Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 571 | 8th February 2019

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In this week's edition...

CLINKS NEWS: a day to remember

Did you miss out on our 2018 conference, 'Clinks at 20'? Are you curious about our upcoming annual conference on 9th May 2019? You can watch the video from our last event online. It was a day of celebration, with inspiring guest speakers from the voluntary sector working in criminal justice. This video features conversational snippets from HM Prison and Probation Service, New Leaf Initiative CIC, Partners of Prisoners, Imagine If, Muslim Women in Prison, Pink Umbrella Studios, The Centre for Justice Innovation, InHouse Music, The Desmond Tutu Foundation, and our former Director Clive Martin. Watch the video here

CLINKS NEWS: influencing change

Clinks contributed to a discussion paper from New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) as part of NPC's criminal justice programme. The paper How are charities influencing change in the prison system? outlines thinking about how change happens, when it works, and why it works. It looks at how charities are influencing change and delivering services in prison despite a difficult climate, and the role that independent funding plays to enable both. Other contributors include Revolving Doors and the Prison Reform Trust. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: review of the parole board

The Ministry of Justice has published the findings of a review into the Parole Board’s rules and reconsideration mechanism. The review sets out the department’s commitments for a more effective and transparent parole system. Among the changes, victims will be able to challenge a release decision without needing a judicial review. A team within the prisons and probation service will consider applications, reviewing the Parole Board’s decision-making process and a decision will then be made by a senior judicial member of the Parole Board as to whether a case should be reconsidered. This process will be available for decisions relating to all indeterminate sentenced prisoners. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: prisoners’ family ties

The government has published rules and guidance for prison staff on supporting the maintenance and development of prisoners’ relationships with family, significant others and friends. The Strengthening Prisoners Family Ties Policy Framework sets out duties, rules and general guidance on the actions that staff in all prisons must deliver as part of their local strategy to support prisoners. In August 2017, the Farmer Review, done in partnership with Clinks, emphasised the fundamental importance of family relationships. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: justice statistics update

The Ministry of Justice has issued the latest Offender Management Statistics bulletin. It provides a snapshot of the levels of activity in the prison and probation system. The bulletin covers the prison population up to 31st December 2018, while other quarterly statistics refer to the period between July and September last year. The latest data shows the total prison population (82,236) has decreased by 3%, compared with the same point in the previous year. Find out more here (PDF)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: drug treatment monitoring

Public Health England has published its annual National Drug Treatment Monitoring System Statistics report on specialist treatment interventions for drugs and alcohol misuse in secure settings during 2017 to 2018. The report contains information on adults (aged 18 and over) in contact with treatment services in prisons, including youth offender institutions for 18 to 21 year olds, and immigration removal centres. Almost one in 10 adults in treatment said they had a problem with new psychoactive substances. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: monitoring state detention

The Ninth Annual Report of the UK's National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), covering the period 1st April 2017 – 31st March 2018, has been published. The UK NPM was established in 2009 to scrutinise state detention in all its forms, in order to meet the UK's UN treaty obligations under the United Nations’ Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. In the reporting year, volunteers made over 66,000 monitoring visits throughout the year to prisons, young offender institutions, immigration detention facilities, police custody, court custody and to observe escorts. There were over 1,500 inspections carried out across the UK. Read the report here (PDF)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: new chief executive for prison and probation

Dr Jo Farrar has been appointed as the next Chief Executive of HM Prison and Probation Service. She will take up the post on 1st April. At present, she is Director General for Local Government and Public Services at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. She previously spent 16 years in central government. Her public service career started in the Parole Unit of the Prison Service. She succeeds Michael Spurr who is leaving the role after nine years in post. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: brain injury in women prisoners

Nearly 65% of prisoners at a women’s prison may have suffered traumatic brain injuries at some point in their lives, a study has found. The report, Making the Link: Female Offending and Brain Injury, by the Disabilities Trust and Royal Holloway, University of London, found that of the 173 women screened at Drake Hall prison in Staffordshire answering questions about blows to the head, 64% gave answers consistent with having symptoms of a brain injury. The symptoms of 96% of the women suggested that these arose from physical trauma. The work adds to a growing body of research on the over-representation of people with brain injuries in the prison population. Find out more here

FUNDING: health and wellbeing

The Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England have launched the VCSE health and wellbeing fund for 2019 to 2020. Each round focuses on a specific theme. This round will provide grants of up to £510,000 over three years, to organisations to expand and evaluate current projects improving the mental health of children and young people, particularly supporting those going through life changing events. All grants are subject to yearly business planning processes. The deadline to apply is 15th February. Find out more here

FUNDING: returning to work

The Government Equalities Office will be launching round three of funding under the Returners Fund programme, and is holding a market engagement event [21st February, London, free]. There is up to £500,000 to support organisations to run projects aimed at returners from groups facing the greatest disadvantage. Returners are people who are returning to work after a long period of unemployment, often as carers. It is looking to support people who face persistent barriers to returning to work, including people with convictions and homeless people. Find out more here

NON- MEMBER’S EVENTS AND TRAINING

Music in Prisons: Defining a Successful Project | 11th February, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, free | Details

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: A Substance Misuse Recovery Worker with Brighton Oasis Project [Brighton], Team Manager - Angelou with Advance [London], Family Support Worker with St Giles Trust [Bexley], Women to Women Peer Support Co-ordinator with Brighton Women's Centre [Brighton], Engagement/ Admin Officer with Changing Lives [Cheshire], Administrative Officer with The Forward Trust [London], Prison Data Administrator with Social Interest Group [HMP Pentonville], Support Worker with Waymarks [Southampton], and a Trustee with The Oswin Project [Northumberland]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: £12 discount on £60 Sainsbury's shop for new online customers. Details
  • Tip of the week II: Three course meal on Valentine's Day for £23 at Carluccio's. Details
  • Tip of the week III: Up to seven nights in Sardinia including flights and breakfast from £89. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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