Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 835 | 14 June 2024

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In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: What Clinks is doing in the build up to the General Election

With a UK General Election fast approaching, we will be highlighting a series of Clinks Thinks ambitions and recommendations for the criminal justice system, developed in consultation with voluntary sector organisations. Starting with a blog post from Clinks Influence and Communications Manager Rachel Tynan, providing a round up of what we've heard from the manifestos launched this week. Read more. 

CLINKS NEWS: Why apply to be Clinks Chair?

Policy and Communications Officer Marianne Mooney met up with Clinks Trustee Kelly Loftus, and reflected on what it's like to be a part of Clinks board. Highlights from the discussion are captured via Clinks' blog. Read what Kelly would say to anyone considering applying for our Chair of Trustees vacancy.

CLINKS EVENT: Roundtable Discussion – Hate Crime in London

All voluntary sector organisations working in the London criminal justice system are invited to share their insight and expertise during a roundtable discussion next week [19 June, online, free] about hate crime, defined as offences motivated by hostility against a victim’s race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or because they are transgender.  

Facilitated by Clinks and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), the purpose of the roundtable discussion is to:

  • highlight impactful work from charities and social enterprises to reduce hate crime reoffending in London
  • make recommendations to the London Reducing Reoffending Board on how agencies such as the Metropolitan Police Service, London Probation and London Councils, can work more effectively addressing the perpetrators of hate crime.

Please email matthew.uberoi@clinks.org to register for this online discussion and to receive the Microsoft Teams meeting link and invitation.

CLINKS EVENT: Justice Innovators

Expert-led solutions for racial equity in criminal justice

Justice Innovators: Expert-Led Solutions for Racial Equity is a series of lunchtime events led by the Clinks Race and Justice Network. This series aims to showcase the expertise and groundbreaking work of By and for-led organisations dedicated to advancing racial equity and justice.

The primary goal of this series is to highlight the specialised knowledge and innovative approaches of leaders within the Race and Justice Network. We will launch this series on [27 June, online, free] by amplifying the steadfast work of organisations led by and for Gypsy Roma Traveller communities. Register here

MEMBER FOCUS: Inside Justice

Established in 2010, Inside Justice is an award winning charity that conducts casework investigations on behalf of people who claim they’ve been wrongly convicted. They provide free access to experts and lawyers and identify and challenge systemic failings.

Inside Justice is a registered charity founded by Louise Shorter, former producer/director of BBC TV’s long-running miscarriage of justice investigative series Rough Justice. Their casework team is run on a lean overhead which harnesses the power of an army of expert volunteers.

Applications are predominantly received from people in prison or from their family and friends. Lawyers who believe an innocent person may have been jailed but who can do no more due to Legal Aid funding cuts will also alert Inside Justice about the case. Find out more about Inside Justice

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: guidance on voting in prison

The large majority of people in prison are not allowed to vote in UK elections. People convicted and serving a custodial sentence are not allowed to vote whilst detained in custody. Some people in prison can vote if they are: on remand; convicted but not yet sentenced; a civil prisoner; serving a default term for non-payment of a fine; committed to prison for contempt of court; or in the community on home detention curfew (HDC) or released on temporary licence (ROTL).

Ahead of the UK general election, the Prison Reform Trust (PRT) has published updated guidance to help people in prison understand their entitlements to vote under the current law and how they can exercise it. Read the guidance on voting in prison

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: a presumption against short prison sentences

One Small Thing Charity starts their new series of Justice podcasts by exploring suspended sentences and what a presumption against short prison sentences means. 

Listen to Dr Shona Minson and Dr Cyrus Tata as they discuss the effectiveness of this policy in Scotland since it was introduced over a decade ago. They explore the proposed legislation in the context of England and Wales, challenging assumptions around its suggested impact, and highlighting that without both clarity of vision and proper investment in community support, prison will often be used as the default. Listen to the episode here

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENTS OR TRAINING: 

Join HM Inspectorate of Probation’s SFO team [9.30-11:00, 3 July, online, free] to hear about the launch of multi-agency learning panels. These panels are an approach to learning from serious further reviews which involves engaging with partnership agencies to identify both learning and effective practice when multiple agencies have been involved in managing a person who has committed a serious further offence.

