Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 756 | 28 October 2022

Light Lunch

In this issue....

CLINKS EVENT: Maternal imprisonment: what the evidence tells us

Clinks is hosting an event [1 December, online, free], where Dr Lucy Baldwin will discuss the issue of maternal imprisonment and the impact of this imprisonment on the children affected, the mothers themselves and the family members who take over childcare responsibilities. This follows the publication of Lucy’s evidence review, part of a series of reports for our evidence library. This event is the sixth in our “A matter of fact: what the evidence tells us” series, giving you the chance to ask your own questions of leading academics talking about the latest research on an important criminal justice topic. Find out more and book here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Safe Ground merging with the Social Interest Group

Safe Ground has announced it will join the Social Interest Group (SiG). In 1995, Safe Ground pioneered family relationships programmes in UK prisons. Including the first ever arts-based family programmes. Since 2010, CEO Charlie Weinberg has led the organisation, growing the service to help over 8,000 men across 80 prisons, while evidencing a reduction of reoffending by 40%. Charlie, who will be leaving Safe Ground said “I have learnt and grown with the organisation and the success of moving it into Social Interest Group is a way of demonstrating our values in action. The integrity, values and open approach the Group has shown match our priorities”. For all valued and trusted partners, allies, supporters and colleagues, services will continue with little noticeable difference.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: government responds to the Justice Committee’s inquiry into women in prison

The government accepted 37 of the 38 recommendations from the Justice Committee’s inquiry into women in prison, which included recommendations made by Clinks. The government rejected the recommendation to make pre-sentence reports mandatory for women facing a custodial sentence (taken from Farmer). 456 new prison places for women will be provided through a mix of twelve open (25 places per unit) and six closed units (26 places per unit) across five women’s prisons: HMPs Drake Hall, Eastwood Park, Foston Hall, Send and Styal. Women are expected to be held in the new places by early 2025. The government stated that it will publish a progress update on the Farmer Review recommendations (by end of 2022), a delivery plan for the Female Offender Strategy 2022-2025 (shortly) and an evaluation of the pre-sentence report pilot (in 2023). The response contained little reference to the voluntary sector. Read the government’s response in full.

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Howard League Community Awards 2022 ceremony

Join the Howard League for Penal Reform for their Community Awards 2022 [22 November 2022, 10am-12pm, online, free]. The prestigious awards are for people and organisations whose innovative work helps to make communities safer and keep people out of the criminal justice system by providing alternative, proportionate, effective, and targeted interventions. Register for your place here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: Understanding the ROA and rules on disclosing criminal records

Are you up to date with the laws around the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) and disclosing criminal records? Join Unlock for the 'Understanding the ROA' webinar (CPD accredited) [9 Nov, online, £85.50 - £95]. This event will provide an overview of everything you need to know about criminal record disclosure and how the law works. Book your ticket here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: Advising people with convictions - workshop

Unlock is delivering its popular 'Advising with Conviction' full-day workshop [16 November, London NW3 1JQ, £185 - £200]. This workshop is endorsed by the Institute of Employability Professionals and is designed to provide front-line practitioners and advisors with a well-rounded knowledge of how to support individuals with their criminal records and disclosing them to others. Book your ticket here.

NON-MEMBER’S EVENT: Insights - reframing learning for care experienced people

Join HMPPS Insights for this event on reframing learning for care experienced people [10 November, 3pm - 4:30pm, online, free]. Hosted by Debbie McKay, HMPPS Lead for Care Experienced People in Custody, and Lynsey Cobden, Care Experienced Lead for the Probation Service. Speakers include Charlotte Elliot, Chief Executive Officer from Affinity 2020 who will explain their approach to researching how the care experienced brain learns and develops and Steven Hawksworth, Senior Social Worker for Wakefield Council.  Steven will share his lived experience of being in the care system from seven to 18 years of age. This event will appeal to everyone with an interest in supporting and developing services for care-experienced people. Register here.

