Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 539 | 15th June 2018

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In this week's edition...

CLINKS VACANCY: Development Officer- Wales

We are looking for a Development Officer to lead Clinks’ work in Wales [£31,093, Wales, full time]. We are seeking a dynamic individual with excellent relationship building skills to work with the criminal justice voluntary sector in Wales, identify specific priorities and build voluntary sector voice to influence key decision makers at a national and local level. The role will develop and support existing networks and co-ordination between the voluntary sector and stakeholders working in criminal justice and community safety and will provide a single point of contact for strategic engagement and communication. The successful candidate will be part of our respected Area Development Team currently based in the North East, North West and South West of England. The deadline for applications is 2nd July. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS BRIEFING: meeting accommodation needs

The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector (RR3) Advisory Group group has published a paper that calls for the Ministry of Justice to develop and lead a cross-departmental accommodation strategy following three meetings and a consultation event with people who have lived experience of the criminal justice system. The group of 13 experts from the voluntary sector was set up in September 2017 to explore the barriers people in contact with the criminal justice system experience when trying to access appropriate accommodation. Find out more here

CLINKS RESPONSE: probation framework

Clinks has responded to HM Inspectorate of Probation’s 2018 consultation on its inspection framework and programmes. Our response draws on evidence from our ongoing policy work and consultation with members. The consultation focused on the inspection of youth offending teams, potential topics for thematic review, the balance of inspection work and potential research projects. Our response highlights the importance of gaining a better understanding of partnership work with the voluntary sector in probation services and youth offending teams. It makes a number of recommendations about topics for thematic review or further research, including outcomes for black, Asian and minority ethnic people, service user involvement and the effective use of community sentences. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: young people leaving custody

Nacro has published 'Have you got anybody you can stay with', a report on housing options for young people leaving custody. Written as a result of joint research carried out alongside youth homelessness charity, Centrepoint, it calls for improved support for young people leaving custody accessing housing. The report urges the government to take action to improve housing, financial and social support for young people leaving custody to prevent further reoffending. This includes use of release on temporary licence to help maintain family relationships and support networks, guaranteeing deposits to secure private rented accommodation where needed and financial support on release including immediate access to Universal Credit. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: older prisoners support programme

RECOOP is offering a 'Buddy Support Worker Training Programme'. The programme, developed in partnership with Devon County Council, RECOOP and Dorset Healthcare Trust, was developed for use in prisons by adapting standards from the National Care Certificate. It teaches prisoners to support other prisoners in order to upskill and to actively improve provision to the growing older population. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: housing support for women

A chronic shortage of housing support for women released from custody is driving them back to prison, according to a report published today by the Prison Reform Trust and Women in Prison. 'Home truths: housing for women in the criminal justice system' found that while in-prison housing support should be an integral part of preparing for release, it is often last-minute, with some women unsure on the morning of their release if they will have accommodation that evening. The most recent national data was published in 2008 and shows that around six in 10 women do not have a home to go to on release from prison. Read the report here (PDF download)

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: needs of non-English speakers

The Bell Foundation has launched a call for Expressions of Interest into delivering a three year research project on the needs of victims and people with convictions with English as an additional language. The aim of the research is to document the impact of the English language barrier on experiences and outcomes as well as to identify policies and practices to improve support for individuals affected. The Foundation is interested in hearing from university teams, think tanks, individual researchers, and other organisations with the capacity to deliver the research project. As the research scope is quite broad, individuals or teams who only feel able to cover part of it are still welcome to express their interest. The deadline is 6th July. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: new name for criminal justice charity

Disc has rebranded to Humankind. The new name and brand emerged from a significant period of research internally, with service users and staff, and with input from commissioners too. WY-FI Programme Manager, Sue Northcott, says "It reflects what we see as the theme that binds all of our evolving efforts to help people in our communities – a belief in equality and a commitment to supporting people to discover and reach their potential. Our services will run as usual. We’ll continue to reach around 20,000 people each year with our help and support". Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: children in trouble with the law

The Howard League for Penal Reform has published a report entitled 'More than a roof overhead' on what home means to children in trouble with the law. Following consultation with children in custody, the report says home is more than just shelter but a place where children can feel loved, cared for, safe and comfortable. The report says that it is essential to listen to children and to meet these needs if they are to settle into communities successfully and lead crime-free lives on release from prison. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: quarterly statistics

The Ministry of Justice has published its annual criminal justice statistics for 2017. The total number of people formally dealt with by the criminal justice system last year was 1.64 million, a record low. The proportion of people in the criminal justice system with a long history of cautions and convictions (15 or more) increased by 8% from last year and now accounts for 36% of people who have offended. The custody rate for people tried by jury (which includes violent and sexual offences and robbery) has been increasing since 2010, from 23.9% to 31.8%. Over the last 10 years, the average custodial sentence length for these offences has increased from 15.2 months to 20 months. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: probation inspection in the midlands

HM Inspectorate of Probation will be conducting an inspection of probation services in the National Probation Service Midlands division during the weeks commencing 6th August, 13th August and 20th August. If you have any queries about this, please contact npsinspections@hmiprobation.gov.uk

FUNDING: youth homelessness

The Berkeley Foundation has launched a £250,000 fund with grants of between £10,000 and £70,000 for up to a period of two years. The Foundation, an independent registered charity that supports young people, their families and their communities across London, Birmingham and the South of England, is inviting proposals from voluntary sector organisations providing targeted support and housing solutions. The deadline for applications is 30th June. Find out more here

FUNDING: health and social care

The Health Foundation has up to £1.7 million available for up to 23 clinical teams through the latest round of its Innovating for Improvement programme. The funding can be used to test and develop innovative ideas and approaches to improve health and social care delivery in the UK. It is particularly interested in applications that focus on supporting the workforce to improve the quality of care. They might do this by focusing on the physical and mental wellbeing of staff, improving team working and relationships, or using technology and automation to address workforce challenges. The deadline for applications is 9th July. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: A Women's Advocate with Pecan [Southwark], Groupworker with Humankind [Northallerton], Engagement Team Member with User Voice [Isle of Wight], CEO with Step Together Volunteering [Bristol], Fundraising Volunteer Internship with Prisoners Abroad [London], Pre-Employment coach with Changing Lives [York], Senior Support Worker with Home Group [Guildford], National Service Delivery Manager with The Shannon Trust [London], and a Visits Booking Clerk with Nepacs [HMP Durham]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here.

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Free burger at Handmade Burger Co. on Father's Day. Details
  • Tip of the week II: Seven nights in Majorca from £119. Details
  • Tip of the week III: Five Odeon tickets for £25. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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