Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 789 | 30 June 2023

Light Lunch Clinks

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: State of the sector survey 2023

We have launched our 2023 State of the sector survey – exploring key trends in the voluntary sector working in criminal justice. This is your chance to tell us about the challenges your organisation has faced over the last year and to help us influence key decision makers on your behalf and ensure that our support meets your needs. 

If we are to best represent and support you, we need the most up-to-date evidence on how you are faring and what your needs are. Read our blog: State of the sector 2023 survey: why your response is crucial to find out more about how we use your responses and why your voice matters!

Complete the survey today here! And share the survey on Twitter here.

CLINKS NEWS: Social prescribing in the criminal justice system

Social prescribing in the criminal justice system – building the evidence base is our latest Clinks blog looking at the evidence for social prescribing and the approach being taken to support its growth across prisons and probation. Social prescribing is commonly used in healthcare settings, but can it be effective across criminal justice? Clinks is keen to identify examples of promising practice within the criminal justice system which we can promote to support the development and growth of social prescribing. If you provide a non-clinical service, activity or intervention that supports people’s physical, mental or emotional health, please help build our evidence base by sharing your experience, including any challenges, successes or insights by getting in touch with policy@clinks.org before 31 July. Read the blog here

CLINKS NEWS: Core services commissioning and your views

There is still time to feed your views into the potential commissioning models for when HMPPS re-commission its core services (formerly known as day 1 services). Even if you were not involved in the day 1 services commissioning processes the views of all organisations both large and small are extremely valuable. The information gathered will be used to inform their strategy. Organisations can complete some or all of the survey (before 19 July).

Alternatively, HMPPS is offering 1-2-1 meetings should that be your preferred option. Please e-mail mohammedirfan.ahmed@justice.gov.uk or probationsourcingteam@justice.gov.uk to arrange a meeting.

CLINKS NEW MEMBER: Christian Response Careline CIC

Created in 2020 by a group of Christian friends, The Careline works with specially trained and vetted volunteers, to identify and support the most vulnerable members of local communities across the UK. The support available is meticulously developed with community residents, leaders, and other organisations to meet the unique needs of each neighbourhood. By working in close partnership

with the community, the right needs are identified, and the right care provided. Visit Careline - Let's beat loneliness

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: No more deaths in custody or care

Public and corporate bodies have a duty to keep people safe from harm and protect lives. Yet every year hundreds of people die preventable state related deaths, often in very similar circumstances.

Hundreds of vital recommendations are made following inquests and inquiries but there is no system in place to oversee them or ensure changes are made. That is why INQUEST has launched ‘No More Deaths’, a new campaign seeking to ensure transparency and fix the accountability gap following preventable deaths in state custody or care.

Join the campaign to help end preventable deaths in state care or custody. To find out more, click here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: CourtWatch is coming to London

What happens in our magistrates' courts can have a huge impact on the lives of individuals and communities. But many of these decisions happen behind closed doors, where injustice can go unnoticed and unrecorded. Inspired by similar projects in the US, CourtWatch London will train volunteers from the community to watch criminal court proceedings in the magistrates' court and report what they see. The data they gather will help to hold courts accountable, identify bad practice, and take action to change it. Find out more, sign up to volunteer, and register for July training sessions here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: the Princess of Wales opens Hope Street

The Princess of Wales joined Edwina Grosvenor to officially open the Hope Street facility in Southampton on Tuesday. One Small Thing's commitment to systemic change for women and their children in the justice system, inspired them to build Hope Street, a facility, designed by and for women, providing safe accommodation and a compassionate approach to prevent trauma faced by mothers being separated from their children.

