Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 831 | 17 May 2024

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In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: Could you be Clinks' Chair of the Board of Trustees?

Clinks is looking for a Chair who can lead our incredible Board and work collaboratively with our leadership team to steward a vibrant and vital voluntary sector.

Are you knowledgeable of the voluntary sector within criminal justice? Can you help us implement our new strategy during a crucial time in our sector? Join us and be an integral part of our mission to support, represent and advocate for the voluntary sector in the criminal justice system. 

As Chair, your leadership will be instrumental in shaping our strategic direction and governance. Responsibilities include providing leadership to the board, managing meetings and subcommittees, and leading in succession planning.

If you are interested in joining us to create positive change and transform lives within the criminal justice system - find out more and apply here.

CLINKS NEWS: RR3 seats recruitment

Clinks is seeking senior leaders from the criminal justice voluntary sector to join an influential advisory group to government - The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3). The Group works closely with senior officials in the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to build an effective partnership between government and the voluntary sector. We are looking for three new seat holders who can help to inform and advise on policy across England and Wales. Applications close on [28 May, 10:00]. The new seats are:

Lived-Experience: This person will be a senior leader working in a voluntary organisation with personal experience of the criminal justice system (CJS), as well as someone with experience of working with people/ groups of people with lived experience. This could be in service delivery, advocacy, advice and guidance, or other areas relating to supporting people with lived experience. Find out more and apply here

Longer sentences: We are looking for someone with extensive experience of working with people serving, or who have served, long sentences (of 10+ years or indeterminate sentences). This could be in service delivery, policy, advocacy, advice and guidance, or other areas related to longer sentences. Find out more and apply here

Older people in the criminal justice system: Older people represent the fastest growing cohort in the prison population. Clinks is seeking a senior leader from the voluntary sector with expertise on older people (aged 50+) in the criminal justice system. Experience of supporting older people, and understanding the distinct challenges, both in prison and on release that older people experience is essential. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS NEWS: End of Custody Licence Supervision

As first shared on the 3 May 2024, Clinks is gathering information from voluntary organisations on their experiences of the End of Custody Licence Supervision (ECSL) scheme. If your organisation is working with prisons operating the scheme, please complete this short survey to tell us more.

This week has seen significant political and media interest in the 'early release' scheme. We want to make sure the voluntary sector is represented in the discussion and, to do that, we need your help.

This survey is anonymous but if you would like to discuss your concerns with Clinks please get in touch at policy@clinks.org

CLINKS EVENT: Navigating the criminal justice system workshop

Are you new to working or volunteering in the criminal justice system? Do you have volunteers or staff members who want to increase their understanding of the criminal justice system?

The criminal justice system as a whole can be quite daunting to understand because of both its size and complexity.

Join us at this three-hour workshop [4 June, online, from £75] for voluntary sector staff and volunteers in which we aim to increase awareness of and provide the opportunity to explore and discuss how the criminal justice system is organised, the complexities within it, and how it works.

The workshop will explore the different elements of, and the various structures within, the criminal justice system, including government departments, regional and local statutory agencies, and the role of the voluntary sector, the services they provide and its work in supporting people. Book your place here

MEMBER FOCUS: Purfleet Trust 

Purfleet Trust aims to help people experiencing homelessness rebuild their lives and achieve their full potential by providing a range of support services tailored to their needs. By doing so, they aim to reduce homelessness and help vulnerable individuals become self-sufficient and independent. 
 
At the heart of everything they do is a commitment to treating every person who comes to them with compassion, respect, and dignity. Purfleet Trust believe that by providing a welcoming and supportive environment, they can help individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve their full potential. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: PRT factsheets - women's imprisonment

The Prison Reform Trust has published factsheets showing a detailed breakdown of the use of imprisonment for women in each police force area in England and Wales in 2022. The factsheets have been compiled from analysis of local court data.

These factsheets follow on from the publication of data resources in October last year of ‘at a glance’ data tables summarising the use of custody for each local police force area between 2014-2022.

This analysis of local data reveals significant geographical variations between police force areas. This variation may, in part, reflect areas with more effective coordinated approaches to women in the criminal justice system. In some areas, such as Manchester and London, there have been concerted local efforts to develop more effective responses to women’s offending through joined up working between police, courts, and women’s services. View the factsheets here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: court fines research

New research undertaken by the Centre for Justice Innovation shows that criminal court fines have a disproportionate impact on people already struggling to make ends meet and which feel impossible to pay off. As part of the research, the Centre interviewed 56 people on low incomes sentenced to fines.

The courts in England and Wales aim to ensure that fines have an equal impact on people regardless of their financial circumstances, but the Centre’s research shows that people on low-to-middle incomes end up with poor financial and mental health outcomes.

The research calls for reform of the fines system, both to fix clear injustices and to avoid the legitimacy of the justice system being undermined. Read the research briefing here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: survey of people in prison finds yoga boosts mental health

The Prison Phoenix Trust has published findings from a survey of people in prison using laptops in their cells to learn yoga and meditation. 712 people in three young offenders institutions, and one adult training and resettlement prison, took part in the survey. Some 87% people who tried yoga and meditation classes through their in-cell laptops said it helps them to feel better physically. Mental health benefits included "peace of mind" (reported by 77%); improved mental focus (75%); improved mood (73%); better sleep (69%); and help to manage stress (69%).

