In this month's edition...
Clinks continues to work closely with the HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) probation reform team to raise issues the sector is facing in relation to qualifying for the dynamic framework. We also continue to run events for the sector to support them in understanding and navigating the framework and to build partnerships and consortia with other organisations.
We have submitted a response to the Justice Committee inquiry on the future of the probation services, in which we bring together a wealth of evidence collected over the past few months, to set out the opportunities and challenges for voluntary organisations under the new probation model. We will publish the response in due course.
We convened a meeting of the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) special interest group on probation to discuss funding streams and in particular voluntary sector concerns about the proposed contract volumes and values of the dynamic framework. The meeting was attended by 13 senior voluntary sector leaders and three officials from HMPPS. The RR3 is a formal advisory group to the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS, made up of openly recruited senior leaders from the voluntary sector. Notes from the meeting will be published soon.
We have submitted a response to Human Rights Joint Committee inquiry on black people, racism and human rights. Our response specifically focuses on the institutional racism black people face in the criminal justice system and the discriminatory outcomes as a result.
The RR3 special interest group on Covid-19 met with HMPPS officials twice during August, to discuss: how the voluntary sector can feed into the work of HMPPS to ensure that lessons learned during Covid-19 inform future service delivery; and how better use of technology across the prison estate can improve conditions for people in prison.
Accommodation HMIP action plan The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published its action plan in response to a thematic inspection of accommodation recently conducted by HM Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP). Clinks submitted evidence to the HMIP inspection and welcomed the report, which supported our call for a cross-government strategy to address the housing needs of people leaving prison. While it is welcome that the government “agrees” or “partially agrees” to all recommendations, many are subject to outcomes related to probation reform and existing streams of work, and may take some time to be realised. Clinks will therefore continue to work with voluntary sector housing experts to advocate for the implementation of these recommendations and further reforms to ensure all people leaving prison have a home to go to.
Clinks publications
Race and Ethnicity: A critical moment Dr Jo Farrar, Chief Executive of HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), has responded to a letter from the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3). The letter from the RR3 called for Jo Farrar to act promptly and decisively in response to five key issues set out by organisations who are led and deliver specialist services to people from, black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities in the criminal justice system. In her response, she sets the initial steps to take forward the recommendations, including convening BAME specialist organisations to shape HMPPS’s approach to the issues raised. The RR3 is a formal advisory group to the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS, made up of openly recruited senior leaders from the voluntary sector.
Clinks response: lessons from coronavirus Clinks submitted evidence to the House of Lords Public Services Committee inquiry on lessons from coronavirus. The response focuses on the impacts of Covid-19 on the voluntary sector working in criminal justice, including the challenges faced in delivering serviced and the impact on the sustainability of the sector. We also highlight issues of historic underfunding in the criminal justice system which has affected the ability of services to respond to this crisis, damaged relationships between local partners and made communication and joint working with the voluntary sector more challenging. Our recommendations include for the government to make greater use of sustainable grant funding over contracts to enable the voluntary sector to play its full role in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Response to the Women and Equalities Committee sub-inquiry Clinks submitted additional evidence to the Women and Equalities Committee about the impact of Covid-19 on black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people in the criminal justice system. Our evidence highlights the lack of transparency over the number of people in prison and under probation supervision from BAME communities who have tested positive for Covid-19; the impact of the heavily restricted regimes in prison on the mental health and wellbeing of BAME prisoners; and the lack of communication from the government with BAME-led voluntary organisations. Our response makes a number of recommendations including for clear action plans to be developed in the recovery planning process for prisons and probation on how the needs of BAME groups will be identified and met.
Social Prescribing Explainer The Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) coalition has published a briefing on how people facing multiple disadvantage may benefit from social prescribing. Deriving from the view that wider social determinates impact people’s physical and mental health, social prescribing often works though a link worker putting people in touch with non-medical community support to help address health issues, such as physical activity, or financial advice and support. The briefing suggests that where social prescribing is co-produced, flexible and trauma-informed it could form part of a package of support for people experiencing multiple disadvantage. MEAM is a coalition of Clinks, Homeless Link, Mind and associate member Collective Voice, and works to improve services for people facing multiple disadvantage.
