Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 712 | 3rd December 2021

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

CLINKS VACANCY: Influence and Policy Manager

We’re looking for a passionate and creative influencing professional to manage and coordinate the work of our well respected Policy team [£38,992, full time, London (with flexibility for home-based hybrid working)]. We’re looking for someone with excellent knowledge of policy-making and political processes, the ability to pick up complex policy areas easily and develop creative ideas to help raise our profile with decision makers. You’ll have experience of working in a relevant policy, political or campaigns role, within the criminal justice system or related fields. You’ll have great management and inter-personal skills, experience supporting senior leaders and building strong relationships. Clinks is an equal opportunities employer and individuals with direct experience of the criminal justice system and/or with protected characteristics are actively encouraged to apply. Find out more and apply by 3rd January here

CLINKS NEWS: your opportunity to shape Clinks' work

There’s not long left to apply to join our new member advisory forum. Clinks is seeking voluntary sector leaders and practitioners working in the criminal justice system to provide Clinks with strategic and operational advice, to ensure that Clinks is best informed by the organisations that it supports. To apply, you must be a senior representative from a voluntary organisation working in the criminal justice system in England or Wales that is a Clinks member. Members of the forum will bring enthusiasm, knowledge, skills and expertise from different aspects of the criminal justice voluntary sector. This includes experience running service delivery organisations, working in specific parts of England and Wales and working with particular groups of people. The forum will be made up of 10-15 people and will meet four times a year. Find out more and apply by 6th December here

CLINKS NEWS: join the Clinks Women’s network

Join the Clinks Women’s network for the opportunity to meet and engage with organisations offering women-specific services and access information, advice and support on developing and running women-specific services. Registration for the network is now required in order to attend our quarterly women’s network forum events from January 2022. These forums, hosted in partnership with Agenda, offer support, welcome expert speakers, and provide policy updates and networking opportunities to those working with women in contact with the criminal justice system. Registration is free and open to current Clinks members that work or volunteer in a women-specific voluntary organisation that provides services for women, or those who work with men and women but currently deliver fully established services designed specifically for and open only to women. Register today here

CLINKS EVENT: Metropolitan Police Service: diversion and out of court disposals

At this event, the Metropolitan Police Service will share its proposed approach in response to the government’s two-tier framework for out of court disposals and seek voluntary sector expertise on how to help divert people from future offending [9th December, online, free]. The Metropolitan Police Service intends to implement the new framework by 31st March 2023. This will involve identifying and building strong, lasting relationships with partners, stakeholders, voluntary sector organisations and intervention providers. Find out more and book here

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE NEWS: mentoring scheme

The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) is now accepting applications for mentors and mentees to join the NCJAA professional mentoring scheme for 2021-22. The scheme provides emerging arts and criminal justice practitioners with specialist guidance and professional development through a free one-to-one mentoring relationship with an expert in the field. For mentors, it provides the chance to give back to the arts in criminal justice sector by sharing knowledge and supporting those early in their career with professional development. If needed, mentors can sign up for subsidised training and supervision alongside the opportunity to develop their own skills. Find out more and apply by 6th January here

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE NEWS: subsidised training offer

The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA), in partnership with Guildhall School of Music and Drama, are excited to offer four subsidised places on the Core Skills in Coaching for Advisors, Mentors and Teachers training programme led by Guildhall School of Music and Drama [£50, online, February-April]. This training is aimed at people who currently work in the arts as a facilitator, advisor, teacher or mentor and who want to expand their skills and knowledge in coaching and mentoring.. Find out more and apply by 5pm 6th January 2022 here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: older people in prison

Earlier this November, Clinks and Recoop published a report Understanding the needs and experiences of older people in prison, providing valuable evidence and key recommendations for policymakers to influence the development of the Older offender strategy. The four key themes that were investigated as part of the report were: ensuring older people are placed in establishments which can meet their needs; access to age appropriate meaningful activity; access to health and care provision; and preparing for resettlement in the community upon release or end of life in prison. Recoop has written an illuminating blog about the report’s context, findings, key themes and recommendations. Read it here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: adverse childhood experiences and serious youth violence

