Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 729 | 14 April 2022

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

CLINKS NEWS: Meeting our sector’s need for infrastructure support

Clinks is delighted to have been awarded the HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and Ministry of Justice (MoJ) grant for infrastructure support for small and medium-sized voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations 2022-25. In this blog our Chief Executive Anne Fox outlines the key areas of work the grant will enable us to deliver over the next three years. The need for infrastructure support for the voluntary sector working in criminal justice has never been greater. This grant will enable us to provide practical support for the voluntary sector, improve communications between the sector and HM Prison and Probation Service and the Ministry of Justice, and develop strategic engagement with the sector on policy matters. Read more here

CLINKS NEWS: State of the sector 2021

The State of the sector 2021 outlines how voluntary organisations have faced new and incredibly difficult challenges over the last year. These have been on top of, not instead of, the wider challenges that have long faced the sector. To truly understand the impacts of this year, we must recognise that a global pandemic was the last thing the sector needed after years of austerity, public service reform and punitive criminal justice policy. Covid-19 has only accelerated and intensified these pressures – making the voluntary sector’s ongoing resilience and creativity even more extraordinary. Findings of this report include increasing complexity and urgency of need amongst service users, limited access to prisons, and fear for future grant funding streams. Download State of the sector here

CLINKS VACANCY: Fundraising Officer

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Fundraising Team as our new Fundraising Officer to support Clinks’ healthy income stream and ensure that our work is measured for impact [£27,815, full time, home based]. The Fundraising Officer provides support to the Business Manager to assist with Clinks’ income generation, programme delivery and impact measurement functions. 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. This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Clinks recruitment policy is that there is no requirement to disclose any convictions. Find out more and apply by 25 April here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: peer mentoring

This week’s episode of Catch22Minutes – the Power of Peers - highlights the advantages of peer mentorship for both volunteers and organisations. Joined by Russell Webster and David Breakspear, Catch 22’s Josie Cochrane discusses best practices for supporting those with lived experience, the challenges and issues around recruiting peer mentors, and solutions to ensure peer mentorship develops in a sustainable, ethical and meaningful way. There are several more episodes available on topics including court delays, improving outcomes for prison leavers, and foreign nationals in UK prisons. Listen here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: crime, justice and the human condition

The Howard League for Penal Reform is inviting submissions for its next bi-annual conference Crime, Justice and the Human Condition: Beyond the cris(es) – reframing and reimagining justice. The conference seeks to examine key questions in penal reform using the lens of the human condition, for example: How can we utilise our shared and diverse experiences to shape criminal justice for the better in the future?; What are the broader cultural and social factors that can be drawn upon to shape criminal justice responses, policies and institutions?; How might we re-imagine the criminal justice system?; and What values and principles might underpin this re-imagining? This is an opportunity to examine social bonds, history, creativity, learning and technology, as well as isolation and inequality, racism, harm and hate. The call for papers is available here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Mental Health Act reforms

The government's forthcoming reforms of the Mental Health Act risk creating a 'two-tier system' for the detention and treatment of people diverted from the criminal justice system (forensic patients) compared with the general public (civil patients). VoiceAbility has produced a briefing on the main areas of concern in relation to Part III of the Act (the criminal justice sections). VoiceAbility will be working with others to influence the Bill to reform the Mental Health Act, expected in the next Queen’s Speech in May 2022. If you’re interested in finding out more, please get in touch with Stephen Hinchley, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer at VoiceAbility stephen.hinchley@voiceability.org. Read it here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: unpaid work in Wales and Circles of Support and Accountability

HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the Probation Service have launched two Requests for Information, one for Education, Training and Employment (ETE) services, specifically unpaid work in Wales and another for Circles of Support and Accountability. This is an early market engagement exercise, at this stage there is no commitment that HMPPS will procure these services. Any future Call-Off Competitions will be procured via the Ministry of Justice’s Probation Dynamic Framework. The form for ETE unpaid work in Wales is here. The form for Circles of Support and Accountability is here

FUNDING: new strategy

The National Lottery Community Fund has launched its strategic renewal and would like to hear from you and your networks. As part of the commitment to putting communities first the fund is renewing its UK-wide strategy – and has opened up a dedicated microsite to capture everyone's thoughts and views. As the largest funder of community activity in the UK this is a key opportunity to shape the future of how it invests in communities. The survey will close 20 May. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: driving system change together

