Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 795 | 11 August 2023

Light Lunch Clinks

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: Policy and Communications Officer

Clinks has a new and exciting opportunity available for you to join as the Policy and Communications Officer. The Policy and Communications Officer will be part of the Policy and Communications team. You will help support the delivery of core policy functions.

Responsibilities include; identifying new government initiatives and policy relating to criminal justice and the voluntary sector in England and Wales, conducting desk-based research, supporting the development and operation of the policy focussed groups, networks and structures which Clinks facilitates and producing documents and briefings as part of a team. You will also be responsible for Clinks’ social media presence, planning and coordinating e-communications and website content, and provide support to Clinks’ staff in the writing and production of publications. Applications close 9:00, 14 August. Find out more and apply here

MEMBER FOCUS: Justlife Foundation

Justlife is a charity that specialises in supporting people living in temporary accommodation such as B&B’s, Hotels and Guesthouses which are generally not used by the council as emergency accommodation. They work in a person- centred and flexible way to ensure the temporary accommodation stay is as short, safe and healthy as possible. This might mean helping people to sort out issues with their benefits, attend GP appointments or make housing referrals for longer term accommodation. Justlife works closely with the Manchester National Probation Service as part of the 'Targeted Referrals Project' working with high-risk people placed in temporary accommodation. Justlife supports the individual to move into suitable longer-term housing, whilst working closely with offender managers and property landlords. Visit their website

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Can the judiciary become anti-racist?

Abundant evidence shows that the criminal justice system disproportionately impacts minoritised communities, and many reports have made recommendations to tackle discrimination in the courts. Yet racist treatment of lawyers, defendants, witnesses, and even judges by other court actors persists.

In this Podcast episode by Transform Justice, hosts Penelope and Rob are joined by Abimbola Johnson, barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, and Keir Monteith KC of Garden Court Chambers to discuss institutional racism in the criminal justice system and what steps must be taken for the judiciary to become anti-racist. Listen here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Welsh women within the Criminal Justice System

The Disabilities Trust are undertaking research into the experiences of Welsh women within the Criminal Justice System, in partnership with the Criminal Justice Board for Wales and Women’s Justice Blueprint. The primary aims of the study are; to estimate the prevalence of brain injury, and the associated effects amongst neurodiverse women who have experience of the criminal justice system (CJS) in Wales, to understand if or how professionals in the CJS in Wales currently identify brain injury, to understand the responses already in place to support women with brain injury throughout the CJS in Wales, and to provide a ‘road map’ of appropriate care pathway options and opportunities to improve system wide processes. If you are a professional supporting women within the CJS, please complete the form to contribute your views and experiences. Welsh Women in the Criminal Justice System and Brain Injury: Professionals Survey (office.com)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Wrongly-convicted no longer charged for living expenses

Wrongly convicted people will no longer face having “saved living costs” deducted from compensation payments following an update to guidance made on 6 August. Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk took decisive action to inject greater fairness into how payout decisions for miscarriages of justice are made, ending the possibility that people can be ‘charged’ for saved living costs. 

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Chalk KC, said: “Fairness is a core pillar of our justice system and it is not right that victims of devastating miscarriages of justice can have deductions made for saved living expenses. This common sense change will ensure victims do not face paying twice for crimes they did not commit.” Read the MoJ press release

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: the appalling condition of prisons

The vast majority of prisons are providing inadequate conditions or unacceptable treatment, according to an Observer investigation that has led to claims of prisoners being “warehoused” in a system in crisis.

An analysis of hundreds of inspections found that three-quarters of prisons in England and Wales are now providing insufficient standards in at least one respect. More than a third were deemed to be insufficiently safe.

The chief inspector of prisons, the Tory chair of the justice committee and senior prison staff all warned that the findings had been fuelled by overcrowding. Read the Guardian article here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Racial Justice or Just Enough?

Join Socio Logical as they host Breaking Bread session 1: Racial Justice or Just Enough? [16 August 10:30-12:30, online].