The provision of yoga on in-cell devices supports HM Prison and Probation Service's strategic objective to give people in its care digital tools and technology to support their rehabilitation. Read the full findings here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: trauma informed awareness training

One Small Thing are running a one-day online course [16 July, online, from £114] designed to support staff in organisations to develop an understanding of the dynamics and process of trauma, inform practice and support system change.

The objectives of the course are:

  • To understand the pervasiveness of violence and the impact it has upon people
  • To know the definitions of trauma, and what being ‘trauma-informed’ means
  • To understand how knowledge about trauma can make your work easier and safer
  • To learn about self-care for you and those you work with.

Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: the arts' role in rehabilitation

Join Prisoner Advice Service's upcoming panel discussion [29 May, 18:00, London, free], which will take as its focus the role that access to the arts plays in prisoner and ex-prisoner rehabilitation, and will feature panellists from Koestler Arts, freelance artist Erika Flowers and record label, Red Tangent Records, as well as musical performances from ex-prisoners.

To reserve a place, please e-mail list@prisonersadvice.org.uk

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: dedicated prison neurodiversity officers

Dedicated neurodiversity officers are now in place in every public prison in England and Wales to better support people.

The specialist staff are tasked with making sure people with neurodiverse needs are identified and can access the right education and training opportunities while in prison. The Ministry of Justice says that support managers will ensure other prison staff know how to avoid and de-escalate volatile situations when working with people that have neurodiverse conditions.

Pavan Dhaliwal, Chief Executive of Revolving Doors, said; “We are pleased to hear that a key commitment of the Neurodiversity Action Plan has been fulfilled, and there are now Neurodiversity Support Managers in all publicly owned prisons in the country.

 “A disproportionate number of people in prison are neurodiverse – ensuring that they are able to access appropriate support, and that the justice system is responsive to their needs, is key to breaking the cycle of crisis and crime. We look forward to seeing the impact this will have.”

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: plan to expand and improve the drug and alcohol workforce

The government has laid out plans to give more professionals such as police officers, probation workers, nurses and paramedics the ability to supply a life-saving opioid overdose antidote without a prescription to save the lives of the most vulnerable. The government will shortly update legislation to enable more services and individuals to provide take-home supplies of naloxone, which almost immediately reverses the effects of an opioid overdose by reversing breathing difficulties. 

Alongside this, the government has published a new 10-year strategic plan to expand and improve the drug and alcohol treatment and recovery workforce. Find out more here

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS AND TRAINING: using responsible and ethical AI in the public sector

In this seminar from the Academy for Social Justice [5 June, online, free], the speakers will explore a range of ethical AI principles and highlight toolkits designed to engage a diverse range of stakeholders in consequence, scanning the ethical use of artificial intelligence in applications.

Responsible, trustworthy and ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI) are essential to build public trust and meet legal obligations, yet how can public sector organistions put ethical principals into practice?

Considering emerging legalisation on AI, organisations need to openly address ethical principles such as bias, fairness, explainability, transparency, data privacy, accountability, and safety through effective AI Governance. Find out more and book your place here

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS AND TRAINING: seven lessons for living well

In this seminar from the Academy for Social Justice [11 June, online, free] Bruce Hood, Professor of Developmental Psychology in Society at  the University of Bristol, will outline the seven lessons for living well based on his university lecture series and his new book. This seminar will also offer some practical exercises that will teach you how to control your mind and deal with adversity.

This seminar will offer some practical exercises that will teach you how to control your mind and deal with adversity. You will learn about the pitfalls to watch out for and how you can apply “happiness hacks” to change your life for better and for good. Find out more and book your place here

RESOURCE: Mental Health Awareness Week

This week marks Mental Health Awareness Week run by the Mental Health Foundation. The theme of the week for 2024 is Movement: Moving more for our mental health. Catch up on the range of important and interactive events and activities promoted on X, or visit the Clinks website and catch up on our latest Evidence Library review; Best practice working with people with mental health problems on probation.

OPPORTUNITY: Race on the Agenda - Peer Researchers

Race On The Agenda (ROTA) supported with funding from Propel, are recruiting 10 Peer Researchers to take part in the first ROTA Community Research Partnership, exploring the ways in which racial inequities affect the Black and other racialised communities of London.

To be eligible to apply you must:

  • Be based in London to conduct the research. 
  • Have lived experience as an individual from a Black & Global Majority Background. 
  • Have close ties with your community. 
  • Be committed to developing research skills in a fast-paced environment. 
  • Possess good people skills. 
  • Have the ability to engage with and listen to members of your community.  
  • Have good communication skills in English

Successful candidates will be engaged in the partnership from June until December and will receive a £3000 stipend. The closing date for all applications is 24 May, 2024 at 12 noon. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Recovery Navigator with The Forward Trust [£25,154 - £30,742, London, full time]; Trainer with St.Giles Trust [£27,000 - £28,500 FTE, HMP Bullingdon, part time]; Detached Caseworker with Spark2Life [£25,000 - £27,500, London, full time]; Head of Finance with Spark2Life [£40,000 - £50,000, London, full time]; Intervention Worker with Hestia Housing & Support [£26,873, London, part time]; Senior Fundraising Officer with St.Giles Trust [£32,000 - £39,000, London/Hybrid, full time]; Project Officer (consultant) – Footsteps Forward Project with Restorative Justice for All International Institute CIC [£24,700 - £28,543 FTE, London, part time]; Treasurer with Unlock [voluntary, remote, part time].

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

READS (AND LISTENS) 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.
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