Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 523 | 16th February 2018

[[{"fid":"5466","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Light Lunch banner","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Light Lunch banner"},"type":"media","link_text":null,"field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Light Lunch banner","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Light Lunch banner"}},"attributes":{"alt":"Light Lunch banner","title":"Light Lunch banner","height":"99","width":"510","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]

In this week's edition...

CLINKS EVENT: community sentence treatment requirements

Clinks is running a consultation event [16th March, London, free] on Community Sentence Treatment Requirements (CSTRs), on behalf of the Department of Health. It is open to anyone with lived experience of mental health or substance misuse problems and contact with the criminal justice system; family members; and voluntary sector representatives. Share your views on whether CSTRs work for people with mental health, drug and/or alcohol treatment needs, what works well, and the barriers to effective treatment. Find out more and book here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: women in the prison system

The Prison Reform Trust commissioned training on the specific needs of women in contact with the criminal justice system (CJS) for professionals in the CJS, delivered by Together for Mental Wellbeing. The Prison Reform Trust published 'Responding to the needs of women in the criminal justice system: Evaluation of the training delivered to criminal justice professionals' which provides an overview of the training and makes 15 recommendations for how future training is delivered. The recommendations include: women with direct experience of the CJS should be included in the development and delivery of training; the development of training should take place in conjunction with local liaison and diversion services; and police guidance and training should include a focus on the links between domestic abuse and some women’s offending. Read the report here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: young BAME people

The Black Training and Enterprise Group (BTEG) and the Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) have written to Sir Tom Winsor, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services regarding the treament of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) children by police. Research from CRAE shows that the Metropolitan Police Service detained and searched two thirds more BAME children than white, and nearly 70% of taser use on children was on BAME children. The letter requests a national thematic review which would provide an opportunity to address highly pertinent questions regarding the legal obligations and policy frameworks that the police work within and address crucial questions around the underlying policing culture in relation to BAME children. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: women and business

Angella’s Kitchen is seeking support to launch a six-week pilot and business start-up programme ‘The Healed Project’, designed to empower women affected by the criminal justice system to move forward into entrepreneurship. The project seeks to raise further awareness surrounding the damaging effects of child abuse, contribute towards esteeming, encouraging and empowering women, release guilt and shame and in some way eradicate the stigma surrounding how women within this target audience are perceived. The project is looking for volunteers, food or financial contributions. Please email aw@angellawilliams.co.uk

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: justice skills in the workforce

Skills for Justice and Edinburgh Napier University have together launched a large-scale survey to better understand the skills and competencies of the UK justice sector workforce. They are looking for employers, managers and employees to participate in this monumental survey, which will help organisations to shape the future of skills development. The survey will provide employers with industry-focused, evidence-based research and intelligence to inform resource planning; address skills gaps and skill shortages, and equip organisations with the knowledge needed to understand and respond to future workforce scenarios. Everyone who takes part in the survey will be entered into a draw to win a £150 Amazon voucher. Take the survey here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTYEM: urgent notification response

The Secretary of State, David Gauke MP, has responded to the issuing of the first Urgent Notification after the inspection of HMP Nottingham. Inspectors who visited HMP Nottingham in January 2018 assessed safety as ‘poor’, the lowest HMI Prisons grading, at which point Peter Clarke, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons issued the first Urgent Notification letter under protocol which requires the Secretary of State for Justice to take public responsibility for prisons found to have serious problems. The Secretary of State has written to Mr Clarke in response, laying out an action plan which includes an urgent safety audit; training for staff; and the temporary suspension of young adults being held at the facility. Read the response here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: mental health in prison

The government has responded to a report by the Joint Committee on Human Rights on mental health and deaths in prison. 'Mental Health and Deaths in Prison: Interim Report: Government Response to the Committee’s Seventh Report of Session 2016–17'. The government rejected the recommendation of a legal maximum length of time prisoners are kept in their cells. Where the government have accepted the recommendation, it will explore the use of non-statutory levers rather than primary legislation to deliver change. For example, instead of introducing a statutory ratio of prison officers to prisoners or a legal obligation for prisoners with mental health problems to have a key worker, the government will introduce a key worker model for all prisoners in the closed adult male estate through administrative means. Read the report here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: mental health and police complaints system

The Institute of Mental Health at Nottingham University want to know your views and opinions on the police complaint system and how you might use it on behalf of The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). They would like some information from adults who have mental health problems now or who have had mental health problems in the past. The research will help the IOPC understand the experiences of people with mental health problems including how easy or difficult it might be to make complaints about the police. The closing date is 11th March. Take the survey here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: domestic violence