Hope Street is piloting a new approach to working with justice involved women. From within a healing, trauma-informed, residential environment, women and children will have access to a range of specialist support. By taking a positive and compassionate approach, they aim to create a blueprint for change that can be replicated across the country and achieve better outcomes for women, their children and society. Visit the One Small Thing website

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: prison staff share their views

As part of its inquiry into the prison operational workforce, the Justice Committee published the findings of its survey of operational prison staff. Based on over 6,000 responses, indicating a response rate of 25% of Band 2 staff and 24% of Band 3 to 5 staff, the survey found that 73% of Band 3 to 5 staff do not feel valued for the work they do, and 90% of staff at those grades said their pay does not reflect the roles and responsibilities of their job. In addition, 84% of Band 3 to 5 staff said there were not enough staff to ensure people in prison can access purposeful activity, and only 37% of those staff agreed they are managing their workload well. Read the survey findings here

FUNDING: emotional resilience and peer support

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is inviting applications for grant funding to deliver emotional resilience training and operate a peer support scheme to help prisoners build resilience to prevent suicide and self-harm in six reception prisons. The grant will be from 1 November 2023 to 31 March 2025 and the total funding for the 17 months is £1,350,000 (£225k per prison, to be competed as individual lots). Applications can be made via the Jaggaer e-sourcing portal. Once logged in, search for ITT_7495 – “Settling into Prison - Emotional Resilience and Peer Support”. The competition is live from 28 June and will close 28 July 12:00 (noon). More information can be found here

FUNDING: women’s family engagement workers

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is inviting applications for grant funding to provide 12 Family Engagement Workers across the women’s estate to provide family engagement support for women leaving prison. The duration of the grant will be 1 October 2023 to 31 March 2025 and the total funding available for the eighteen-month period is £720,000. Applications can be made via the Jaggaer e-sourcing portal. Once logged in, search for ITT_7489 – “Family Engagement support for women leaving prison”. The competition is live from 28 June and will close 27 July 12:00 (noon). More information can be found here

FUNDING: Operation payback in Northumbria

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner has launched another round of ‘Operation Payback’. The goal of Operation Payback is to return cash from crime back into communities. The funding uses money recovered by the police from criminal activity, under the Proceeds of Crime Act (PoCA), with some recovered funds also going to Northumbria Police.

£10,000 is available for grass roots organisations, charities and sports clubs to bid for grants either of £1000 or up to £5000 to focus projects on three key areas which are:

• Repair the harm caused by Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)
• Prevent/reduce youth or adult ASB
• Provision of diversionary activities throughout the year including school holidays.

The deadline to apply is [11 August]. Apply here

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: Get to grips with Universal Credit

This introductory course about all aspects of social welfare and getting to grips with Universal Credit is CPD accredited [3 August, online or in-person, £89.00 Excluding VAT]. Trainees will receive a CPD Certificate and 3.5 CPD points following course completion. Book here

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: Prisoners and welfare benefits

This introductory course about prisoner welfare benefits is CPD accredited [8 August, 10:00 - 14:00, £89 Excluding VAT]. Trainees will receive a CPD Certificate and 5.5 points following course completion.  Book here

NON-MEMBER’S TRAINING: Violence prevention professionals, train the trainer

How to implement a therapeutic exit strategy for at risk young people effected by life threatening behaviour relating to youth violence. [19 July, 09:30 - 15:00, Barking IG11 8HE, cost £47] Book here

RESOURCE: Inclusive social prescribing

Member of the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance, FaithAction, has just launched a new report, ‘Inclusive social prescribing: Learning from engagement with grassroots Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations’. The report highlights VCFSE organisations’ ideas on what inclusive social prescribing should look like and the challenges they face alongside the health system in making this a reality. It also outlines the key actions that social prescribing commissioners, health system partners and grassroots VCFSE organisations can take to make social prescribing more inclusive.  The report is available to download here

RESOURCE: improving accommodation outcomes for women

The Women's Prison Release Practice Briefing is a resource to support joint work by national and local agencies to improve accommodation outcomes for women in contact with the criminal justice system.

