Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 676 | 19th March 2021

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

CLINKS NEWS: new Bill will deepen racial inequality

Clinks, as part of a coalition of criminal justice and race equality organisations, has written to the Prime Minster warning that the government’s plans for policing and sentencing will further entrench racial inequality in the criminal justice system. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill entered parliament on 9th March and was voted through by MPs this week. It contains a number of proposals which the government has conceded will have a disproportionate impact on black, Asian and minority ethnic people in equality assessments, and was produced without consulting Black, Asian and minority ethnic people or the organisations representing them. We are calling for the government to withdraw elements of the Bill and launch a proper public consultation. Read more here

CLINKS NEWS: being, becoming, belonging

In this guest blog, Executive Director for External Affairs at Changing Lives, Laura Seebohm, talks about the impact of deprivation, discrimination and trauma on people’s lives. She suggests there is a growing need - especially since Covid-19 - for a radical re-imagining of how we can better support the mental health of people going through challenging times such as homelessness, addiction, contact with the justice system and violence against women and girls. Read it here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: race equality in probation services

HM Inspectorate of Probation has launched a new thematic report exploring the experiences of black, Asian and minority ethnic staff and service users and making a number of recommendations for greater racial equality in probation services. The Inspectorate recommends that the National Probation Service should develop a national race equality strategy for service delivery, supplemented by strategic needs assessments in each probation region, to ensure that ethnic minority service users are not disadvantaged and receive culturally appropriate services. The report was launched with an online event including a presentation from Justin Russell, HM Chief Inspector of Probation. Read the report here and watch the online event here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Gypsy, Roma and Traveller women in prison

The Traveller Movement has published a report with new insights into the experiences of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller women in prison. Gypsy and Traveller women are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, forming approximately 6% of the prison population, and 0.1% of the general population. In addition to bringing together a range of wider research, the report provides examples of good practice, as well as recommendations to implement reform that will benefit Gypsy, Roma and Traveller women. The Traveller Movement promotes the use of out of court disposals, community sentences, better sentence planning and trauma informed rehabilitation. Read the report in full here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: shared reading

Following a successful pilot project in 2020, The Reader has collaborated with Prison Radio Association on a new series of programmes for broadcast in prisons around the UK. Before the pandemic, The Reader was delivering weekly shared reading groups in 35 Approved Premises and prisons in the UK. The team developed radio programmes to ensure that existing group members have continued access to shared reading and to give those who haven’t attended a group before a chance to experience its benefits. Each episode is a mini shared reading session which lasts for around 50 minutes. A number of guests will also be appearing throughout the series, including poets Clare Shaw and Ian MacMillan, and writer Alex Wheatle. Find out more and listen here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: service user involvement contract

Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is inviting organisations to help strengthen its approach to service user involvement (SUI) in probation services. In November 2020 and March 2021, HMPPS announced its intention to develop and compete a national contract which will provide expert input and support from people with lived experience of its services. The procurement of this SUI service will be conducted via the Dynamic Framework. To participate, organisations must qualify on to the SUI category of the Dynamic Framework by 30th April 2021. Market engagement is due to commence in late April. For more information, please submit a message through PQQ205 in the eSourcing Portal here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: new role for Jo Farrar

Jo Farrar has been appointed to the newly established role of Second Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, in addition to her role as Chief Executive of HMPPS. In her new role, Jo Farrar will continue to lead HMPPS as CEO, alongside also having oversight of a number of operational agencies including the Legal Aid Agency, Office of the Public Guardian and Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. The role will also support the Permanent Secretary Antonia Romeo in leading across the 75,000 strong Ministry of Justice group. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: review of health and social care in women’s prisons

In recognition of women’s specific needs as a result of their sex and gender inequalities, the National Women’s Prisons Health and Social Care Review has been commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. The review aims to develop a better understanding of the current challenges faced by the women’s prison estate and prison health and social care services in delivering high quality care, treatment and support of women in custody. The programme will review health and social care delivery in the 12 women’s prisons over 12 months.  The aim is to reduce health inequalities and improve health and social care outcomes for women whilst in prison and on their release and return to their communities and families. For further information, contact charlottewinter@nhs.net

FUNDING: North East of England

Grants up to £2,000 are available from Hadrian Trust to help social welfare and charitable organisations working to improve the lives of people in the North East of England, particularly those working in the fields of social welfare (including with people in contact with the criminal justice system), youth, disability, the elderly, women, ethnic minorities, education, arts and the environment. Grants may be for a specific project or part of a project, purchase of equipment, part salaries or as a contribution to running costs. Find out more and apply by 1st April here

