Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 401 | 7th August 2015

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In this week's edition....

CLINKS PROJECT: share your expertise in service user involvement

Do you co-ordinate service user involvement for your organisation? Clinks aims to identify, support, promote and resource best practice from the voluntary sector in engaging service user voice in the Criminal Justice System. This project will have a particular focus on health in the justice system, as part of our work as a Department of Health Voluntary Sector Strategic Partner. Over the next few months we will be bringing together a network of leaders in service user involvement from the voluntary sector to share expertise, identify case studies, and consider what resources are needed to support and improve this. For more information or if you would like to be part of this group, please contact hazel.alcraft@clinks.org

CLINKS WORKSHOP: supporting people with multiple needs

Clinks and Homeless Link are leading a workshop at NHS England’s Health & Care Innovation Expo [2nd and 3rd September, Manchester, free to the voluntary sector], a two-day event featuring keynote speakers, panel discussions and workshops showcasing innovation in improving health and care services. The workshop will introduce the Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) approach to supporting people facing multiple needs, and explore the strengths and challenges of existing services from the perspective of service users, providers and commissioners. For a discount code giving free places to voluntary sector organisations, or to invite your local health sector partners, please email hazel.alcraft@clinks.org. Find out more about Expo and book here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: looked after children in the Criminal Justice System

Prison Reform Trust have launched an independent review, chaired by Lord Laming, to consider the reasons behind the over representation of looked after children in the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales, and how best to tackle this issue. The review seeks evidence from those with experience of care and criminal justice, including children and young people, their families and carers, social workers, youth offending team managers, police and local authority leads and other experts. They are especially keen to hear about examples of good practice. The closing date for written submissions is 25th August. For more information and to respond, click here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: showcasing creativity of those facing barriers to the art world

Outside In are inviting artists to submit craft work for their next national exhibition, which will showcase creativity by artists who see themselves as facing barriers to the art world for reasons including health, disability, social circumstance or isolation. The selected craft work will be displayed alongside pieces by historically renowned and invited contemporary outsider and self-taught artists at Pallant House Gallery in 2016, before touring nationally. Submissions are invited from UK based artists who align themselves with Outside In, and whose work is two or three dimensional and centres around craft processes. The deadline for submissions is 30th October. For more information, click here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: meeting the needs of older offenders

RECOOP have been successful in their application to NOMS for grant funding to assess the need and ability of prisons and approved premises to adapt their regimes to meet the needs of older offenders. "Despite the growing older population and NOMS commissioning intentions, budget cuts have meant that neither prisons nor the National Probation Service have had the ability, or capacity, to invest in services and provision which meet the needs of older people." The one year project will allow RECOOP to conduct further research and enable them to assist NOMS with future regime design that is better equipped to meet the needs of older people. For more information, contact info@recoop.org.uk

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: payment by results pilot

The Ministry of Justice has published the final re-conviction results for cohort 2 of the HMP Doncaster payment by results pilot. The re-conviction rate for this cohort of offenders released from HMP Doncaster was 3.3 percentage points lower than the 2009 baseline year (from 58.0% in the 2009 baseline year to 54.6% in cohort 2). This is not a successful outcome for the provider, Serco, because the 5.0 percentage point threshold has not been achieved, and they therefore reimburse 10% of the core contract value for this pilot year. Download the report here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: are women's prisons improving?

In the third of a series of blogs exploring the HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales Annual Report 2014–15, Russell Webster looks at the state of women's prisons. He says, "It is notable that women's prisons, although facing all the problems of having to operate within a male focused system, have largely succeeded in improving the service they provide when conditions in men's prisons have deteriorated so far, so quickly." Read the blog here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: confidence in the Criminal Justice System

A recently published Analytical Summary by the Ministry of Justice shows the findings from the 2013 to 2014 Crime Survey for England and Wales examining confidence in the Criminal Justice System (CJS). The report provides an overview of levels of confidence in the CJS and the extent to which perceptions and experiences of crime, disorder and local policing are related to confidence in the CJS. The analysis shows that confidence in the fairness and effectiveness of the CJS has continued to increase over time, and highlights how different experiences of crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) are related to confidence in the CJS, with those who do experience crime or ASB being less likely to have confidence in the system. Read the report here

FUNDING: for youth social action projects

The Cabinet Office has launched The Youth Social Action Fund, aiming to increase the numbers of 10-20 year olds participating in youth social action (volunteering, fundraising and campaigning) by 50% by 2020. £1 million has been made available in support of youth social action opportunities, which will be delivered through a national programme. The fund aims to assist charitable organisations with projects that engage young people in volunteering and other activities that benefit their communities and develop their skills. They are particularly interested in receiving applications from organisations to improve the reach and impact of existing programmes that are sustainable and scalable in the long term. The deadline for applications is 28th August. Find out more here