This Briefing draws on good practice and spells out what can be done through effective, timely joined-up working. Contributing partners include prisons, probation and court services, housing providers, and women’s support services, all committed to work together to deliver improved housing outcomes for women in contact with the criminal justice system. Development of the Practice Briefing has been supported throughout by the London Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime as part of delivery of the London Blueprint for Women in the Criminal Justice System. Download the briefing

OPPORTUNITY: women, relationships and criminal justice

Dr Sarah Waite and Dr Natalie Rutter are seeking contributions for a proposed edited collection entitled: Women, Relationships and Criminal Justice. They are keen to include a wide range of contributions from practitioners, people with experience of criminalisation, academics and the third sector. Any monies raised from this publication will go to charities working directly with criminalised women. Find out more

PUBLICATION: Just time by Stephen Jackley

This publication, ‘Just Time’ by Stephen Jackley has been published by Arkbound Charity. The experience of custody is one most of us only usually hear about from outside. All the intricacies of navigating prison life – suicide watch, fights, punishments, abuses of power by officials, and  relationships – are rarely shown. This book sets out to reveal these facets of prison life in a depth and diversity never covered before. Find out more and order here

FEATURED VACANCY: Senior Project Manager, Criminal Justice

Join the National Literacy Trust in their mission to transform lives through literacy. As a Senior Project Manager [£38,500, full time, London], you’ll be at the forefront of our ground-breaking work in criminal justice settings. You will lead their New Chapters project, empowering young people and adults in prisons and YOIs to share their stories through creative writing. The role will manage a small, dedicated team and foster collaborative relationships with a wide variety of external partners, from community organisations to National Prison Radio. It offers a brilliant opportunity to utilise your project management skills, as well as delivering hands-on sessions and working with a really inspiring range of authors. Make a tangible difference, addressing social and economic inequality caused by poor literacy. Apply now to shape a brighter future through literacy. Find out more and apply here by 3 July

FEATURED VACANCY: Administrator - Traveller Project

Join the Irish Chaplaincy, a leading social action charity supporting vulnerable Irish individuals in England and Wales. They are expanding their Traveller Project and seeking a dedicated Administrator [£28,000, full time, London]. Assist the successful delivery of a contract supporting Gypsy Roma Travellers on probation in London. Collaborate with the Project Manager and other Chaplaincy projects. Key responsibilities include managing enquiries, scheduling appointments, and maintaining casework records. Contribute to publications and resources for Travellers in prison. Essential skills: empathy with faith-based organisations, commitment to social justice, strong interpersonal and communication skills, IT literacy, knowledge of Traveller culture, experience working with vulnerable groups, and familiarity with criminal justice issues. This role requires a high level of independent working. Apply now to support this important community! Find out more and apply here by 10 July

FEATURED VACANCY: Communications and Public Affairs Officer

Join the Revolving Door Agency as a Communications and Public Affairs Officer [£28,000, full time, remote/London]. This is your chance to make a meaningful impact by empowering individuals with lived experience of the criminal justice system. As a key member of the Policy, Research, and Communications team, you will drive systems change and amplify the voices of members. You’ll spearhead strategic communications to policymakers, practitioners, and the media, shaping our narrative and raising awareness of our vital work. Your day-to-day will include drafting press releases, managing social media channels, and producing engaging website content. If you’re passionate about social policy, have excelling writing skills, and thrive in a collaborative environment, apply now and make a difference.  Find out more and apply here by 17 July

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Helpline Coordinator with NEPACS [£27,651, Durham, part time]; Tenancy Support Worker with Nacro [£25,348, Based in and around London, full time]; Programmes Worker with Change, grow, live (CGL) [£26,393 - £30,316, HMP Guys Marsh, Shaftesbury, full time]; Personal Wellbeing Coach with St Giles Trust [£23,700, North Wales, full time]; Volunteer Co-Ordinator with St Giles Trust [£25,000, Various locations in South Wales, part time]; Financial Wellbeing Adviser (Caseworker) with Catch22 [£27,300, Kings Cross, London, part time]; Contracts and Partnerships Lead with Women in Prison [£32,760, Hybrid (2 days per week London or Manchester office and the remainder working from home, part time]; Team Leader – Education, Welfare and Inclusion with St Giles Trust [£29,500 - £36,000, Leeds, full time]; Employment, Training and Education Coach with Seetec [£23,000 - £24,801, Wilshire, full time]

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

About Clinks Light Lunch

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