FUNDING: support into employment

Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Lorne Green, would like to hear from organisations interested in providing a support service for men and women who have, or may, come into contact with the criminal justice system in Greater Norwich. Total funding of £95,000 over two financial years will support a delivery partner who can work dynamically as part of the multi-agency programme. The 'Pathway Out' service will provide positive educational experiences, training and employment opportunities in order to encourage participants away from illicit drug activity. Find out more and apply by 6th April here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Humane Justice

Join Khulisa for the virtual book launch of Humane Justice and celebrate the work of authors with lived experience across the criminal justice system [24th March, online, free]. Curated by Khulisa, and the fourth in the Monument Fellowship book series, Humane Justice is a collection of essays, poetry and art, that highlight the roles kindness, hope and compassion play, and should play, in the system. Join to experience an afternoon of inspiration and conversation from authors featured in the book, including poet Mr Gee and Jayne Richards from Catch 22. You will have a chance to ask questions in a Q&A with the authors, hosted by Lisa Rowles, Director of Innovation and Design at Khulisa, who will dig beneath the surface of what humane justice looks like in our criminal justice system. Register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: service user involvement

HMPPS Insights is holding an event exploring service user involvement in the prison service, with a presentation from those who have advanced service user involvement at HMP Hewell [29th March, online, free]. HM Prison and Probation Service User Advisory Group has been working with Dr Sarah Lewis from the Penal Reform Solutions Growth Project and HMP Hewell to develop the establishment’s service user engagement models. The event will examine the links between service user involvement, rehabilitative culture and growth, drawing on research, experience and knowledge. Register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: arts and policy making

This webinar brings together artists, policy makers, and campaigning organisations to consider how arts practices can inform the recovery and transformation of the prison service during and beyond Covid-19 [31st March, online, free]. Speakers from National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance, The Prison Reform Trust, and Arts Council England will contribute to a panel, which will be followed by a participatory discussion with attendees. This webinar emerges from the Sounding Out project, a collaboration between the University of Reading, Rideout Creative Arts for Rehabilitation, and The Prison Reform Trust that explores how creative sound and audio practices might bring the voices of people in prison into policy making conversations. Register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: care after custody

The Academy for Social Justice is holding an event in conjunction with HMPPS Insights looking at the co-production of the RECONNECT: Care after Custody Service [21st April, online, free]. The event will feature Kate Morrissey, National Implementation Lead for the RECONNECT: Care after Custody Service at NHS England and Improvement, and the Revolving Doors Agency Lived Experience team. For many people, release from prison is a crisis point, and this event will explore the gap this can create. RECONNECT starts working with people before they leave prison and helps them to make the transition to community-based services that will provide the health and care support that they need. Read Clinks’ guest blog from Kate Morrissey on RECONNECT here. Register for the event here

PUBLICATION: lockdown with a parent in prison

Dr Shona Minson from the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford has published a research report on The impact of COVID-19 prison lockdowns on children with a parent in prison. The report draws on research undertaken during the first national lockdown in the UK in 2020. The report finds that the loss of contact during lockdown has negatively impacted children’s relationships with their imprisoned parents and their mental and physical health and wellbeing. It also finds that the effects of this loss of contact and disruption to family relationships are likely to be long term and will affect family reunification and resettlement after imprisonment. Read the report here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Personal Health and Wellbeing Practitioners with the Social Interest Group [London], Prison Liaison Peer Mentor with Shelter [Birmingham], Recovery Coordinator with Humankind [Stockton], Artistic Director with Kestrel Theatre Company [London], Counsellor and Referrals Coordinator with Trevi House [Plymouth], Floating Support Worker with Changing Lives [Newcastle-Upon-Tyne], Senior Support Worker with Imagine Independence [Lancashire], Office Manager with Safe Ground [London], Family Engagement Manager with Pact [HMP Bullingdon], Advocacy Service Manager with The Advocacy Project [London], Family Practitioner with Oasis Project [Brighton], Employability Mentor with The Forward Trust [London], Regional Manager with Shannon Trust [Home based], User Engagement Coordinator with IARS International Institute [London]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK                            

  • Non-stick oven liners. 73% off. Details
  • Electric patio heater. £79. Details
  • Refurbished Dell computer bundle. £159. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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