Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 753 | 07 October 2022

Light Lunch

CLINKS NEWS: changes to prison family services

Christopher Stacey, Clinks Director of Support and Development, has written a blog summarising which organisations will be providing prison family services across England and Wales from October 2022. Supporting family relationships is an area where specialist voluntary organisations have a significant amount of expertise and a track-record in providing good quality support. Read the blog here

CLINKS NEWS: providing feedback on commissioning

Emma Kidger, Clinks Sector Support, Members and Networks Manager, has written a blog reflecting on the progress of a commissioning forum that Clinks established in partnership with MoJ and HMPPS in late 2021.The forum creates a space for regular and ongoing engagement on commissioning rounds that involve the voluntary sector. To find out more about the issues we are raising, the Ministry of Justice's response and how to feed in read the blog here.

CLINKS NEWS: training on using the legal system to achieve change

This Stronger Voice training session [3 November, 10:00 - 13:00] will help develop confidence in engaging with the law. Every campaigner engages with the law when fighting for social change but the legal environment is often perceived as; specialist, technical, exclusionary and intimidating. This training will increase understanding of ways the law can be used innovatively and how to construct the framework for you to consider including the law in your campaign. Book your place here

CLINKS NEWS: training on influencing select committees

This Stronger Voice training session [15 November 2022, 10:30 - 13:00] is aimed at anyone working towards social change who wants to learn more about how influencing parliamentary select committees can play a part in achieving their campaign aims. Attendees will come away with: The different ways committees can help achieve policy change; Practical ways to build relationships with committees and increase your impact; The opportunity to put these ideas into practice and explore with peers how you might adapt them to your own work. Book your place here

CLINKS NEWS: arts in criminal justice forum

Join the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) for their upcoming October arts in criminal justice forum [Monday 17th October, online, free], at which Clinks Influence and Policy Manager, Rachel Tynan will lead a workshop discussing the work Clinks is currently doing to refresh their Clinks Thinks resource. At the event we will be asking expert groups and networks to feed back so Clinks can capture the issues that matter to organisations working in arts and criminal justice. This event is for NCJAA  members only. Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: The Value of Women’s Centres

A new report by Women in Prison shows that Women’s Centres generate a nearly triple return on public investment, by keeping women out of prison and easing demand for other services, but that nearly half of Women’s Centres are concerned about their survival. New modelling shows that an example Women’s Centre receiving £1m in a given year can support over 650 women and generate £2.75m in public sector savings, while providing a lifeline for vital services and significantly improving wellbeing for women and their children. Women’s Centres are services by women for women and provide support under one roof to address the root causes of offending including mental ill health, debt, domestic abuse and homelessness. Read the report here 

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: call for evidence on women experiencing abuse from an adult child

AVA’s research project to explore and develop responses to adult family abuse/ violence, currently seeking evidence from women with lived experience, now also wants to hear from practitioners [deadline 28 October]. If you are working with women who have experienced abuse or violence from an adult child and would like to contribute to this research project find out how to get involved here  If you have any questions, or want to speak about the project, please contact Project Manager, Dhriti at dhriti.suresheapen@avaproject.org.uk

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: call to re-sentence people on IPP’s

The Justice Committee has published its report on Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences and called on the government to re-sentence all prisoners subject to IPP sentences. The Committee found that the current regime for managing IPP prisoners is inadequate in supporting their specific needs and calls for swift improvement in the quality of support they are given. Read the news here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT:  lived experience leadership programme

The Criminal Justice Alliance is piloting ELEVATE CJS, a twelve-month leadership programme that promotes the redistribution of power to people with lived experience of the criminal justice system. The programme aims to dismantle the barriers of stigma and tokenism, which prevent emerging leaders who are working in the sector from progressing to positions of power and influence. Through personal and professional development training, the programme will equip individuals with the skills, knowledge, and networks to advance systemic change, challenging the criminal/social justice sector to reimagine who can be a leader. The ELEVATE CJS Taster Day is an opportunity for people who may apply to be part of the 2023 cohort to find out more about the programme [22 October, Central London, free] Register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: the educational experiences of men in prison

