In this month's edition...
Changes to the probation service
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced that the Probation Delivery Partner commissioning has stopped and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) will deliver unpaid work and accredited programmes to people in contact with the criminal justice system from June 2021. The announcement also reiterated the Ministry of Justice’s commitment to the voluntary sector‘s role in delivering rehabilitation and resettlement services in partnership with the probation system. More than £100 million a year will be available to run services such as education, employment, accommodation and substance misuse treatment. Clinks welcomes the announcement on the basis that a simplified system that reduces complexity for people - and the need for contract management and monitoring - will mean a stronger focus on meeting people’s needs. Read more here
Market engagement materials for the probation dynamic framework
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched qualification for the probation dynamic framework. The dynamic framework is the mechanism that will be used to procure rehabilitation and resettlement services for people under probation supervision in the future. It represents the main opportunity for voluntary organisations of all sizes to deliver services in the new probation model. Clinks has written a blog, looking at the materials published alongside this announcement, and how charities interested in being commissioned under the new probation system from summer 2021 can get involved. To access the market engagement materials, organisations will need to pre-register their interest here. Read the blog here
Statement on Black Lives Matter and health inequalities
Chief Executive of NHS England, Sir Simon Stevens, has released a personal statement on the Black Lives Matter movement and health inequalities. In it, he states that it is increasingly clear that Covid-19 is having a disproportionate impact on BAME people, bringing into urgent focus the layered impacts of years of disadvantage and inequality. He goes onto say that the Covid-19 pandemic will be a fundamental inflection point for the NHS, and big decisions will need to be made over the next few months, with an inequalities lens. Read the full statement here
Clinks Health and Justice Network meeting
Clinks is holding the third in a series of virtual health and justice network meetings [1st July, online, free] to understand the continuing and evolving impact of Covid-19 on voluntary sector organisations delivering health and care services to people in contact with the criminal justice system. The meetings are aimed at voluntary sector organisations who are Clinks members and deliver health and care services to people in the criminal justice system. The aim of the meeting is to provide an opportunity for organisations to come together to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on service delivery, service users, and contract and grant requirements during these challenging circumstances. Read more here
Clinks letter: BAME-led organisations
Voluntary organisations led by black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people have set out five areas for action that Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) must take in order to address the challenges of BAME-led organisations in the criminal justice system. The paper recommends that HMPPS introduce appropriate safeguarding measures to protect BAME staff and service-users who are at higher risk from Covid-19; ensure the financial sustainability of the BAME sector in the criminal justice system; improve engagement with the BAME sector; embed considerations of disproportionality in the recovery process; and ensure transparency and accountability to reassure both BAME charities and the communities they serve. The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) has given their full support to the paper, in a letter to Dr Jo Farrar, Chief Executive of HMPPS. Read the paper and supporting letter here
Covid-19: Probation roadmap to recovery
In response to Covid-19, the probation system entered into an exceptional delivery model, limiting face-to-face contact where possible and restricting activities. Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has published a roadmap which outlines the key principles and objectives for how recovery will be taken forward across the probation system. Any significant changes, for example to social distancing, will take place a minimum of two weeks after the government announces changes in wider society to enable staff time to prepare. Some of the earlier changes are likely to include: scaling back doorstep supervision and scaling up face to face supervision; scaling up court work; restarting unpaid work and interventions, initially on a limited scale; and restarting Offender Management in Custody. Read the publication here
Covid-19: National Framework for Prison Regimes and Services
The Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service have published a conditional roadmap for what the easing of restrictions in prison will mean in practice. It summarises how prisons will operate while Covid-19 remains a threat, but where the most severe restrictions on prison regimes are no longer proportionate or sustainable, or where the threat can be mitigated via alternative approaches. Similar to the lifting of restrictions in the community, the re-opening of prison regime will need to be guided by a number of factors to ensure that it remains safe to do so at each stage, which are categorised and defined in the roadmap. You can read the full document here
Managing Volunteers
For Volunteers’ Week, Clinks has published a new guide, written in partnership with NCVO, to support voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system to manage volunteers. Written before the pandemic, Managing volunteers is a useful guide to make sure you’re up to date on developing a volunteer programme, recruiting volunteers, and rewarding, recognising and retaining volunteers – essential topics for organisations in the current circumstances. There's also key information on health, safety and insurance, and risk assessment. Use the simple good practice guidelines here to help ensure you’re engaging volunteers well and optimise the potential of your volunteer programmes. Read the guide here
