resettlement Advisor with Shelter [Merseyside], and 4 x Link Workers with Changing Lives [Newcastle]. For further information about these vacancies and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Get a free wild flower seed kit. Details
  • Tip of the week II: Get a free Mojito at Pitcher & Piano. Details
  • Tip of the week III: Buy an adult ticket to Ripley's Believe it or Not! for £22.95 and get a child ticket (4-15 years old) for £1 extra. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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