In this month's edition...
Clinks CEO Anne Fox gives evidence to the Equality and Social Justice Committee
The Equality and Social Justice Committee is looking strategically at women’s experiences across the criminal justice system, with a view to identifying issues that may need a greater focus. While justice and prisons are reserved and come under the responsibilities of Westminster and the UK Government, the Welsh Government has responsibility for prison healthcare and social services and is accountable for compliance with broader policy and legislation. The Welsh Government has also set out its approach to policy in its Female Offending Blueprint. Anne Fox gave evidence on 24 October, alongside Clinks member organisations Prison Reform Trust and Howard League. Read more about the inquiry and watch the evidence session here.
Clinks guide to the Dynamic Purchasing System
The Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) is an online application process for prisons to commission education and other specialist services. It is an opportunity for smaller, local organisations to bid to deliver these services. The DPS is currently operational in five geographical areas: London and the South, North East, Midlands, South West and North West England. There are 17 different categories of educational contracts that organisations can apply for, including health, public services and care, and services to support individuals with additional learning needs. Read the guide to registering and using the DPS here
Voluntary sector organisations contributing to Future Regime Design for prisons
The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) has established a special interest group (SIG) on Future Regime Design. The SIG will run alongside the HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Future Regime Design programme, providing advice from a voluntary sector perspective to officials from the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS to consider as part of the Future Regime Design programme. The first meeting of the group took place on September, and minutes from the meeting will be published on the Clinks website.
Cost-of-living crisis joint statement
Clinks has signed the joint statement co-ordinated by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) highlighting the cost-of-living crisis, and the impact it will have on the general public and the voluntary organisations that support them.
Random mandatory drug testing in Approved Premises
People living in the Probation-run hostels will be randomly selected to undergo urine tests for 14 types of drugs including heroin, cocaine and New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) from 3 October. Those who test positive may be recalled to prison or face intensive drug treatment. Every resident in an Approved Premises will be tested at least twice during their stay while those with convictions for offences linked to a drug habit will face weekly tests. The testing regime has already started at some locations and will be taking place across the estate by Spring. Read the press release here.
HMPPS publishes evaluation on the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway
Bristol University led an independent national evaluation to look at evidence from the first five years of the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway; a jointly funded partnership between HMPPS and NHS England that provides a network of services for those diagnosed with personality disorders. Qualitative analysis from interviews with service users and staff reported that trust and collaborative work was key to the work of the programme. Most staff thought that the Pathway had led to improvements in risk assessment and management. The evaluation did not consider effectiveness of the interventions that exist across the OPD pathway. Read more here
Navigating the criminal justice system
Are you new to working or volunteering in the criminal justice system? Do you have volunteers or staff members who want to increase their understanding of the criminal justice system? The criminal justice system as a whole can be quite daunting to understand because of both its size and complexity. Join Clinks at this three-hour workshop [10am, 10 November, online, from £50] for voluntary sector staff and volunteers in which we aim to increase awareness of how the criminal justice system is organised, the complexities within it, and how it works. The workshop will explore the different elements of, and the various structures within the criminal justice system, including government departments, regional and local statutory agencies, and the role of the voluntary sector, the services it provides, and its work in supporting people. You will have the opportunity to explore and discuss the multi-faceted nature of our criminal justice system. Book your place here.
