Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 402 | 14th August 2015

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In this week's edition....

CLINKS EVENT: supporting children with a parent in prison

'200,000 Reasons to Care' [20th October, London, free] will focus on work in prisons to support children affected by familial imprisonment and how time in custody can be spent purposefully to support and strengthen healthy family relationships and develop parenting skills. There will also be examples of joining up prison and community-based services and what can we learn from them. The event is suitable for practitioners, commissioners, Tier 1 providers, policy makers and academics. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBERS OPPORTUNITY: professional photography in London

We have an opportunity for a small Clinks member in London to receive a free professional photo shoot. To qualify, your organisation should have a turnover of under £100,000 and be delivering services to people in contact with the Criminal Justice System. To apply, email joe.gardham@clinks.org explaining briefly what you do and what difference professional photos would make to your organisation.

CLINKS GUEST BLOG: advice and support for people with convictions

In part two of this guest blog series, Christopher Stacey of Unlock talks about supporting probation providers to give accurate advice and support to people with convictions. Christopher says: "A possible unfortunate consequence of the recent reforms is that voluntary sector organisations have to compete against one another. Some may say this is a good thing – personally, I struggle to match ‘competition’ with the traditional concept of ‘charity’. That’s why we’re taking a different approach." Find out more about Unlock's approach here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: free conference space in Leeds

Jigsaw Visitors' Centre, adjacent to HMP Leeds, has just opened its conference and training facility, and is offering free hire when you purchase one of the refreshment or buffet packages. The room holds up to 60 theatre-style and can be used for meetings, training events, or presentations. Find out more and enquire here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: reducing child sexual offending by high-risk offenders

Pact has announced that, together with Circles South East, they will be developing a Circles of Support and Accountability service in London. This is a unique programme for reducing child sexual offending by high-risk offenders, using teams of highly trained, and well-supervised volunteers. Pact CEO, Andy Keen-Downs, said: "We have seen a very significant increase in the number of sex offenders entering and leaving the prisons where we work, and we have been extremely concerned for some time at the lack of provision in London to reduce the risk that they will re-offend on release. My question to Chris Grayling on this topic went unanswered. We are therefore delighted to have this opportunity to reduce the number of children who are victims of repeat offending, and to build on our expertise in prisons and the community." Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: new project to reduce women's imprisonment

Prison Reform Trust has published a new briefing to coincide with the launch of a project aimed at reducing the number of women who are sent to prison for minor non-violent offences. Jenny Earle, director of the programme, said: "I am looking forward to working with partners across the UK to accelerate progress in reforming women’s justice and reducing reliance on prison. We need to listen to women with experience of the justice system and take seriously the mounting evidence that short periods of imprisonment are particularly destructive for women and the families who rely on them.” Download the briefing here

CLINKS MEMBER'S REQUEST: access to social housing affected by criminal record

Under the Localism Act 2011, local authorities and social housing providers have some discretion to exclude people on the grounds of “unacceptable behaviour”. Unlock are hearing cases of local authorities applying filters towards people with convictions and have put out a call for evidence to better understand the situation as it stands. If anyone you know has experienced their housing situation being affected by their criminal record, please contribute here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: probation report highlights concerns about TR

HM Inspectorate of Probation for England and Wales has published its Annual Report for 2014-15, highlighting a concern around Transforming Rehabilitation (TR): "We have found probation areas that had struggled to deliver a quality service prior to Transforming Rehabilitation are now finding it hardest to adapt and cope with the reforms. The correlation between historical performance of former probation trusts and progress made with Transforming Rehabilitation implementation extended into the important issue of staff morale. This speaks to the urgent and continuing need to support the necessary improvement in the quality of leadership and management." Download the report here

COMMISSIONING: substance misuse services across the country

Nacro is accepting expressions of interest from small or large substance misuse providers (clinical and non-clinical) interested in becoming one of their delivery partners in the provision of treatment and recovery services locally and/or nationally. An open day will shortly be arranged at Nacro's head office in London. For more information email chris.dare@nacro.org.uk

CLINKS PARTNER'S EVENT: improving outcomes for young people

'Commissioning to Improve Outcomes for Young People' is an Academy for Justice Commissioning evening seminar [9th September, London, free] featuring Lord McNally talking about the work that is being done in youth justice services to improve outcomes for young offenders.  During the seminar he will also discuss the particular challenges he sees around commissioning youth services, with a focus on the disproportionality of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) young people, looked after children, and those with mental health issues. Find out more and book here

CLINKS MEMBER'S TRAINING: helping people get their lives back on track

The Back on Track Core Programme [1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd September, London, free] is designed to improve confidence, motivation and setting goals for your future. It is a great starting point for people who live in London who are looking to make a positive change in their lives and move forward. Participants can progress onto Back on Track's Peer Mentoring course and become a volunteer with the organisation. As part of the journey, participants will be offered the chance to work with a mentor, so that they are supported to work towards and achieve their goals. Find out more and book onto the course here

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS & TRAINING

  • 'The Other Side of the Wall' | 21st - 23rd September, Birmingham, £330 | Details
  • 'A Look Beyond' | 15th October, Cardiff, £75 | Details

PUBLICATION: case study of successful restorative justice conference

Restorative Solutions CIC has published a case study of its first restorative justice intervention as part of its partnership with the British Transport Police in London. The featured conference, concerning an incident that occurred at a London train station during a busy rush hour, was facilitated by Lisa Smitherman, Restorative Solutions London's Manager, and resulted in a satisfactory conclusion for both parties involved. Download the case study here

RESOURCE: becoming a trustee

The Charity Commission's ‘The essential trustee’ has been updated, explaining what being a trustee involves, including: what trustees do; who can be a trustee and how trustees are appointed; their legal responsibilities; and specific trustee roles of chair and treasurer. You should read this guidance if you are a trustee of any charity based in England or Wales, or thinking about setting up a charity or becoming a trustee in England or Wales. Download it here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Member vacancies this week include: An Information and Case Officer with Unlock [Maidstone], a Volunteer Resettlement Mentor with the New Leaf Initiative CIC [West Midlands & Coventry/Rugby], Volunteer Mentors with Nacro [Essex and South Yorkshire], a Fundraising Coordinator and a Partner Liaison Officer (female) with The Nelson Trust [Gloucester], a Women's Community Hub Coordinator [South Yorkshire], Community Intervention Workers, and a Dual Diagnosis Support Worker with Community Links [Leeds and Kirklees], Case Managers with Sova [London], an Administrator with Futures Unlocked [Rugby], Family & Parenting Workers with NEPACS [Newcastle, Sunderland and South East Northumberland], a Complex Needs Service Manager with Community Links [Kirklees], a Volunteer Coordinator with Pact [Redhill or Guildford], Trainer Assessors with the St Giles Trust [HMP Birmingham and HMP Drake Hall], a Support Worker with Foundation [Scarborough], a Project Manager with Together for Mental Wellbeing [London], and a Criminal Justice Development Worker with Lifeline Project [Calderdale and Bradford]. For more information about these vacancies and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: The law's changing - from April 2016, all dogs in England, Wales and Scotland must be microchipped. Get it done for free at Dogs Trust. Details
  • Tip of the week II: Three nights in Prague including flights from £139 per person. Details
  • Tip of the week III: National Express Funfares have one way journeys to London starting at £6 from across the country. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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