Flexible responses during the Coronavirus crisis
The Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) coalition has published research examining the flexibilities that homelessness, substance misuse, mental health and criminal justice services have put in place during the Covid-19 crisis, and how some of the positive aspects of these changes might be maintained. The rapid evidence research found that there were flexibilities across a range of sectors, with positive and negative changes noted, e.g. improved safe accommodation for people released from prison in some areas, but worsening conditions in prisons under lockdown. The report recommended that local areas and national government reflect closely on learning from the crisis period, facilitate cross-sector leadership to ensure positive changes are maintained, and ensure the involvement of people with lived experience of multiple disadvantage. Read the report here
Report on short-scrutiny visits to prisons holding women
Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons has published a report on short scrutiny visits to three prisons holding women: HMP and YOI Bronzefield, HMP and YOI Eastwood Park and HMP and YOI Foston Hall. Worryingly, it was found that self-harm had increased after regime restrictions being implemented in response to Covid-19. Despite measures such as enhanced welfare checks and access to peer support for those at risk of self-harm, there was concern around the impact of the sudden withdrawal of interventions from a small number of prisoners with very high levels of need. The suspension of visits had also had a negative impact, with some women having not seen their children for two months, amidst delays in supplying video calling provision. Read the full report here
Report on short-scrutiny visits to local prisons
Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons has published a report on short scrutiny visits to three local prisons: HMP Wandsworth, HMP Elmley, and HMP Altcourse. The report found that the majority of people in the three prisons had no more than half an hour out of their cells each day. In one prison, a small number of symptomatic prisoners had been isolated in their cells without any opportunity to come out for a shower or exercise for up to 14 days. A prisoner who had been subject to such restrictions had described to the inspectors the negative impact on his mental health and well-being. Primary mental health applications had increased, and mental health support was being sustained across each prison. Read the full report here
Probation and multiple disadvantage
The Making Every Adult Matter coalition (MEAM) has published a briefing on how the government’s probation reform programme will likely impact people facing multiple disadvantage. The briefing aims to support people working with this cohort to understand the structure of the reformed probation service, how the role of probation practitioners will change and how services will be commissioned and delivered. It includes summaries of key health and justice interventions such as community sentence treatment requirements and the RECONNECT programme. Clinks is a member of MEAM, alongside Homeless Link, Mind and associate member Collective Voice. MEAM works to support local areas across the country to develop effective, coordinated services that directly improve the lives of people facing multiple disadvantage. Read the briefing here
Experiences of people in prison during Covid-19
The Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody (IAP) has published a report giving a unique insight into the experiences of those detained in prisons during the Covid-19 crisis. Through a partnership with National Prison Radio, the report draws on radio messages from over 200 prisoners across 55 prisons, almost half the prison estate. The IAP presents voices and views of people in prison in unprecedented times. The findings lead to ten recommendations grouped under five themes: the importance of clear, accurate information and good honest communication; staff attitudes and approaches and continuing need for independent scrutiny; cleanliness, decency and variation in regimes; mental health, wellbeing and vulnerability; and family contact, loss and bereavement. The full report can be read here
Pregnant women and new mothers in prison
Birth Companions has released a statement setting out a number of key calls on the Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service on the issue of the release of pregnant women and new mothers from prison during Covid-19. The calls include: releasing pregnant women, new mothers and their babies from prison as soon as possible; releasing women with appropriate, adequate support; those who remain in custody to be kept as safe as possible with care scrutinised closely; sentencing to take into account the challenges of Covid-19 and the impact of women’s imprisonment; and easing the lockdown in prisons. You can read the full statement here
An Unsafe Distance
Doctors of the World UK has published a report on the impact of Covid-19 on excluded people in England based on a rapid needs assessment which Clinks contributed to. The report looks at a range of groups including those released from prison and shows that control measures are amplifying existing health inequalities and putting life-saving advice and care further out of reach for excluded groups. The report recommends that the UK government and local authorities strengthen destitution prevention, provide sustainable housing solutions for people who have been placed in emergency accommodation during lockdown and reopen outreach and drop in services for people experiencing barriers to accessing alternative services. Read the report here
Young women, poverty and self-harm
Agenda and the National Centre for Social Research have published a report, Often Overlooked: Young women, poverty and self-harm. The report finds that since the year 2000, rates of self-harm amongst young women in England have tripled. It further notes that self-harm is more common amongst women who face poverty and disadvantage. In particular, the report states that women and girls on low incomes may be in contact with a range of services, such as the criminal justice system, and substance misuse treatment. A key recommendation of the report was that population-wide survey data spanning poverty, mental health, self-harm and violence and abuse are needed in both England and Wales to understand the factors that drive inequalities in health. Read the report here