HM Inspectorate of Probation has published a new Academic Insight on Serious youth violence and its relationship with adverse childhood experiences. In this edition, Dr Paul Gray, Professor Hannah Smithson and Dr Deborah Jump focus on findings from recent research in Manchester which explored adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), serious youth violence, trauma-informed practice, and youth participation. The children in the study typically had multiple ACEs, and it is highlighted how knowledge and understanding of these ACEs should be used to co-develop, with children, personalised approaches to addressing their involvement in serious youth violence which consider both socio-cultural and psycho-social factors. The importance of building trusting relationships between individual children and practitioners is also emphasised. Read the Academic Insight here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Prison Council elections

User Voice has published a blog on the Prison Council elections held at HMP Forest Bank. Despite a difficult 18 months due to Covid-19 restrictions, in just four short weeks the Forest Bank residents with support from the User Voice engagement team had formed three parties, prepared their manifestos, campaigned around the wings and organised an event to elect a new Council to represent the voices of the men in the prison. For the first time ever, Prison Council members could also invite one family member to come along for the event. The three parties’ manifestos mainly focused on visits, nutrition, and mental and physical wellbeing. For all the men, better visits were a top priority, including being able to see their kids more often and making the experience better for their families. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Dependency and Recovery timelines and market engagement

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is aiming to go out to tender for the delivery of Dependency and Recovery (D&R) probation services. The invitation to tender will be launched on 20th December 2021; the deadline for clarification questions is 19th January 2022; and the invitation to tender deadline is 2nd February 2022. Contracts will be awarded in mid-April 2022 with services commencing in July 2022. To clarify the regional requirements and timelines of this service with suppliers, the MoJ is hosting a Market Engagement event [8th December, online, free]. The event will include information specific to the following regions: London; Kent, Surrey and Sussex; North East; South Central; South West; Yorkshire and the Humber; North West; and West Midlands. If you have any queries, please contact ProbationDynamicFramework@justice.gov.uk. Register here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Dominic Raab appears before Justice Committee

On Tuesday, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP, appeared before the Justice Committee to answer questions about the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) work. Some of the topics covered included sentencing, youth custody, the adult prison estate and the Prisons White Paper and mental health in prison. Following Clinks’ letter to the Minister of State at the MoJ, Victoria Atkins MP, we were pleased that Dominic Raab said he was keen for the Prisons White Paper to go out for consultation soon. We look forward to working with voluntary organisations to share the sector’s views on that white paper with the MoJ, helping to develop the long-term vision for prisons. Watch the session in full here

FUNDING: violence against women and girls

Comic Relief is seeking a UK consultant or team with expertise in Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) to undertake a participatory evaluation with organisations funded through its Supporting and Sustaining Specialism Programme (co-funded with The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport). The maximum budget available for the programme evaluation is £27,016. Comic Relief has ring-fenced funding for organisations that are led and managed by racially minoritised women, for racially minoritised women and girls, working to end VAWG in England. The deadline for applications is 12.00pm 14th December 2021. Find out more here

FUNDING: suicide prevention

Applications are now open for grants from a new £4 million Department of Health and Social Care fund to support voluntary organisations working on suicide prevention. This grant fund will support services to help meet increased demand resulting from the pandemic, and will particularly focus on organisations supporting individuals from groups considered to be at higher-risk of suicide – including those in contact with the criminal justice system. A portion of the fund is ring-fenced to support small community-led and user-led groups and organisations. Find out more and apply by 16th January here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: join the Insights22 Festival programme

The HMPPS Insights22 Festival will be taking place from 9th to 20th May 2022 and the Insights team are looking for speakers and activities for inclusion in the festival line-up. Insights22 events are free and open to everyone who works for, and alongside, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The festival brings people together to learn knowledge and skills, share ideas and good practice, connect to build relationships, and celebrate success. The team are looking for a broad range of events and unique learning opportunities, across departments, sectors, and regions in the UK (and beyond). The closing date for inclusion is 31st January 2022. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: stop sending pregnant women to prison

