Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 721 | 18th February 2022

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

CLINKS RESPONSE: our views on the future of prisons

After gathering the views of voluntary organisations, we have responded to the Ministry of Justice’s Prisons Strategy White Paper. We spoke with 113 different voluntary sector organisations working in criminal justice to inform this response, which focusses on utilising their expertise, reducing the prison population, equality and fairness and resettlement support. Read our blog summarising some of the key points here and the response in full here

CLINKS EVENT: supporting vulnerable girls

Clinks is running a workshop for organisations working in London on the issues facing vulnerable girls and young women [24th March, online, free]. The session will be led by Aliyah Ali, a specialist consultant who offers a unique combination of professional and lived experience to build understanding of how to better safeguard vulnerable girls. Issues affecting girls, such as gangs and grooming, criminal and sexual exploitation, domestic and sexual abuse, and self-harm will be covered. To attend, you must work or volunteer for a voluntary sector organisation that supports women from racially minoritised groups in London. Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: giving people on probation a greater voice

For the next three years, User Voice will be working with HM Inspectorate of Probation as it conducts inspections into probation services around the country. User Voice was set up to drive lived experience to the centre of the system, engaging with service users, listening to their experiences and using this to effect change. With this new partnership, User Voice will provide insight into the lived experience of service users accessing probation services and offer solutions to improve the experience for everyone. Over the last ten years, User Voice has given a voice to over 150,000 people. It has recruited, trained and supported over 5,000 elected representatives to make changes at local, regional and national levels. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: poor safety in women’s prison

HMP and YOI Foston Hall has been assessed by HM Inspectorate of Prisons as poor for safety in a “rare and unexpected finding” in a recent inspection, which identified very high violence and self-harm and inadequate care for vulnerable women. The finding is the first score of poor – the lowest – for the safety of women prisoners since the Inspectorate developed its current framework more than a decade ago. It is accompanied by a paper identifying key findings in the inspection of five women’s prisons – Low Newton, Styal, Send, Downview and Foston Hall – in the last six months. While identifying good practice in some prisons, the paper also raises serious concerns about high rates of self-harm and vulnerability across the women’s prison estate. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: restorative justice and art

Restorative Justice for All has published a free ebook Reviewing the power of restorative justice art: Cultural integration and awareness. The book contains findings from the Culture and Art for Restorative Justice project - coordinated by Restorative Justice for All International Institute - in the UK, Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Turkey. The project aims to use the power of art and restorative justice to increase cultural awareness and contribute to the successful integration of migrant communities in Europe. The project is still ongoing and its next step is developing a training course to help professionals working with migrant communities incorporate art and restorative justice into their service delivery. Read the ebook summary here and full version here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: flexible working

ACEVO and NCVO are calling for all charity roles to be advertised as flexible. Based on conversations with leaders and employees across the sector, their Time To Flex report calls for flexible working to be central to the future of work within charities, and makes six recommendations, including: flexibility to be advertised for all roles – so employers openly lead the conversation about flexibility, and the focus isn’t on the candidate to request it; organisations and individuals to openly share their stories of how flexibility is working – so that best practice, learning and inspiration are easily available; and organisations to embrace a position of trust – where individuals are more empowered to manage their time based on outcomes and impact, rather than when and where they work. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: probation and rehabilitation services for women in London

The Ministry of Justice Probation Services Dynamic Framework team will be holding a final market warming session prior to call-off competition launch for Probation and Rehabilitation Services for Women in London [1pm, 7th March, online, free]. This session follows on from the session held last month and will provide further information around the competition, contract and requirements of this service, and will address the queries and clarifications that have been received. In addition, the team are holding face to face sessions with providers throughout February and are still happy to receive feedback and questions and may still be able to accommodate further face to face meetings. To provide feedback, or to request a face to face meeting please contact ProbationDynamicFramework@justice.gov.uk and the team can provide a feedback form. Book your place here

FUNDING: Nottinghamshire

Short-term funding of up to £5,000 from the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s Make Notts Safe Community Chest fund is available to voluntary sector organisations working in Nottinghamshire for projects that can help deliver the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner's strategic priorities. Priorities include prevention and early intervention activities that deal with the causes rather than the consequences of crime, and improved services for victims of crime, safeguarding of vulnerable people and supporting communities to be safe and feel safe. Find out more and apply by 7th March here

FUNDING: vulnerable young people

Grants between £1,000 and £10,000 are available from The Field Family Charitable Trust for local charities in the West Midlands and London, within the boundaries of the M25, providing services to improve the quality of life and prospects of vulnerable young people between the ages of 13 to 25 and the elderly. For projects targeting vulnerable young people, the Trustees have a special interest in supporting young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) and in preventing young people being involved in crime as well as in the integration/rehabilitation of people who have been in contact with the criminal justice system. Find out more and apply by 8th March here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: language barriers in the criminal justice system

The Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research at Birkbeck, University of London, Victim Support, and the Centre for Justice Innovation are launching a new report highlighting the impact of language barriers for service users who speak English as a second or additional language across the criminal justice system [15th March, online, free]. The research, funded by The Bell Foundation, aims to strengthen the evidence base around the impact of language barriers as well as provide practical tools to allow practitioners to improve their practice. The webinar will include presentations followed by a Q&A panel session, which will give audience members an opportunity to find out more about the project and to explore its implications for policy and practice. Book your place here

FEATURED VACANCY: Women's Centre Link Worker - HMP Downview

Women in Prison is looking for a Women's Centre Link Worker [£26,660-£29,660, HMP Downview, full time] to join the new ‘Creating Community Connections’ project, led by a partnership of women’s centre providers. This role will involve providing advocacy, support, and advice services to women who are leaving HMP Downview and returning to Greater London and making women in the prison more aware of and engaged with their local women’s centres. You will work as part of a national team of 10 Women’s Centre Link Workers linked with women’s prisons across the country, offering support to women in HMP Downview and building a network of Women’s Centre Champions made up of women serving sentences in HMP Downview. Find out more and apply by 23rd February here

FEATURED VACANCY: Senior Practitioner (Rescue and Response)

Abianda is looking for a Senior Practitioner with excellent safeguarding experience to provide maternity leave cover until 31st March 2023 [£33,660, London, full time]. This is a non-case holding role line-managing a small team of three practitioners. The successful candidate will be the operational lead for Abianda's Rescue and Response service, having oversight of the monitoring and evaluation requirements and dealing with funder requests. They will need to triage safeguarding reports and concerns from staff and notify the Designated Safeguarding Lead of cases that require immediate action. Find out more and apply by 13th March here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Project Data Lead with The Nelson Trust [Gloucester or Stroud], Departure Lounge Assistant with Nepacs [HMP Low Newton], National Volunteer Manager with Alternatives to Violence Project [London or remote], Qualified Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner with Insight IAPT [Peterborough], Campaigns Officer with The Howard League for Penal Reform [London], Administrator with Phoenix Futures [Chelmsford], Learning Academy Development Officer with Second Step Housing Association [Bristol], Group Recovery Coordinator with Humankind [HMP Northumberland], Fitness and Centre Manager with Restorative Justice for All International Institute [London], Head of Policy with Black Training and Enterprise Group (BTEG) [London and home working]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Pair of bamboo pillows. Save 75%. Details
  • Wireless earbuds. Save 90%. Details
  • Children’s scooter. 11% off. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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