Stronger Voice: Influencing select committees
Join us for this interactive Stronger Voice training session [10:30am, 15 November, online, free] to learn more about how influencing parliamentary select committees can play a part in achieving your campaign aims. This session is aimed at anyone working towards social change. Attendees will come away with: Knowledge of the different ways committees can help achieve policy change; Practical ways to build relationships with committees and increase your impact; and the opportunity to put these ideas into practice and explore with peers how you might adapt them to your own work. The training will be delivered by Ayaz Manji, a campaigner and policy professional with eight years of experience working in social change, including for Stonewall, Mind, and the Women and Equalities Select Committee. Book your place here
Government responds to Justice Committee’s report on Women in Prison
The Justice Committee’s Women in Prison report made 38 recommendations, several of which engage NHS England and/or DHSC as responsible owners alongside the Ministry of Justice and/or HMPPS. The government response provides details of the current and planned activity to meet them. Including the draft Mental Health Bill which details reforms to prevent courts from using prison as a place of safety, and the £68m per year NHSE funding for Liaison and Diversion services commissioned to provide a women’s pathway. A review is underway to identify areas of good practice and offer support to services to further develop their L&D female pathways. There will be a workshop for commissioners and providers in November to share learning. Read the full response here.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) Annual Report for 2021-22
The report highlights the tragic cases of Baby A, who died in prison, and Baby B, who was stillborn in prison, as well as the health and social care needs of older people in prison - the fastest-growing cohort in prisons in England and Wales. Of 329 investigations into deaths started in 2021-22, 128 involved deaths of prisoners aged 60 or over. The PPO recommends that the input and expertise of prison, health and social care staff is required. Finally, Investigations were started into 25 post-release deaths in 2021-22 and have highlighted the need for strong communication between prison, probation and other agencies to meet the needs and support the wellbeing of people released from prison. Read the full report here.
INQUEST publish report on deaths of racialised people
The report specifically looks at the deaths of Black and mixed-race people; Asian and mixed-race people; Middle Eastern and mixed-race people; people of Eastern European nationality; White Irish people and White Gypsy or Irish Traveller people in prison between 2015 and 2022. Through a literature review, analysis of previously unpublished data on ethnicity and deaths in prison, and an examination of relevant inquests and investigations, the report evidences the role of institutional racism in the prison estate. Key issues include the inappropriate use of segregation, racial stereotyping, the hostile environment, the neglect of physical and mental health, the failure to respond to warning signs, and the bullying and victimisation of racialised people. Read the report here.
Grant funding competition for women’s community organisations
Deadline for applications to the Ministry of Justice’s core costs grant funding competition for women’s community organisations has been extended to [10am, 1 November] due to issues with the original allocation of the funding to probation regions. To apply or amend your application, log into the Ministry of Justice sourcing portal and search for ITT_6494. The separate funding competition for new/additional services to support women in the community remains open for applications until [10am, 15 November]. To apply, log in to the portal and search for ITT_6495. If you are not registered on the grants portal, find out more here
New members wanted for the NHS England learning disability and autism advisory group
NHS England are looking for autistic people, people with a learning disability and family carers to join the learning disability and autism advisory group and share their experiences of health services to improve the health system. They want to include members with links to groups and networks of people the NHS doesn’t always listen to. For example, people who have more severe learning disabilities and people from different ethnic backgrounds. Watch a video about joining the group here. Applications are open until [14 November]. For further information in both plain and easy read English and to apply, see their webpage here
What do Integrated Care Systems mean for drug and alcohol treatment and recovery?
Collective Voice have published a blog on the challenges and opportunities presented by Integrated Care Systems (ICSs). The shift towards collaboration in health systems will have a significant impact and the policy implications are yet to be fully understood. Author Oliver Standing suggests the voluntary sector will need to strategically build relationships, and remain curious and open to reshaping both language and services if it is to engage with the large scale commissioning structures that flow from ICSs. Read the blog here
How can we prevent the cost-of-living crisis becoming a suicide crisis?
In a blog for Gal-Dem, Dr Sanah Ahsen reflects on the relationship between global events and suicide. With charities reporting an ‘exponential rise’ in desperate callers and social conditions worsening. The author argues that collective action is needed for suicide prevention, highlighting that racialised communities are at increasing risk of suicide, and signposts to organisations that can help, including a project at Healing Justice London, co-produced by people with lived experience. Read the blog here
About Clinks Health and Justice bulletin
This regular bulletin provides Clinks members with the latest news for voluntary organisations involved in the health and care of people in the criminal justice system. To submit content, or have comments or ideas about how this ebulletin could be improved, please email spencer.bundschuh@clinks.org
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