NON-MEMBER’S RESEARCH: the accommodation landscape for women in Wales

This is a study commissioned by the Women in Justice Blueprint Team and approved by the HMPPS NRC, asking for information on the accommodation provision available to women caught up in, or at risk of entering the criminal justice system in Wales. It is being carried out by staff from Cyfiawnder: The Social Inclusion Research Institute at Wrexham Glyndŵr University and staff from LLamau- a third sector housing and support provider. The team ask for people working in the housing and homelessness field to complete the survey. Further details and access to the survey can be found by clicking on one of the following links English version or Fersiwn Gymraeg.

PUBLICATION: Strengthening Community Diversion

While community diversion has become a firm part of the adult criminal justice landscape in England and Wales, the approach, funding, support, and ultimately the impact, of each scheme is extremely inconsistent. The Centre for Justice Innovation have published a briefing that seeks to add to the national conversation about how policymakers can take a bold national approach to address this inconsistent coverage, and strengthen the practice of this often undervalued but important area of police work. Read the briefing here.

PUBLICATION: Deaths of racialised people in prison 2015 – 2022

Despite decades of activism from bereaved people and their supporters, too often the deaths of racialised people in prison have been dismissed, and the role of racism has been overlooked and ignored. A new report by INQUEST, Deaths of racialised people in prison 2015 – 2022: Challenging racism and discrimination, makes a powerful intervention as it uncovers new data and tells the stories of 22 racialised people and how they died premature and preventable deaths in prison. Read the report here.

PUBLICATION: Racial Justice report and truth to power animation

Leaders Unlocked have published their Student Commission on Racial Justice, giving a platform for young people’s voices. Download the report here. Additionally, an animation called “Speak Truth to Power” explores the historical fight for racial justice and the action that still needs to be taken. It was developed by the Student Commission on Racial Justice to encourage open and honest discussion about racial injustice, as well as spread awareness. View the video here.

FEATURED VACANCY: Services Manager

Women in Prison is looking for a Services Manager [£35,440, full time, London]. The South London Women’s Hubs (SLWH) delivers innovative services to women in South London who are in contact with, or at risk of being in contact with, the criminal justice system. This role is an integral part of the SLWH providing strategic oversight and operational management across the prison estate. You will initially focus on mobilising this new and exciting project in partnership with the National Probation Service and services in HMP Bronzefield. The role will then ensure quality standards are consistently met, staff are effectively managed, partnerships are established and maintained, and budgets are appropriately managed. Find out more and apply by 4 November here.

FEATURED VACANCY: Chief Executive

The Upper Room is looking for a new Chief Executive [£45,000, full time, London]. You will be a determined and inspirational individual, with a drive to improve both the lives of the people supported by The Upper Room and their staff. You will have a track record of strategic delivery and proven experience of leadership and management of strategic plans. Ideally you will have operational experience in this or a similar sector, including a sound understanding of risk and controls, financial management, fundraising and volunteer engagement. You will also be comfortable building relationships at all levels, with users of our services, staff, trustees and external partners and funders, representing TUR at various events. Find out more and apply by 20 November here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Senior Development Officer (Criminal Justice) with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£31,000 - £35,000, Based at Advance Head Office Hammersmith (Hybrid), full time]; Senior Development Officer (VAWG) with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£31,000 - £35,000, Advance Head Office Hammersmith, full time]; Senior ETE Caseworker (Mental Health), Fixed term, with St Giles Trust [£30,000 - £30,000, Camberwell and DWP Offices in South London, full time]; GROW Traineeship with Shelter (England) [£19,305 - £19,305, London Hub (Ramsgate Street, Hackney), full time]; GROW Traineeship with Shelter (England) [£19,305 - £19,305, Weymouth, Dorset, full time]; GROW Traineeship with Shelter (England) [£19,305 - £19,305, Sheffield, full time]; Senior Family Support Worker (Booking Line) with Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) [£21,000, HMP Swaleside, ME12 4AX, part time]; Family Support Worker with Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) [£19,305, HMP Moorland, DN7 6BW, part time]; Family Support Worker with Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) [£19,305, HMP Lindholme, DN7 6EE, part time]; Family Engagement Worker with Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) [£22,000, HMP Foston Hall, DE65 5DL, part time]

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

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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