Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 767 | 27 January 2023

Light Lunch

In this issue....​​​

CLINKS NEWS: Education and Housing advisory roles.

Clinks is seeking an individual with expertise and experience of housing in the criminal justice system (CJS) and someone with expertise and experience of education in the criminal justice system to advise the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) leadership board. Candidates would be senior leaders in a voluntary organisation currently providing specific support relating to housing or education. Applications close 31 January at 9:00. Apply for the housing role. Apply for the education role.

CLINKS NEWS: Anne Peaker lecture 2023

The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance annual lecture honours Anne Peaker’s work and legacy, which forms the basis of the work we do today. The 2023 Anne Peaker lecture [21 February,  online, free] will bring voices from the arts in criminal justice to an online audience. This year’s keynote speaker is Carl Cattermole, the celebrated author, artist and public speaker. The event will showcase work from our network and feature keynote speakers, panels, an audience Q&A, music and artwork form member organisations or individual artists working in the sector, and creative interludes. If you are interested in performing and showcasing your work as part of this online event, please contact artsalliance@clinks.org. Find out more and book online here.

Clinks News: Dynamic Purchasing System is failing smaller organisations

A blog has been written specialist arts organisation leaders that work in prisons in England and Wales. The authors share their perspectives on the commissioning of prison-based arts projects through the Dynamic Purchasing System. In its current form, the DPS leaves no scope for innovation, and we are losing the breadth and range of arts interventions and creative projects that the sector has historically been proud of. Unfortunately, for several reasons, a number of arts organisations have concluded that it is not worthwhile to apply. Read the blog here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: St Giles Trust announces new Chief Executive

St Giles Trust has announced Tracey Burley as their new Chief Executive Officer. She will be joining them in the first financial quarter of 2023. Tracey brings with her over 15 years of charity, not-for-profit and public-sector leadership experience. We are excited to work alongside her. You can read more about the St Giles Trust here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: rethink and reset, a campaign for change

In November, Revolving Doors launched its new Rethink & Reset campaign, calling for a wide overhaul of the criminal justice system. With the cost of living crisis pushing more people into poverty-driven and mental health-related offending, and our public polling showing strong public support for less punitive responses to those crimes, we believe it is time for a serious rethink of criminal justice “solutions” that are both costly and ineffective in cutting offending. The campaign will be exploring new and innovative solutions to transform a broken system, hearing from academics, practitioners, campaigners, policy-makers, journalists, and people with lived experience. If you have an idea for a criminal justice system reset and would like to get involved, please get in touch at axelle.chomette@revolving-doors.org.uk or visit our website

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Koestler Awards 2023

The 2023 Koestler Awards for arts in criminal justice is open for entries! The annual Awards welcomes all forms of art, writing, design and music from people in secure settings and on probation. Every entrant gets a certificate and many winners receive a cash prize. The total prize money is over £30,000. At the end of each Koestler Awards, Koestler Arts holds an exhibition at the Southbank Centre, London, featuring a selection of the creative work received. This year’s exhibition will be curated by poet, playwright and author Joelle Taylor. Entrants may send up to five creative works (with completed entry forms) by the closing date [6 April]. Entry forms and further information can be found on the Koestler Arts website.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: update on Neurodiversity action plan published

The Ministry of Justice has published a six-month update on its Neurodiversity action plan following the independent review of neurodiversity in the criminal justice system. Progress has been made in the six recommendations, which included creating a coordinated and cross-governmental approach and better data screening, and specialist training for frontline staff. Another recommendation, called for better working between agencies and other statutory and voluntary sector organisations. In response to this, the MoJ has run an Operational Working Group and Cross Government Working Group, to establish stronger relationships and adopt a consistent approach to supporting neurodivergent people at every stage. They have completed a series of voluntary sector round tables and lived experience forums, which have fed into informing best practice, deliverables, and key initiatives. Read the action plan update here.

FUNDING: training for those working on the frontline

Have you heard about the Frontline Network Training Fund? If you've identified a training course that will support your frontline work with people experiencing homelessness, but cost is a barrier, Frontline Network may be able to help. You can apply for up to £500 for individual training or up to £1000 for group training. Find out how you can apply.