In what is often referred to as the “Racial Reckoning” of 2020 most sectors and organisations introspected on how they can best respond to the needs of their staff, stakeholders, and service users in relation to creating a more equitable society.

Between July and September 2020, statistics showed that in London 61% of children on remand were Black and 87% were people of colour (POC). Individuals were held on remand and awaiting court hearings before being charged with an offence. So how do we as a sector future proof the work needed to share best practice, maintain momentum, and continue to support those who are disproportionality in contact with the Criminal justice System? Register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Story Chair launch

Join national charity Changing Lives and Northumbria University, for the launch of Story Chair [8 September, 9:15 – 14:00, Newcastle Cathedral of St Nicholas, free].

Supported by the North-East Probation Service, Story Chair is an eight-week programme facilitated in the last 12 months, involving over 50 women who explored story-telling techniques – enabling them to tell their own story and take control of their own narratives moving forward.

Using the women’s artwork, a physical story-telling chair has been built and will be unveiled publicly. The day also launches the Story Chair toolkit, providing guidance on how to use craft and storytelling activities in one-to-one or group settings. Book your free tickets here

RESOURCE: oral health experiences of people with convictions

A team of researchers at Queen Mary University of London and the University of Dundee created a short film exploring the oral health experiences of people with convictions and their experiences of accessing healthcare on release. The film’s storyline and script were written by those with lived experience of the criminal justice system. Inspired by the stories of people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and their struggles in accessing dental care, the film features professional actors Ric Renton and Megan Samuels, hired through the Synergy Theatre Project. The project received funding from the BASCD-Borrow Foundation Early Career Research award. It aims to stimulate conversation, change perceptions, and inform oral health policies for this underserved group. Watch the short film

FEATURED VACANCY: Communications Officer

Are you passionate about justice reform? The Centre for Justice Innovation is seeking a proactive and creative Communications Officer [£32,500, full time, London] to drive impactful communication strategies for our organisation. You will be responsible for crafting compelling content for our website, social media, and newsletters, engaging justice practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. You’ll oversee our digital channels, manage in-person and online events, and contribute to shaping the organisation’s thinking on justice. If you have experience in communication tools, event administration, and a keen eye for impactful writing, we invite you to join our dynamic team in Kennington, London. Find out more and apply here by 23 August

FEATURED VACANCY: Policy Manager

Revolving Doors Agency is seeking a Policy Manager [£34,000, full time, London]. You will be at the forefront of our Policy, Research, and Communications team, playing a pivotal role in developing and delivering influential policy and advocacy projects. You will work closely with our lived experience members, providing them with a platform to share their invaluable insights with decision-makers and driving forward our efforts to create positive change. Your expertise in policy development, coordination, and implementation will contribute to ending the cycle of crisis and crime. If you are collaborative, adept at relationship-building, and passionate about creating a better world through lived experience, apply now and be part of Revolving Doors Agency’s transformative journey. Find out more and apply here by 30 August  

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Housing Officer with Seetec [£23,000 - £24,801, Bury St Edmunds, part time]; Female Social Enterprise & ETE Coordinator with Anawim [£29,203 - £31,001, Balsall Heath, full time]; Prison Resettlement Worker with Julian House [£23,240, Kingswood with travel around South Gloucestershire, full time]; Support Worker with Seetec [£24,650 - £29,000, Warrington, full time]; Support Worker with Seetec [£24,650 - £29,000, Chatham, full time]; Through The Gate Worker - HMP Highdown with The Forward Trust [£25,154, HMP Highdown, full time]; Peer Coordinator - HMP The Mount with The Forward Trust [£24,000 - £26,000, HMP The Mount, full time]; Boys2Men Facilitator with Spurgeons [£22,418 - £25,937, Moseley, Surrey, part time]; Housing Officer with Seetec [£23,000 - £24,801, Cambridge, part time]; Monitoring & Evaluation Officer with CASS+ [£27,105, Hybrid working, part time]

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

About Clinks Light Lunch

This edition of Light Lunch has been sent to the inbox of 13766 people working (or with an interest) in the criminal justice system of England and Wales.
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