Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 780 | 28 April 2023

Light Lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: Alex Chalk appointed as the new justice secretary

After Dominic Raab's resignation, Rishi Sunak appointed Alex Chalk as the new Justice Secretary. Mr. Chalk was Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence from October 2022 to April 2023 and was formerly HM Solicitor General for England and Wales and the Prisons and Probation Minister. Read the response to the announcement from two of our member organisations: The Prison Reform Trust and The Howard League for Penal Reform. 

CLINKS NEWS: simplifying probation commissioning

The Clinks team have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to make improvements to the systems and processes under the Probation Services Dynamic Framework (DF) as well as implementing other useful tools to support organisations to engage in competitions. Clinks has published a blog which provides an overview of developments and upcoming changes in probation commissioning processes. We will continue use the blog as a platform to update the sector about ongoing changes, so be sure to check in regularly and keep an eye on our regular communications channels. Read the blog here.

CLINKS NEWS: Amy Rees and Phil Copple discuss the future vision for justice

Last chance to join us at the Ministry of Justice. This is an exciting opportunity for the voluntary sector to engage with Amy Rees, Director General CEO, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and Phil Copple, the Director of Operations, HMPPS at our hybrid event [3 May, 10:00 – 11:30, London]. We will be hearing about the new HMPPS senior leadership structure and learning about the priorities and vision for the service, including the role and the value of the voluntary sector working within it. Book your place here.

CLINKS NEWS: HMPPS Regional Third Sector Stakeholder Event - Exeter

Join Clinks and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Third Sector Partnerships and Programmes Team to gather feedback on the organisation-wide Third Sector Partnership Approach [10 May, Exeter, free]. The Third Sector Partnership Approach provides a guiding set of principles to strengthen and maximise Ministry of Justice and HMPPS engagement with the Third Sector to highlight and raise the profile of the valuable services the Third Sector provides across England and Wales. This event, and subsequent events [Cardiff, 23 May; Birmingham, 6 June; Manchester, 22nd June; Newcastle, 6 July] will also provide an opportunity to engage with regional HMPPS colleagues, and hear about the upcoming Innovation Grants programme. Book your place here.

CLINKS NEWS: no place for old men – what the evidence tells us

Clinks has published a new “A matter of fact: what the evidence tells us” video. Louise Ridley, senior lecturer in Criminology at Northumbria University, discusses the latest evidence around the key issues and challenges of our ageing prison population. Louise has provided an in-depth look at the issues and challenges of our ageing population in a review for our Evidence Library which covers a number of key issues. She also reviews the important role played by voluntary organisations, working collaboratively in prisons and improving the quality of life experienced by older people in prison. Watch the video and read the review here. 

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Rachel Ozanne joins Women in Prison

Women in Prison (WIP) is thrilled to announce that Rachel Ozanne has joined the organisation as Director of Programmes and Partnerships. Rachel moves over from Respect where she has been leading systems change and development work following a career working with people affected by multiple disadvantage, starting in frontline roles and working in HMPs Holloway and Downview. 2023 is WIPs 40th anniversary and they are spending this year learning about the impact they have had and most importantly looking ahead to the organisation they need to be for the future. WIP has set a strategic direction that ensures all of their work embeds coproduction, equity, diversity and inclusion, and offers alternatives for women who are at risk of or are being criminalised. Read more here.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: market engagement for women's services

The Ministry of Justice is holding a market engagement event [10 May, 10:00, online] for Additional Family Engagement Services and Social Worker Services in the women’s prison estate.

Family Engagement Services includes the provision of pre-release family group conferencing; pre-release and post-release support and; warm referrals into community provision.

The Social Worker Services will provide continued social work at HMP Send and HMP Eastwood park, supporting women in custody to maintain links with children and families. Find out more and register your interest here.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Insight event - Oral Justice Questions

HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is offering opportunities to attend Oral Justice Questions in-person, or virtually, with your own expert guide from HMPPS Briefing and Correspondence Team [16 May, in person/online].

Activate the connection in your mind between the will of parliament and the tasks they carry out every day. Witness for yourself Oral Justice Questions in the House where ministers are held to account. This is an Insights Group event and places are limited. Find out more and book your place here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Dixon and Daughters

A new play, 'Dixon and Daughters', by Deborah Bruce in co-production with Clean Break is on in the Dorfman Theatre at the National Theatre [various dates until June, London, from £20].