FUNDING: Prison Education Service (PES)

The MOJ has announced details of their next Prison Education Service (PES) market warming event [14 February, 11:00 – 12:30, online, free]. The event is an excellent opportunity for voluntary organisations interested in becoming suppliers of education, training, and skills inside prisons to receive updates directly from HMPPS on their latest key principles, commercial topics, and the delivery of Core Education Contracts (CEC). The event is free and anyone interested in attending should register by clicking here.

FUNDING: support for people returning from overseas imprisonment

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is inviting applicants to submit applications for a grant to provide advice and support for offenders returning from overseas imprisonment in the first weeks and months on their return to the UK; liaising, where appropriate, with relevant criminal justice and other agencies. While the grant is primarily intended to fund activities in the UK, it is likely that contact with offenders will need to be established prior to their return (i.e. located in foreign jurisdictions). The duration of the grant will be from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2026. The total funding available is £265,000 per annum. Applications can be made via the e-sourcing portal. Once logged in, search for “ITT_6187 - Strategic Grant - British Citizens Abroad”. The competition went live from 23 January and will close 13 February at 12:00 (noon). Access the Ministry of Justice Sourcing Portal here.

FUNDING: Ingeus CFO Evolution partner events

The focus of HMPPS CFO is to help people in prison and on probation move towards mainstream provision or activity which reinforces the value of leading law-abiding lives, such as entering employment, education, training and interacting positively with their family and local community. This is achieved through facilitating access to comprehensive support mechanisms appropriate to their individual circumstances and needs.

CFO Evolution is expected to be commissioned in Spring 2023, with new contracts expected to commence delivery in early 2024. The CFO Evolution Partner Events are for all organisations interested in finding out more about Ingeus and opportunities to join their partner network. cfo are looking for organisations large and small, from anywhere across the country, who believe in providing the right solution to deliver high quality services that meet local needs.  'Please join one of the two online events [2 February, 14:00 - 15:00, 3 February, 10:00 - 11:00]. Register your place here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: strategic partner event

Abandofbrothers Manchester are pleased to invite you and your colleagues to our first Strategic Partner event [2 Feb, 15:00 - 17:00, Manchester, Free]. This is an exciting moment for our strong community of trained mentors in Manchester; it’s an opportunity to share our work and discover new ways in which we can collaborate. It is also a chance to network with like-minded organisations and prospective funders in the North West. Abandofbrothers provides initiatory rites of passage experiences alongside a structured mentoring programme. Register here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: point-of-arrest diversion for children

The Centre for Justice Innovation will discuss the latest evidence for effective point-of-arrest diversion for children and young people [6 February, 10:00 - 11:00, online, free]. This is part of the “A matter of fact: what the evidence tells us” series, to accompany our Evidence Library, giving you the chance to ask your own questions of leading academics talking about the latest research on an important criminal justice topic. The Centre for Justice Innovation seeks to build a justice system that everyone believes is fair and effective. Their work on effective point-of-arrest diversion for children and young people is hosted on the Youth Justice Board’s effective practice hub and as part of the Youth Endowment Fund’s toolkit on pre-court diversion. Register here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: trauma informed organisational policy development

This training workshop by One Small Thing will enable you to explore how trauma informed working applies to organisational policy development [8 February, Resource for London, £95]. Participants will look at their organisational existing policies, consider what might be amended, and think through the development of new trauma-informed policies. No longer will your policies be stuck in a folder in a dusty drawer, they will become living, trauma informed, applied documents that move you closer to your goal of being a trauma informed organisation. By the end of the workshop, participants will have; a clearer understanding of what trauma informed policies they already have in place, what trauma informed aspects of their policies need to be developed and what is required to embed trauma informed policies across an organisation. Register here

NON-MEMBER’S EVENT: the Social Value Act – 10 years on

Join the Academy for Social Justice seminar on the Social Value Act - 10 years on [14 February, online, free]. Speakers from Smart Social, Procure Plus and Manchester City Council will discuss the Act, where there have been successes and also challenges, and how we might deliver more using the Act principles. Register here.