As part of its joint campaign with Women in Prison and Birth Companions, Level Up is holding a march [4th December, London, free] to call for the government to stop imprisoning pregnant women and new mothers by changing sentencing laws. The campaign calls on the government to introduce a statutory duty for courts to consider the health of pregnant people and the best interests of children in sentencing decisions, to ensure prison sentences are a last resort. When a pregnant woman or mother is supported in her community, she’s able to get the support to give her child the best start in life, including easy access to antenatal and postnatal healthcare. See more on the campaign and sign the petition here. More information on the march here

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: brain injury awareness

The Disabilities Trust has launched “Ask, Understanding and Adapt Brain Injury Awareness Training”. The training is available to all 63,000 prison and probation staff and to all healthcare staff within prisons in England [anytime, online, free]. The training can be completed anytime and enables staff to get to know the person behind the behaviours and adapt their engagements and interactions through the ‘lens’ of brain injury. This follows research from The Disabilities Trust which showed nearly half of men (47%) of men in HMP Leeds and nearly two-thirds of women (64%) at HMP/YOI Drake Hall reported a brain injury. The training can be viewed on the MyLearning platform which is available to prison and probation staff. Find out more here

BOOK: the last 30 years of prisons and probation

The Honest Politician’s Guide to Prisons and Probation, by By Roy D. King, Lucy Willmott, is a recently published book, based on interviews with Secretaries of State, Prison Ministers, Director Generals of the Prison Service and National Probation Service and other key figures from the last 30 years. Insightful and candid reflections provide an authoritative account of the crisis which, in the authors’ words, has gradually engulfed the prison and probation services since 1991. Read more here

FEATURED VACANCY: Female Accommodation Adviser – Women’s Criminal Justice

Shelter is looking for a Female Accommodation Adviser – Women’s Criminal Justice [£23,847 pro rata, Humberside, part time] to play a vital role at the heart of the Ministry of Justice’s Together Women project. This project works to developing gender-specific, trauma-informed services for women involved in the criminal justice system. The role involves assessing women’s accommodation needs and helping them to obtain and maintain secure, appropriate and safe housing, as well as providing finance, benefit and debt related support. You will need considerable experience of housing law and debt advice and a good understanding of the main issues affecting homelessness and women with multiple and complex needs. Find out more and apply by 9th December here

FEATURED VACANCY: Senior Restorative Justice Practitioner

Belong - Making Justice Happen is looking for a Senior Restorative Justice Practitioner [£30,600 pro rata, London, part time] to co-ordinate and deliver the service within its Transitions to Adulthood Hub. They will work alongside probation to identify young adults who can benefit from restorative justice processes. They will facilitate interventions between young adults, their families and/or people who have been harmed by offending, ensuring that all participants receive tailored support. The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate knowledge of restorative justice, a track record of supporting young adults with complex and multiple needs, of securing stakeholder engagement and of communicating effectively with individuals from a range of backgrounds. Find out more and apply by 23rd December here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Youth Violence Community Caseworker with St Giles Trust [Coventry], Resettlement Worker with Rhondda Hub for Veterans [Rhondda Cynon Taff], Volunteers with Nacro [West Midlands], Creative Communications Lead with Inspire North [Leeds], Female Activity Hub Worker with Anawim [Balsall Heath], Visits Services Catering Worker with NEPACS [HMP Frankland], Communications and Evidence Assistant with Khulisa [London], Catering Supervisor with Spurgeons [Rochester], Women Custody Accommodation Key Worker with Together Women Projects [HMP Newhall Prison], Family Relationships Tutor with Prison Advice and Care Trust [London], Sexual Exploitation Specialist with Basis Yorkshire [Leeds], Network Officer with Prisoners’ Education Trust [home/London], Community Chaplain with Futures Unlocked [Rugby]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Personalised photo calendar. 79% off. Details
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  • Christmas family pyjama set. 63% off. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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