![Health and Justice bulletin](/sites/default/files/emails/Health-and-Justice_2.png)
In this month's edition...
Update on Clinks’ health and justice work
To kick off the new year, this bulletin will now include monthly updates on Clinks’ health and justice work so you can keep up to date with our key activities and priorities.
We had a January health and justice network meeting, where we discussed the implications of the new national lockdown on health and justice services and service users, as well as the vaccine roll-out. The next event is on the 9th February, you can sign up for it here.
Surveys have now closed for our joint project with Birth Companions on understanding the needs of pregnant women and recent mothers in contact with the criminal justice system in the community. We are now beginning to analyse these survey results, along with our findings from focus groups with organisations and women with lived experience. This project is part of our work with the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance.
We attended the quarterly VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance working day, where the 21 organisations involved in the Alliance come together to discuss progress made in the quarter, challenges, and what work is planned for the future. On the day, we raised the development of the national strategy for older people in prison in a discussion on social care and inclusivity.
We worked to encourage wide engagement with Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation’s review on neurodiversity in the criminal justice system by promoting the call for evidence to our members. We continue to have ongoing conversations with both inspectorates, as well as the Ministry of Justice, to support them in engaging with the voluntary sector as part of this review.
Updates on our wider policy work and engagement with the Ministry of Justice can be found here.
Covid-19 and prisons
From 5th January 2021, a national lockdown is in place for all of England. Wales is under alert level 4 restrictions. Prison social visits in both England and Wales are suspended, except on exceptional compassionate grounds agreed in advance with the prison. Visits to children in the Youth Custody Estate will continue. Official visits will continue as necessary but will be done remotely where possible. Whilst prisons aim to maintain current regimes, temporary changes may need to be put into place. All prisons are different, and regime changes may vary across the country. For voluntary organisations with concerns or questions regarding how Covid-19 is affecting you or the people you support, contact Covid19@clinks.org. Government guidance is available here. Read more on our Covid-19 page here
Impact of national lockdown on prison regimes
The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) special interest group on Covid-19 held separate meetings with Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to discuss the impact of national lockdown on prison regimes and how the voluntary sector can work with HMPPS to deliver more services and activity to people in their cells during national lockdown. The RR3 is a formal advisory group to the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS, consisting of senior voluntary sector leaders. Will Downs, Clinks Policy Officer has written a blog on the impact of the latest lockdown on prison regimes. Read more here
Action on mental health in prisons
In 2018, Professor Simon Wessely conducted an independent review of the Mental Health Act. In response to the recommendations, the government has announced reforms in a wide-ranging new Reforming the Mental Health Act white paper. The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice have stated that the wider changes made to the Act will support people with mental health conditions, including those who end up in contact with the criminal justice system, and move away from using prisons as a ‘place of safety’ for people awaiting a mental health assessment. This links in with the current review on neurodiversity in the criminal justice system, which is led by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation. Read more here
Free membership for voluntary sector organisations
We are continuing to offer voluntary organisations free Clinks membership until the end of March this year. Both new and existing members can enjoy free membership during this time. If your organisation isn't already a Clinks member, join today to make the most of this offer. We have been in touch with existing members to arrange refunds. For voluntary organisations with annual income under £100,000, we are offering free membership until the end of March 2023. We are able to make this offer thanks to funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation. Find out more here
Health and Justice network meeting
Clinks is holding the next event in a monthly series of health and justice network meetings [9th February, online, free]. These meetings discuss both the impact of Covid-19 on health and justice services and service users, as well as the day-to-day health issues their service users face and how their services address them. Information gathered at these meetings can be used to inform Clinks’ policy work. This meeting is for organisations that deliver health services to people in contact with the criminal justice system, including mental and physical health services, substance misuse services, pregnancy and maternity services, services for older people, and services relating to learning disabilities. Register for the event here
Improving mental health and wellbeing: the role of blue light services
Inside Government is holding a virtual conference on the changing role of blue light services in providing effective delivery of mental health provision [11th March, online, £245]. The agenda will include the role of policing in mental health provision, as well as discussion about how to improve the approach of the police and the wider criminal justice system to mental health to ensure the most vulnerable receive the right care. Key speakers will include Matthew Scott, Mental Health Lead at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, Professor Wendy Burn, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Register for the event here
Meeting for large organisations
Members of the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) invite senior leaders of voluntary sector organisations working in criminal justice with an annual income of £10m or more to a one-off meeting [10am-11.30am 4th February, online, free] to discuss the opportunities and challenges currently facing large organisations in the sector. The meeting will be led by the RR3 lead for large organisations, Laura Seebohm from Changing Lives and the RR3 Chair, Anne Fox from Clinks. The RR3 is a formal advisory group to the government and this meeting will help develop a network of organisations that can support Laura to fully reflect the views of this part of the sector when advising the Ministry of Justice, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and the wider government. To reserve a place contact will.downs@clinks.org
Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service Covid-19 weekly data
Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service is publishing weekly data on Covid-19 positive test results and deaths in the adult estate and the youth custody service. In the week ending 11th January 2021, 498 people in adult prisons and 6 people in the youth estate have tested positive for Covid-19, across 60 sites. In the previous week ending 4th January 2021, there were 341 people who had tested positive for Covid-19 in the adult estate, and 8 people who tested positive in youth estate across 55 sites. There were no deaths in the week ending 4th January 2021, however in the week ending 11th January 2021, there were 4 deaths in the adult estate suspected or confirmed as due to Covid-19. This data is updated weekly. Read more here