Join the Prisoners' Education Trust to hear Dr Helen Nichols discuss her research into the benefits of education for men in prison [26 October, 5.00-6.00pm, online, free].  Understanding the Educational Experiences of Imprisoned Men – published by Dr Helen Nichols in September 2022 – looks at how education is used by men in prison to cope with prison life, to reconsider their identity and to develop and maintain relationships. Prison education is often presented as increasing employability skills and preventing reoffending but this research highlights its broader outcomes and its role in developing self-confidence, empowerment and the ability to engage in positive relationships. Helen will discuss her research findings, and open for comments and questions from participants. Register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: restorative approaches to building resilience

The Restorative Justice Council's 4th Annual Conference [21 - 22 November, on-line, £105 for RJC members, concessions available] theme is "Living in troubled times - restorative approaches to building resilience". Confirmed key note speakers include Elliot Colburn MP, Chair of the APPG on Restorative Justice; Emily Spurrell, Police and Crime Commissioner, Merseyside; and Debbie Watters, Founder member and Co-Director of Northern Ireland Alternatives. Register here

PUBLICATION: Reimagining Probation Practice

Reimagining Probation Practice, Re-forming Rehabilitation in an Age of Penal Excess, will be available from 17 October and is available for preorder from this link. The book provides a comprehensive and positive reimagining of probation practice in England and Wales across all the key settings in which work with people subject to supervision takes place. Bringing together chapters co-authored by academics and practitioners, it offers an overall conceptualisation of the rehabilitative endeavour within the realities of a probation service recently unified after the acknowledged failure of the Transforming Rehabilitation reforms.

FEATURED VACANCY: Service Manager – Criminal Justice 

SSAFA, the armed forces charity, is seeking a welfare / wellbeing Service Manager [£34,000, full time, London/remote] with experience of the criminal justice system (CJS) to take on a lead role within their Volunteer Operations Directorate to develop, support and oversee SSAFA’s work, particularly with the members of the armed forces community who are in prison or other detention facilities, and their families. You will be able to demonstrate your understanding of the CJS and experience of developing services including effective evaluation. If you have a passion for working with volunteers, share similar values to SSAFA’s and have a true commitment to diversity and inclusion, find out more and apply by 16 October here. 

FEATURED VACANCY: Peer Worker Quality and Development Manager 

Prison Advice & Care Trust (Pact) is seeking a resourceful, empathetic individual, with lived experience of the prison system, to join our volunteering management team as our Peer Worker Quality and Development Manager [£38,000, full time, National]. Pact has a long history of engaging with and supporting men and women in prison to support one another, in a variety of practical ‘peer worker’ roles, both voluntary and paid. Your role will be to take this work to the next level, to develop a consistent peer worker model to provide excellent opportunities for people with lived experience of the justice system to be part of our prison and community-based teams and in turn, to provide meaningful support to other people in prison, their families, and people with convictions in the community. Find out more and apply by 6 November here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Case worker with Rahab [£35,553, Hybrid / Rehab Sanctuary (Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea), part time]; Accommodation Support Officer (HMP Hewell) with YSS [£23,405 - £23,405, Redditch - HMP Hewell, full time]; Accommodation Support Officer with YSS [£23,405 - £23,405, Worcester, full time]; Accommodation Support Officer with Seetec [£19,841 - £24,801, HMP Liverpool, full time]; General Trustee with Anawim, Birmingham, part time]; Housing Support Worker with Foundation [£22,571 - £24,920, Darlington, part time]; Senior Accommodation Support Officer with Seetec [£26,150 - £32,668, Covering Devon & Cornwall, full time]; Substance Misuse Worker with Seetec [£24,650 - £29,000, Liverpool, full time]; Supported Housing Officer with Cornerstone Supported Housing and Counselling [County Durham, and Hartlepool, full time]; Senior Support Worker- Nottingham with Nacro [£23,552, Nottingham, full time]

For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK:

  • Social Media platform, Heropost.io lifetime membership $197 (offer expires 9 Oct) Details
  • Giant snowdrop bulbs, from £9.50 Details
  • English bluebell bulbs, from £9.50 Details

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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