Changes to domestic violence evidence requirements are due to come into effect. From 8th January there is no longer a time limit on domestic violence abuse evidence. Previously there was a limit of five years. The range of documents accepted as evidence of abuse has also been widened to include statements from domestic violence support organisations and housing support officers. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: parole board decisions

The Ministry of Justice is conducting a review to consider the case for changing key aspects of Parole Board decision-making. The Parole Board is an independent body that carries out risk assessments on prisoners to determine whether they can be safely released into the community. The review will look at: whether there should be a mechanism to allow Parole Board decisions to be re-considered; whether the decisions and the reasons for the decisions should be more transparent; and how to improve victim engagement. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: enforcement and recall

HM Inspectorate of Probation have published a thematic report into enforcement of community-based court sentences and licence recall. It found that quality of Community Rehabilitation Companies enforcement of community and suspended sentence orders was poor, and they were struggling to provide adequate services for the range of complex needs presented by people on post-sentence supervision. The report highlights that there has been an increase in the number of people recalled, but found that almost all recall decisions by the National Probation Service and CRCs were determined to be good decisions. Find out more here

FUNDING: HMPPS grants programme

HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) and Clinks recently held three HMPPS Grant Funding Programme 2018 – 2020 events in London and York which provided further details to voluntary sector organisations working in the criminal justice system interested in applying for the available funding. Presentation slides are available here. The funding will be available for specific themes that cover HMPPS and Ministry of Justice priorities over the next 12-24 months. These grant opportunities will also be published on the government contract finder website and advertised in Light Lunch. For full details, register on the Ministry of Justice eSourcing portal

FUNDING: rural or urban deprivation

The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation has grants from £6000 to £50,000 for projects in areas of deprivation addressing issues such as drug/alcohol misuse or homelessness, training schemes to support people out of unemployment, and youth support amongst others. Applications are ongoing but a new funding system comes into effect in July, the deadline for applications under the old grants scheme is 31st March. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S TRAINING: understanding GDPR

Homeless Link is running training [online until 8th March, free] on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which comes into effect on 25th May. The webinars provide an overview of GDPR, accountability requirements, legal basis for GDPR, how to meet transparency guidelines, cyber security and supporting customers to comply. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: ending discrimnation against women

The Women's Resource Centre is holding a series of events on the 'Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)' [various dates, various locations, price tbc]. There will be six events to prepare the England CEDAW shadow report and associated activities. The events aim to raise the understanding, awareness and capacity of a wide range of Civil Society Organisations (CSO) in relation to the international human rights framework and the CEDAW review process, and will facilitate discussion of issues to be raised in the shadow civil society response to CEDAW, including the previous recommendations. The events will be provide training on CEDAW, the role of CSO’s and the process for contributing to the joint CSO shadow report. Find out more here

AWARDS: lottery funded projects

The 2018 Awards to celebrate the UK's favourite Lottery-funded projects are now open for nominations. The Awards are open to authorised representatives of projects that have received Lottery funding at any time since the National Lottery began in 1994. The main beneficiaries of the project must be based in the UK. The winner in each category will receive a cash prize of £5,000, which can be put towards their project. Winners will be determined by a public vote and will appear at a BBC One Awards Ceremony. Entry is free and the deadline is 6th April. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: A Project Worker with Hisbiscus Initiatives [Milton Keynes], a Support Worker with Waymarks [Coventry], a Contracts Manager – Transforming Rehabilitation, a Resettlement Worker – Transforming Rehabilitation, a Resettlement Worker – Transforming Rehabilitation with Shelter [Manchester/Yorkshire], a Area Lead (Fulfilling Lives) [Eastbourne] and a Young Women's Therapist [Brighton] with Brighton Oasis Project, a Senior Recovery Worker - Recovery Cafe - Evenings and a Partnership Manager UK Says No More with Hestia Housing and Support [London], a Community ETE Worker with St Giles Trust [Suffolk], and a Digital Communications Intern with Spark Inside [London]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Five fruit trees for £24.99. Details
  • Tip of the week II: Up to three nights for two with breakfast and dinner at Gairloch Hotel from £49. Details
  • Tip of the week III: 20% discount at Karen Millen. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

About Clinks Light Lunch

This edition of Light Lunch has been sent to the inbox of 11, 338 people working (or with an interest) in the criminal justice system of England & Wales. Who are they?

To submit content, read the Notes for Contributors here

To unsubscribe, email rhiannedd.mclean@clinks.org

[Disclaimer]

[[{"attributes":{},"fields":{}}]]

Get involved Donate | Become a Member | Follow Clinks on Twitter | Join Mailing List

Contact Us www.clinks.org | info@clinks.org | 020 7383 0966

© Clinks, 2018

Registered office: Tavis House, 1-6 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9NA

Registered charity: 1074546 | Company limited by guarantee in England & Wales: 3562176