If this house could speak. Mary has just been released from prison. She wants to come home and forget all about it but Briana has other ideas. Over a tumultuous two days a family is forced to confront not just their past but themselves. Because even if you refuse to hear the truth, the truth does not go away. Róisín McBrinn, Artistic Director, Gate Theatre, Dublin, returns to Clean Break (Favour) to direct this powerful story of family and forgiveness by Deborah Bruce (The House They Grew Up In). The cast includes Brid Brennan (The Ferryman), Liz White (Anatomy of a Scandal) and Andrea Lowe (Sherwood). Book your ticket here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: SoulsINQUEST exhibition

The SoulsINQUEST exhibition [12-28 May, London] uses photography and writing as a lens onto state violence, death, grief and resistance. The exhibition is an embodiment of family resistance that refuses to be silenced, misrepresented or forgotten. A collaboration between bereaved families, Sarah Booker, INQUEST, and curated by Languid Hands, it is a powerful act of defiance in response to decades of injustice.

Founded in 1981 by bereaved families and campaigners, INQUEST is the only organisation in England and Wales that provides a specialist, comprehensive advice service on contentious state related deaths and their investigation. Learn more about the exhibition here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Trauma Informed Network Meeting - North West

Join this regional network meeting hosted by One Small Thing [6 July, 14:00 - 16:30, Penrith, free] that provides an opportunity to meet and reflect with colleagues upon trauma informed work, and share insights and ideas. Hear from Vanessa Dixon, Birchall Trust - sharing their trauma informed journey, their learning and examples of their trauma-informed practice. Book your place here.

OPPORTUNITY: bereavement support model, a call for participants

Safer London is looking for people to participate in research which will help inform the development of a bereavement support model specifically for those who have lost someone due to youth violence. Safer London has partnered with researchers at University College London and bereavement support experts Child Bereavement UK, to carry out research with the aim of building a model or approach that has been informed by those with direct experience of loss through youth violence. The project is now recruiting participants. Those who participate will be required to take part in a one-hour virtual interview and will have access to ongoing specialist bereavement support if they feel they need it. Participants will also be provided with a voucher for their time. Sign up here.

PUBLICATION: Supporting children’s compliance on community supervision

HM Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP) has published a new Academic Insight: Supporting children’s compliance on community supervision'. Academic Insights are aimed at all those with an interest in the evidence base. HMIP commission leading academics to present their views on specific topics, assisting with informed debate and aiding understanding of what helps and what hinders probation and youth offending services. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the policy position of HM Inspectorate of Probation. Read the latest Academic Insight.

PUBLICATION: non-policing solutions to youth violence

A ground-breaking new report from Liberty: Non-policing solutions to serious youth violence, is calling for a new approach to serious youth violence, including better funded youth services and a rolling back of police powers. In collaboration with Northern Police Monitoring Project; Release, No More Exclusions, National Survivor User Network, INQUEST, Kids of Colour, Art Against Knives, JENGbA and Maslaha, are calling for a movement away from police and punishment to give power and resources back to communities so that young people can thrive. Read the report here.

FEATURED VACANCY: Deputy Head of Services

Abianda is looking to recruit a Deputy Head of Services [£41,000, full time, London]. This is a new interim role (fixed term until 31 January 2024, with possibility of extension) with operational responsibility for all services delivered to young women and girls. You will be joining the organisation at an exciting time of long-term strategy development and will have a key role in ensuring consistently high-quality service delivery and supporting the development of practice and partnerships until the new strategy is implemented. You will line-manage Service Managers and Senior Practitioners, oversee operational delivery plans and provide support and guidance on service-related issues. Find out more and apply by 14 May here.

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Female Peer Support Worker with Anawim [£19,994 - £21,984, Birmingham, part time]; Female Enhancement Worker with Anawim [£1,042 - £1,143, Birmingham, part time]; Team Manager - (Community Initiative to Reduce Violence) with St Giles Trust [£29,500 - £36,000, across Coventry and Wolverhampton community, full time]; Personal Wellbeing Coach with St Giles Trust [£23,700, Swansea, full time]; Community Violence Mentor – CIRV with St Giles Trust [£23,000 - £28,000 [based in Coventry or Wolverhampton, full time]; Circles Co-Ordinator with St Giles Trust [£24,500, Cardiff, part time]; Wellbeing Project Worker (Criminal Justice) with Back on Track [£26,500 - £30,500, Manchester, full time]; Age UK Office for North East Prisons with Age UK North Tyneside [£22,529 - £24,479, Teesside, part time]; Senior IAG Advisor/Senior Employment Coach - HMP Hollesley Bay/Warren Hill with The Forward Trust [£27,919, HMP Hollesley Bay/HMP Warren Hill, part time]; Senior IAG Advisor/Senior Employment Coach - HMP Highpoint with The Forward Trust [£27,919, HMP Highpoint, full time]

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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