NON-MEMBER’S EVENT: tackling homelessness through systems change

Hear how Shelter is tackling the unprecedented demand for housing by moving towards a systems change approach [28 February, online, free]. During the seminar, you will hear what this means for the organisation and how it can lead to better results and social justice. Speakers will also explore two examples of this work - a locality model with Shelter’s 11 Hubs around the country working for systems change in communities and a women’s centred services peer research project which explored a community-led approach to research and influencing. Speakers from homeless charity Shelter share how they are tackling homelessness and their use of a systems change approach to get better results. Register here.

NON-MEMBER’S TRAINING: fully funded Cyber Essentials security

There is an opportunity for small organisations to take part in a fully funded Cyber Essentials security programme. Cyber Essentials is an effective, Government backed scheme that will help you to protect your organisation, whatever its size, against a whole range of the most common cyber attacks. Qualifying organisations will receive around 20 hours of remote support with a Cyber Essentials Assessor. This time will be used to support an organisation to implement the five technical controls of Cyber Essentials, followed by a hands-on technical verification that the controls have been put in place. Find out more.

OPPORTUNITY: film to raise awareness dental health and the impact on people in prison

A team of researchers are looking for people who would speak about their experiences of seeking dental care, looking after their teeth and how their dental health has impacted their lives. We want to raise awareness on this issue to improve the oral health and wellbeing of those affected by the justice system. The project will involve two to three online virtual half-day workshops to create the storyline and the script for the film. The film will be made by a professional film company. Those who are involved in the project do not need to be in the film themselves as the roles in the film are being portrayed by professional actors hired through Synergy Theatre Project. The first workshop will take place in late February. The screening event will be held in July 2023 in East London and participants will be compensated for their time with a £75 voucher for each workshop and their expenses to attend the screening event will be covered. For more information e-mail j.booth@qmul.ac.uk

FEATURED VACANCY: StandOut Coach

StandOut are looking for a StandOut Coach [£26,000-£28,500, full time, London] to work in a London prison alongside a lead coach to deliver the StandOut programme. The programme is delivered in three phases: an intensive group course in prison, followed by one-to-one coaching and holistic support in prison and after release. You will be key to StandOut’s unique through-the-gate approach and will support people to find the stability they need to realise their potential, achieve their goals and rebuild their lives after prison. This role would be ideal for someone with a good understanding of the challenges faced by those caught up in the criminal justice system, gained either working in prison or by a range of work outside prison. Find out more and apply by 8 February here.

FEATURED VACANCY: Specialist Women's Outreach Worker

Brighton Women’s Centre is seeking an individual with excellent skills in case management to join them as their Specialist Women’s Outreach Worker [£28,785 pro-rata, full time, Eastbourne] You will work with women on an outreach basis to deliver an intensive, relationship-based model of support. You will drive good practice, working effectively to enhance safety, health, and well-being for the women you work with. BWC is committed to inclusion and diversity and actively encourage applications from women from a variety of backgrounds, particularly women who have personal experience of the criminal justice system, those with disabilities and those from Black or racially minoritised communities who are currently under-represented in the organisation. Find out more and apply by 30 January here

FEATURED VACANCY: Advocate and Link Worker (Prisons)

Women in Prison (WIP) have multiple services in London delivering support to women who are in contact, or at risk of being in contact, with the criminal justice system. WIP are looking for an Advocate and Link Worker [£27,720, full time, HMP Bronzefield and across South London] to support women in prison.  Find out more and apply by 10 February here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Criminal Justice Coach/Assistant Psychologist with Genius Within CIC [£28,000, HMP Lewes, full time]; Specialist Support Worker with Imagine Independence [£16,095, Burnley, part time]; Specialist Support Worker with Imagine Independence [£16,095, Catterall, Part time]; CAS-2 Support Worker with Nacro [£21,710, Bristol, Swindon and Gloucester, full time]; CAS-2 Peripatetic Support Worker with Nacro [£21,710, Reading, Slough, full time]; CAS-2 Support Worker with Nacro [£21,710, Reading, Slough and Milton Keynes, full time]; CAS-2 Referral Officer with Nacro [£20,710, Leeds, full time]; Peripatetic Interventions Officer with Seetec [£88 - £95, HMP Stanford Hill, Sheerness, part time]; Interventions Officer - Domestic Abuse with Seetec [£30,208 - £33,600, Covering Sussex, part time]; Peripatetic Support Worker with Nacro [£21,710, Kent with occasional travel, full time]

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

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EXTRA INFORMATION:

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