Covid-19 secure environments resource kit
Beyond Words has developed special resources to empower people to understand health issues and social changes that they might face, due to coronavirus. In secure environments, some residents can struggle to understand written information, either due to learning disabilities, autism, low literacy levels or because they come from a non-English speaking background. As Covid-19 continues to impact people living and working in secure environments, Beyond Words have co-created a specific Covid-19 secure environments resource kit. This is intended for use by prison officers, chaplaincy teams, education staff, peer support workers and healthcare teams to support residents who find pictures more accessible than written words. The resource kit can be downloaded for free here
Covid-19 response grants programme
Voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system can apply now for grant funding to support their vital work during the Covid-19 pandemic. Clinks is pleased to be distributing £275,000 on behalf of Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and the Ministry of Justice in recognition of the continued challenges presented to voluntary organisations at this time. Organisations with an annual income of less than £500,000 can apply for an average grant size of £3,000 - £5,000. Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis - organisations will be told the decision within 10 days, and if successful, receive payment two weeks later. Find out more and apply here
Rosa’s Covid-19 Response Fund
Rosa has opened a Covid-19 response fund, providing grants of up to £10,000 for specialist women’s organisations across the UK. Rosa particularly welcomes proposals from women’s organisations that: address the critical needs of women and girls that miss out the most, including: marginalised populations, BME women, LGBTQ+ women and girls, women and girls with disabilities, older women, homeless women, survivors of gender violence, women in prison and women who have had contact with the criminal justice system, and other underserved and disadvantaged groups of women. Read more here
Woodward Charitable Trust
The Woodward Charitable Trust is offering grants of up to £3,000 for small to medium-sized charities working with people in contact with the criminal justice system, amongst other groups. Funding is available to support core costs in areas such as mental health issues and disabilities and supporting rehabilitation and resettlement of people in contact with the criminal justice system, as well as requests to help the families of prisoners. Read more here
How prisons and probation will recover from Covid-19
This blog gives an update from Jo Farrar, CEO of Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, on the government’s plans for how prisons and probation will start to recover from the restrictions imposed in response to coronavirus. It accompanies the publication of two key documents detailing the government’s approach to lifting temporary regimes in prisons and probation: National Framework for Prison Regimes and Services; and Probation Roadmap to Recovery. The national framework for prisons allows flexibility to accommodate the very different circumstances and situations of different establishments. As a result, progress is likely to be uneven across the estate and individual prisons and youth custody establishments will ease restrictions at their own speed, taking full account of their specific circumstances. Read more here
What recovery should look like
The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) brings together leading experts from across the voluntary sector for its Covid-19 special interest group. In this blog, Clinks Policy Officer and RR3 Secretariat Will Downs summarises the discussion from the latest meeting, which focussed around two documents recently published by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service that set out how restrictions in the criminal justice system will be lifted - the National framework for prisons and the Probation roadmap to recovery. The group is advocating for greater join-up between prisons and probation and for the wellbeing of service users to be given greater emphasis as people struggle in exceptionally difficult conditions. Read the blog here
Changing health in justice
Revolving Doors Agency has published a blog, Changing health in justice, about their work with NHS England to put lived experience at the heart of decision making and service design. Examples include the national Lived Experience Team which includes 12 members with lived experience, and works with NHS England’s Health and Justice national team to assist with the creation, design and implementation of healthcare services across secure settings, including community sentence treatment requirements, the RECONNECT programme, and liaison and diversion services. The blog also details the East Midlands Panel, a group of 12 people with lived experience who work with NHS England Health and Justice East Midlands Team to ensure lived experience is embedded into all its commissioning activities. You can read the full blog here
Covid-19: how is it impacting on prisoners’ health?
Nuffield Trust’s Senior Fellow, Dr Miranda Davies, has written a blog on the impact of Covid-19 on the health of people in prison and access to healthcare in prisons. The blog notes that the restrictions in place are resulting in people having to buckets as toilets in their cells in some instances, and also makes reference to recent inspection reports highlighting rising cases of self-harm and suicide. There is also discussion of the already poor access to hospital services and secondary healthcare compared to the general population, and how Covid-19 is exacerbating this. She recommends that there is a concerted effort to understand and publicly report on the impact of regime changes on the lives of people living and working in prison. Read the blog here
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