Once in a generation opportunity to prevent a lifetime of crisis and crime A number of voluntary organisations, Police and Crime Commissioners and academics have signed an open letter highlighting the issue of young adults being pulled into the criminal justice system rather than being diverted from it. Last year 50,000 cautions or convictions were handed to 18-25-year olds for non-violent crimes. Some of these minor convictions can lead people into a revolving door of crisis that destroys lives, families and communities. The coalition, led by Revolving Doors Agency and supported by Clinks, believes many offences are driven by persistent poverty and profound trauma, and can be dealt with much more effectively through early intervention and diversion schemes that give young adults hope of a good life.
Prisons
Short scrutiny visit aggregate report HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) has published a report reflecting on 35 of their short scrutiny visits of prisons during Covid-19. The report shows that the initial response from HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) was successful in keeping people safe from Covid-19, but that the continuation of restrictions (including extremely limited time out of cells and access to showers for many) have led to concerning increases in the levels of stress and frustration among people in prison. The report warns there is now a real risk of psychological decline among people in prison, which needs to be addressed urgently, so that people do not suffer long-term damage to their mental health and well-being, and prisons can fulfil their rehabilitative goals.
Probation
The quality of pre-sentence information and advice provided to courts HM Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP) has published a research and analysis bulletin looking into the quality of pre-sentence information and advice provided to courts by the National Probation Service (NPS). The report analyses data collected from 802 pre-sentence reports, from seven NPS divisions between June 2018 and 2019. The quality of pre-sentence information and advice varied significantly. Oral reports were less likely to be deemed sufficiently detailed compared to written reports, which is concerning considering the majority of reports are given orally. Reports written for people facing multiple and complex disadvantage were also less likely to be judged sufficient. HMIP welcomes commitments made by the Ministry of Justice to improve the provision of pre-sentence reports under the probation reform programme.
Women and girls
Voices from lockdown research Agenda, the alliance for women and girls at risk, has launched a new report Voices from lockdown: a chance for change. The research represents voices from the voluntary sector that support women and girls facing multiple disadvantages. The report finds that demand for services is increasing, and there are more women and girls facing the most complex problems. Women and girls have been particularly badly affected during Covid-19, with reports of domestic violence soaring and higher rates of mental health issues. In this context it is therefore highly concerning that unsuitable funding is putting vital community organisations at risk. The report encourages central and local government, commissioners and funders to ensure that the most vulnerable women and girls are supported during the crisis.
A survey of women being released from prison A report published by the Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB) shows that almost 60% of women have no settled home on release from prison, facing sofa surfing and temporary hostels just to avoid sleeping rough. The report is based on interviews with 80 women across 10 prisons, which showed that a quarter of women had lost their homes on arrival in prison; 45% had no address to go to on release; and 14% only had a temporary address. The report highlights poor communication between different parts of the system and criticises the use of short sentences that prevent the opportunity for rehabilitation and resettlement planning. The IMB recommendations a joined-up approach across government to ensure women have the support they need.
Children
Childhood criminal exploitation and school exclusions This new report highlights the link between child exploitation and exclusion from schools. 8 out of 10 children in custody have previously been excluded from school, and evidence from casework at Just for Kids Law, shows that a significant proportion of these children have been excluded as a direct consequence of being victims of exploitation, often into “county-lines” drug trafficking. The report finds that when a child is excluded from school in these circumstances, they are then more likely to come into contact with the criminal justice system. The report calls for schools to urgently change their approach to ensure they are doing everything possible to safeguard and protect children at risk of exploitation rather than use exclusions.
Your key concerns about probation reforms and the support we're providing Jess Mullen, Director of Influencing and Communications at Clinks, has written a blog to update the voluntary sector on the work we have been doing to influence government and support the sector around probation reform. We continue to work closely with the HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) probation review team, raising the sector’s concerns about its ability to engage with and deliver services as part of the new system. This includes concerns that the qualification process for the dynamic framework is complex and onerous and that the information provided on the e-sourcing portal and the way it is presented is too complex. The risk from this is that fewer voluntary organisations delivering vital services under the dynamic framework.
The front line workers supporting older prisoners through Covid-19 Liz Ropschitz, Buddy Training Manager at Recoop, blogs about how the Recoop prison buddies programme has responded to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Recoop Buddy scheme trains people in prison to National Care Certificate Standards to support their peers with the day-to-day challenges they face. The initiative supports up to 300 older people in prison across six prisons each day, with rollout to further prisons planned. Since Covid-19, buddies have provided essential support to their peers, taking part in additional training in the correct health and safety use of PPE when working with shielded individuals. They have also developed closer working relationships and partnerships with health care staff and prison officers.
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Written monthly by...
Clinks' policy officers, Will Downs and Lauren Nickolls
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