Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 824 | 15 March 2024

Light Lunch Clinks

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: State of the sector 2023 coming soon

Clinks is excited to share it's tenth annual State of the Sector research from Monday 18 March, produced in partnership with NCVO. Clinks has been co-creating State of the Sector research since 2013. We’re proud to have grown from a small project working with organisations in London prisons, into a trusted infrastructure organisation working across England and Wales. In this year's report, the criminal justice voluntary sector has been mapped out, highlighting the changes over the past year alongside reoccurring themes evidencing the impact and need for services from the voluntary sector. State of the Sector is a free resource evidencing what our members and sector are experiencing and the impact on their service users.
Read more about State of the Sector.

CLINKS NEWS: Families network forum

Clinks has recently established a network for voluntary organisations that support families delivering services in prisons and the community. We aim to give a collective voice to organisations that support the families of people in the criminal justice system and help to strengthen the evidence base for investing in good quality family support.

This Families Network Forum event [18 March, 13:30 - 15:00, online, free] will examine who takes responsibility for children in maintaining relationships when a parent is involved the criminal justice system? His Majesty Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) currently fund some "family and significant other" contracts but resources are not adequate for what is needed to maintain relationships. The aim of this event is to discuss which other statutory services should be involved and develop an action plan for influencing their work. Register here

CLINKS NEWS: Clinks Sentencing Council’s consultation submission

Clinks recently submitted to the Sentencing Council’s consultation on the imposition of community and custodial sentences guidelines. Our submission focused on the value of pre-sentence reports and suggested the inclusion of older people with complex needs as a distinct cohort, alongside other groups recognised by the guidelines. Read our submission online here

MEMBER FOCUS: Causeway Charitable Services

Causeway's criminal justice department supports those with experience of the criminal justice system who are looking to rehabilitate and step away from criminality. Their LifeNavigate programmes in both South Yorkshire and Merseyside provide the opportunity for people to address their cycle of criminality in a holistic and trauma-informed way. Their work reduces violence and creates a safer society for us all.

Causeway also understands the deep trauma survivors of Modern Slavery have experienced, and believes in empowering them to live free and meaningful lives. Their anti-slavery services seek to prevent the re-exploitation of survivors, protect them while they recover, and support their progression back into realising their hopes and ambitions as they take their place in society. Find out more about Causeway Charitable Services

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Justice in crisis – have we lost sight of the public interest?

In the latest podcast episode titled "Justice in crisis" Transform Justice debate if we have we lost sight of the public interest?

Hosts Penelope and Rob dive deeper into a handful of the biggest issues facing our criminal justice system today.

Penelope talks us through the single justice procedure, recently brought to mainstream attention in the aftermath of the Post Office scandal. She explains exactly how this system works (or rather – doesn’t), how it’s failing vulnerable populations, and what can be done about it.

And with multiple justice bills going through parliament, Rob takes a look at exactly what is causing the prison population to keep rising. Is sentencing getting harsher? And what could the Sentencing Council do about it? Listen here 

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: a briefing on Mental Health in prison

Nacro have launched a new briefing from their Justice ExChange on "Mental Health in prison". The Justice ExChange is a group of people who have been through the criminal justice system, supported by Nacro, and who want to use their experiences to create a more effective justice system.

Members know from their own experiences how Mental Health is an increasingly important issue, they spoke about the increasing need they saw when inside, alongside a lack of day-to-day support and long waiting lists for formal help. They saw the impact unaddressed mental health needs were having on people’s chances to rebuild their lives when they were released. As one person told us “You come in feeling alright and you go out sick.”

The report highlights:

• The level of mental health need in prison
• The impact the prison environment can have on people’s mental health
• How mental health problems are identified and what support is currently available in prison
• The impact all this can have on people’s ability to turn their lives around on release
• Recommendations for change

Read Nacro’s Justice ExChange Briefing: Mental Health in Prison here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Update on Foreign National Offenders, Prisons and Probation

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Chalk, published an update on Foreign National Offenders, Prisons and Probation. The key points were:

  • Set to deliver 10,000 new prison places by the end of 2025
  • A long-term commitment to build 20,000 new prison places overall
  • Plans for returning Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) to their home countries
  • Measures to address the growth in the remand population
  • Increasing the use of electronic monitoring (ankle tags)
  • 4,000 trainee probation officers

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: early legal advice for families

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announced plans last week that they are to invest £170 million into new technology and efficiencies through digitisation. It is stated that family disputes will be resolved faster and potentially spare them the stresses of going to court.

This announcement forms part of plans for government to deliver up to £1.8 billion worth of benefits by 2029 through a total £800 million investment. Read the MoJ press release here

Hot on the heels of the announcement, the Law Gazzette published an article sharing their views: More budget blues for the MoJ 

OPPORTUNITY: criminology students available for work

Talented criminology students from Sheffield Hallam University are looking for paid "sandwich placements" to gain a year of industry experience. Can you help? 

Many students go back to the organisations where they gained their experience, others go on to bigger things, taking with them an understanding of the valuable work your organisation delivers.

The criminology students are seeking paid local, national and international opportunities in:

  • social justice and human rights
  • criminal justice sector
  • substance misuse and rehabilitation
  • young people's services
  • education, including working with SEN
  • social research
  • local, national and international charities

The placement would be for 24 - 48 weeks, working around 30+ hours per week. If you are able to offer a placement, or know someone who could, please contact Kerry Cook K.Cook@shu.ac.uk

OPPORTUNITY: Collaboration in Cleveland, helping people into work

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland is developing a resource for businesses in the Cleveland area to further develop and promote employment opportunities for prison leavers and ex-offenders.

This is comprised of highlighting work that is going on across communities and the criminal justice system, whilst breaking down stigmas and providing practical guidance to employers.

If you are VCS organisation that is actively providing employment, education and/ or training support to people that have offended in the Cleveland area, the OPCC wants to extend you an opportunity to have your work featured in this project.

To learn more about the project, contact Christopher.guttridge@cleveland.police.uk

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Family Support Worker - Early Days in Custody with NEPACS [£27,661, Various, full time]; Business & Finance Administrator with NEPACS [£25,000, Durham, full time]; Cafe Supervisor with One Small Thing [£26,000 - £28,000, Southampton, part time]; Administrator with Phoenix Futures [£24,435, HMP Pentonville, full time]; Recovery Worker with Phoenix Futures [£26,085, HMP Pentonville, full time]; Housing IDVA-LWHSP with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£26,000 - £32,000, Hammersmith, part time]; Bounce Back for Kids (BB4K) Support Workers with Alana House, Parents and Children Together [£23,793 - £29,079, Working flexibly from our Reading office, part time]; Social Care IDVA - Job Share with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£30,000 - £32,000, Hammersmith, part time]; Pool worker with Hestia Housing & Support [£12ph, Battersea, part time]; Programme Manager - Surrey and Sussex with Shannon Trust [£36,050, Surrey, full 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 13877 people working (or with an interest) in the criminal justice system of England and Wales.
If you would like to include something in a future edition of Light Lunch, use our submission form.
Get involved Become a Member | Follow Clinks on Twitter
Contact us www.clinks.org | info@clinks.org | 020 4502 6774
Click here to manage your subscriptions. For assistance, email info@clinks.org
Registered office: 82A James Carter Road, Mildenhall, Suffolk, IP28 7DE 
Registered charity: 1074546 | Company limited by guarantee in England & Wales: 3562176
© Clinks, 2024

Clinks logo