This event will enable participants to gain an overview of how the panels will work, what they hope to achieve, and next steps. You will hear from:

  • HM Inspectors – Lizzie Wright, Hannah Williams and Lindsey Whitham
  • Head of Probation Inspection Programme – Simi O’Neill.

This event is open to all colleagues both within HMPPS and Youth Justice, and partnership agencies who are involved with managing people on probation. Find out more and register here

PUBLICATION: Probation Quarterly

Issue 32 of Probation Quarterly focuses on the probation reset and also includes articles from academics, practitioners and policymakers on a wide range of topics. This issue includes:

• An extended article on the ‘reset’ written by members of the PI Academic Advisory Network
• Analysis of the feminisation of the probation workforce
• Articles about neurodiversity amongst people on probation

Issue 32 can be downloaded here for free 

OPPORTUNITY: lived experience research

Research participants are needed for a study on desistance from crime. Do you work with someone who has been engaged with crime and is working to turn their life around? Or maybe you're trying to break free of a cycle of crime? I'm seeking men to share their stories with me as part of my research at the Unversity of Westminster. Participants will be asked to take part in an interview lasting around 2 hours, but this can be broken into multiple smaller sessions. Participants will receive a £20 Gift Pay Express voucher for their time, which can be redeemed in hundreds of stores across the UK. Interested individuals can contact s.felix1@westminster.ac.uk

FEATURED VACANCY: Service Delivery Manager 

Spark Inside is seeking a Service Delivery Manager [£33,437, Full-Time, East Midlands] to lead their delivery at HMP Ranby and across the region. This role is ideal for someone who thrives at building relationships with young people, is highly organised, and has the passion to achieve outcomes in challenging environments. This is an exciting on-the-ground position, working mainly within prisons in East Midlands, but as part of a team working in prisons nationally, as well as in the community in partnership with other organisations. You will be responsible for engaging young people in prison and in the community to participate in Spark Inside's life coaching workshops and one-to-one coaching. [Find out more and apply by 8 July here] 

FEATURED VACANCY: Specialist Outreach Coach - Northumbria 

Changing Lives is seeking a Specialist Outreach Coach - Northumbria [£28,000, Full-time, Permanent, Newcastle Upon-Tyne] to join their amazing team in supporting women involved in the criminal justice system. 

Underpinned by an in-depth understanding of trauma, interventions for women by women are delivered through a range of one-to-one appointments and creative group work, where no two days are the same. If you enjoy a fast-paced environment, they would love to hear from you. 

This post is exempt under section 7 (2) (e) and (f) of The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and open to female applicants only. The successful applicant will be subject to enhanced DBS check and Level 1 clearance. [Find out more and apply by 1 July here] 

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Youth Trauma Support Specialist and Mentor with Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) [£28,500, HMPYOI Feltham, part time]; Women's Accommodation Key Worker - Criminal Justice with Shelter (England) [£31,113, Hull, Yorkshire, part time]; Marketing and Communications Officer with Restorative Justice for All International Institute CIC [£95 - £100, 30 Plough Way, London SE16 2LJ, UK, part time]; Community Project Officer with Restorative Justice for All International Institute CIC [£24,932 - £30,771, 30 Plough Way, London SE16 2LJ, UK, full time]; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with HACRO [£50,000 - £60,000, St Albans & WFH, full time]; Trauma Caseworker with St Giles Trust [£26,000 - £28,000, London - Royal London Hospital and Community, full time]; Director of Services (special interest criminal justice and complex social and health needs) with Social Interest Group [£70,000, London, full time]; Senior Multiple Needs IDVA with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£30,000 - £32,000, Ealing & Hammersmith, full time]; Senior Multiple Needs IDVA with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£30,000 - £32,000, Brent and Ealing, full time]; Full + Part Time Community Key Worker - Hampshire, Portsmouth with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£22,000 - £26,000, Portsmouth, Hampshire, full time]

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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