FUNDING: awards for innovation

The Idox Innovation Awards aim to recognise, reward and raise the profile of projects that have demonstrated a creative and forward-thinking approach to improving the life of one or more UK communities. One organisation in each of the following award categories will be selected to receive an Award of £3,000 in recognition of their project's achievement, together with promotional and publicity opportunities: Innovation in supporting local economic development; Innovation in promoting community engagement; Innovation in promoting healthy living; Innovation in supporting children and young people (aged up to 18 years); Innovation in promoting environmental sustainability. The deadline for entries is 1st September. Find out more here

FUNDING: mid-life mental health

Bupa UK Foundation’s New Grants Programme is open to applications from voluntary sector organisations for projects addressing the theme of mid-life mental health. The Foundation sees the mid-life period (defined as 'from the late 20s to early 50s') as a time of increased challenges, responsibilities and pressures in their working lives, family lives and relationships. The funding is for projects that aim to support and improve people's mental health at this 'critical life-stage'. Small grants of up to £10,000, medium grants of up to £50,000 and large grants exceeding £50,000 are available for practical projects or initiatives which will have a direct impact on people's health and wellbeing. The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 4th September. Find out more here

FUNDING: grants for smaller charities

The GC Gibson Charitable Trust is offering eight grants of £4000 to support capital equipment purchases or building refurbishment which provide benefit to the aged or the disadvantaged or disabled. Priority will be given to smaller charities where the impact of the money will not get lost and will influence the lives of many. The Trust is open to applications until September. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS MEMBER'S TRAINING: community enhancement

Drop the Tag are offering free training [South London, from September] to those in receipt of most means-tested benefits. They will be delivering the NCFE Level 1 Mentoring Award; Level 2 certificate in Information, Advice or Guidance; and Level 2 certificate in Awareness of Mental Health problems. To find out more, or if you would like them to deliver a course for your organisation, contact anna@dropthetag.co.uk

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS & TRAINING

  • 'Gypsy and Traveller Communities Awareness Workshop' | 24th September, Guildford, free | info@vasws.org.uk
  • 'Future of Offender Health Conference' | 16th October, Manchester, from £200 + VAT | Details

BLOG: support for benefit claimants with drug and alcohol problems

Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) have published a blog on the Department for Work and Pensions review into the support available for benefit claimants with drug and alcohol problems, led by Dame Carol Black. In responding to the review, the MEAM coalition charities – Clinks, Homeless Link and Mind – will seek to represent the experiences of people with multiple needs who have experience of substance misuse, and the practitioners who support them. They say "The review must reflect what our members’ experience supporting people with multiple needs tells us: recovery and return to employment is seldom rapid or straightforward; it requires individuals’ active participation; and effective treatment is only part of the picture." Read the blog here

RESOURCE: guides to government departments

The National Audit Office is publishing a suite of short guides to each government department, to assist House of Commons Select Committees. The two recently published guides to the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office are designed to provide a quick and accessible overview of each Department and focus on what the Department does, how much it costs and recent and planned changes. Download the guides here

PUBLICATION: young offenders with mental health problems

'Young Offenders with mental health problems in transition' is a paper published in The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education, and Practice to explore the qualities of services valued by the disproportionately high numbers of young people in the Criminal Justice System with mental health problems. The paper finds that during the study the young people valued continuity and sufficient time to develop trust in staff. From staff who showed concern and respect, and whose approach was informal, young people could accept help, advice and, when necessary, confrontation. They gained insight into themselves and how to modify their behaviour; knowledge about opportunities for work and education; and help with life skills. Read the paper here

PUBLICATION: measuring charities' impact

'Under the microscope: data, charities and working with offenders' is an NPC paper focussing on the criminal justice sector and developments in the way work is evaluated and understood. It raises the questions 'Do charities want to know the impact of their work; and if they don’t, why not? Are charities working hard to improve, and understand where they need to act, or are they content just to continue ticking over?'. The paper is based on evidence from a number of sources, including the Clinks and NPC Improving Your Evidence Project, and the Justice Data Lab. Download the paper here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Member vacancies this week include: a Senior Support Worker with Foundation [Ashton-under-Lyne], a Family Support Worker with POPS [Liverpool], a Service Leader (Project Management) [covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire], Support Officer [Nottingham], and Team Leader [Birmingham] with Sova, and a Young Persons Case Worker with CRI [Horsham and Crawley]. For further information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: This two night stay in the Lake District is £169. Deal includes a 4-course à la carte dinner with coffee and chocolate truffles. Details
  • Tip of the week II: Free lunch - get a free New Covent Garden Co carton of soup (normally £2ish). Details
  • Tip of the week III: For £9 (excluding postage and packaging) you can create and print unlimited photobooks on your iPhone or iPad for three months. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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