Join the Criminal Justice Alliance and a line up of speakers and workshop facilitators for an event exploring systemic change in the criminal justice system [22 April, London, free]. You’ll hear from keynote speaker Dr. Baz Dreisinger, Founder of the Incarceration Nations Network and short 'lightening talks' from a range of experts: Dr. Leroy Logan MBE (Chair of T2A and author of 'Breaking Ranks'); Judah Armani (Founder of InHouse Records); Paula Harriott (Head of Prisoner Engagement at Prison Reform Trust); Anna Birney (Director of the School of System Change); and Jessie Ben Ami (Senior Innovation Consultant at The Innovation Unit). This will be followed by several interactive workshops. There will also be a screening of the Incarceration Nations Network short film 'Heal not Harm', followed by a panel discussion. Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: building effective voluntary and statutory sector partnerships

The pandemic has highlighted the importance of agencies working in partnership to provide effective services [26 April, online, free]. This session will focus on some examples of where frontline services are building on essential relationships with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Jobcentre and Adults Social Care, through homelessness forums and frontline networks. Speakers include Zoë Titchener from the Coventry Frontline Network and Donna Willison from Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Frontline Network about how they are working closely with statutory sector agencies in their area. Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: prison education

Prisoners' Education Trust (PET) is holding an event where CEO Jon Collins will reflect on his first year as PET’s CEO [27 April, online, free]. Jon will discuss PET’s plans for ensuring everyone in prison has access to education. Jon will be in conversation with PET trustee Emily Giles. Emily leads the Criminal Justice Programme at The Bell Foundation, working to remove barriers to justice and rehabilitation for people who speak English as an additional language. There will also be a live Q&A. Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: art in lockdown

'Art in Lockdown' is a new exhibition from Prodigal Arts [6-12 May, Bristol, free] which represents how the creative arts can be an incredibly powerful outlet during times of uncertainty. Prodigal Arts supports people in prison and post-release to unlock their creative potential. Prodigal Arts’ creatives have used time during the pandemic to nurture their talents, finding a sense of self-worth and satisfaction by creating a range of exciting and inspired artworks. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: promoting equality in restorative justice

This one-day event from Why me? will bring together frontline staff, practitioners, academics, staff and volunteers working within and outside of the criminal justice system, as well as restorative justice experts [25 May, London, £135 with some concessions available]. You will spend your time sharing ideas and learning from peers about the theme of inclusivity in restorative justice. Join for a day of face-to-face networking and discussions of best practice. Book your place here

FEATURED VACANCY: Case Worker (two roles)

Safer Wales is looking for two Case Workers [£23,594 to £25,076, remote and Cardiff, full time]. As a caseworker you will offer gender-responsive, trauma informed practical and emotional support and interventions. The Case Worker will address needs such as housing, substance misuse, health, finance, previous trauma, children and families, and education, training, and employment. The aim is to reduce social harms and re-offending whilst empowering women to access opportunities to reach their full potential. Find out more and apply by 25 April here

FEATURED VACANCY:  Case Management Worker  

Safer Wales is looking for a Case Management Worker [£25,127 to £26,706, full time] In this role you will aim to reduce social harms and re-offending whilst empowering women to access opportunities to reach their full potential through the delivery of a gender-responsive, trauma informed service that provides practical and emotional support and interventions to address individual needs. The successful candidate will ensure a quality service is provided, incorporating case management, line management and multi-agency report preparations. Find out more and apply by 25 April here

FEATURED VACANCY: Helpline Advisor

Unlock is looking for a Helpline Advisor [£18,900, Maidstone, full time]. Working at Unlock is more than just a job. Unlock has a small but ambitious team, dedicated to improving the lives of people with criminal records. This is an opportunity for somebody with a criminal record to join the Unlock team as a helpline advisor. You will act as first point of contact for new and existing clients, providing information, advice and support helping individuals overcome the barriers caused by their criminal record. Unlock warmly welcome applications from all suitably skilled people regardless of background but as this role is defined as a ‘peer’ position, applicants must have first-hand experience of having a criminal record. Find out more and apply by 6 May here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Housing Support Worker with Foundation [North Yorkshire], Head of Services with Abianda [London], Senior Psychological Lead with EDP Drug and Alcohol Services [HMP Exeter], Programme Manager with Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) [home based], System Change Lead with Changing Futures [Bristol], Policy and Public Affairs Officer with Agenda [London], Counsellor with Insight IAPT [Kent], Family Services Worker with Spurgeons [HMP Norwich], Peer Support and Wellbeing Officer with Imagine Independence [Merseyside]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

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EXTRA INFORMATION

 

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