Deaths in the community, England and Wales 2019-20
The Ministry of Justice and the Office for National Statistics have published data on deaths of people in contact with the criminal justice system in the community during 2019-20. In 2019-20, there were 1,002 deaths of people in the community, down 8% from 2018-19. Self-inflicted deaths accounted for 35% of deaths, up from 33% in 2018-19. The number of deaths by natural causes has historically been higher than self-inflicted deaths, but the difference has narrowed since 2010-11. Worryingly, the number of self-inflicted deaths has exceeded the number of deaths from natural causes for the last two years. The main cause of female deaths in 2019/20 was self-inflicted (37%), followed by deaths from natural causes (34%). Read more here
Response to: A thematic review of minority ethnic prisoners’ experiences of rehabilitation and release planning
Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has published an action plan in response to A thematic review of minority ethnic prisoners’ experiences of rehabilitation and release planning. All of the recommendations of the review have been agreed to by HMPPS, in particular to review national and local strategies relating to equality and diversity. Consideration will be taken in these reviews to understand the cultural backgrounds and needs of black and Minority Ethnic people with a specific focus on Gypsy Roma Traveller prisoners, to increase and promote the benefits of rehabilitative culture. Additionally, HMPPS will undertake an exercise to identify national and regional expertise and third sector organisations to support delivery and development of culturally sensitive services, learning from the notable positive practice identified in the report. Read more here
Probation and the voluntary sector
The Probation Institute has published a position paper entitled Probation Services and the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) - A Strong and Effective Relationship. It sets out principles to guide practitioners, managers and policy-makers in probation and the voluntary sector as they seek to build consistent and constructive partnerships for the future. It is produced at a time of significant change resulting from the government’s decision to fully re-integrate the National Probation Service from June 2021. Having contributed to the paper, it makes use of Clinks' findings from our State of the sector research, TrackTR work, and work to assess the impact of Covid-19. Principles include that commissioning of the VCS should be jointly developed by agencies working with probation in the community responsible for issues including physical and mental health. Read more here
Preventing and controlling outbreaks of Covid-19 in prisons and places of detention
The Ministry of Justice and Public Health England have published guidance on Preventing and controlling outbreaks of Covid-19 in prisons and places of detention. This guidance will assist custodial, detention and healthcare staff in addressing Covid-19 in prescribed places of detention, through means such as cohorting by providing operational recommendations. This guidance is of a general nature and should be treated as a guide. In the event of any conflict between any applicable legislation (including the health and safety legislation) and this guidance, the applicable legislation is to be adhered to over the guidance. Read more here
Telephone befriending grants
Having secured funding from the Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), Volunteering Matters is looking for expressions of interest from organisations to deliver a telephone befriending service to individuals currently serving their sentences in the community either on a community sentence order or on a period of license. Volunteers would support the most vulnerable via telephone calls to help those feeling isolated during the pandemic. There is a range of areas across England which need cover. Telephones will be supplied by HMPPS. The grant funding for this project is up to £15,000 for five months. For more information, contact debbie.easterbrook@volunteeringmatters.org.uk
Prison regime delivery during national lockdown
In this blog, Will Downs, Policy Officer provides an update on what the prison regime now looks like after the implementation of national restrictions in England on Tuesday 5th January and Wales moving to alert level 4 from 19th December 2020. This information is drawn from an update issued by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), as well as information gathered at a recent meeting of the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group special interest group on Covid-19. All adult prisons in England and Wales have moved to regime stage four of the National Framework for Prison Regimes and Services which means all social visits are suspended. To request weekly updates on the situation across the prison estate, please email covid19@clinks.org. Read the blog here
Update from the policy team
In this blog, Clinks policy team outline what they’ve been doing to influence criminal justice policy and practice in the run up to the new year and reflect on priorities for 2021. This includes work on the impact of Covid-19, probation reform, the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group, health and justice, the female offender strategy, racism and discrimination, and working to ensure the voluntary sector’s voice is heard in policy influencing. With the pandemic still ongoing and a number of major changes set to take place in the criminal justice system in 2021, the team will continue to work hard to ensure the voluntary sector’s voice is heard and reflected in policy decisions and to keep you informed on changes and opportunities to get involved. Read more here
Remote probation supervision – getting the balance right
Russell Webster has published a guest blog from David Coley and Jess Lawrence of the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Community Rehabilitation Company Research and Policy Unit, where they discuss the pros and cons of probation supervision over the phone. The blog summarises a recent report by Kent Surrey Sussex Community Rehabilitation Company and the Institute of Criminology – University of Cambridge that explores probation supervisory practice in the context of the Covid-19 crisis. The report indicates that the suitability of remote supervision via telephone was rated highest for unscheduled checks on service users’ welfare, as well as scheduled meetings with service users both in the community and in custody. Read more here
Get involved Become a Member | Follow Clinks on Twitter
Contact Us www.clinks.org | info@clinks.org | 020 7383 0966
About Clinks Health and justice bulletin
This regular bulletin provides Clinks members with the latest news for voluntary organisations involved in the health and care of people in the criminal justice system. It currently has 2,428 subscribers.
To submit content, or have comments or ideas about how this ebulletin could be improved, please email zahra.wynne@clinks.org
Click here to manage your subscriptions. For assistance, email info@clinks.org
© Clinks, 2021
Registered office: Clinks, Block C, 5th Floor, Tavistock House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JJ
Registered charity: 1074546 | Company limited by guarantee in England & Wales: 3562