Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 296 | 19th April 2013

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CLINKS NEWS: we are named as a Health & Care Strategic Partner

Clinks is delighted to announce that we are now a Health and Care Strategic Partner. Clinks has joined forces with incumbent partners Action for Prisoners families and NACRO to together become one of 21 VCS partners working with Public Health England, the Department of Health and NHS England.  Through this partnership Clinks aims to improve offender  and ex-offender health though better understanding and engagement between the VCS working with offenders, and health and social care bodies. See the Department of Health press release here.

CLINKS NEWS: women's research project

Over the next 10 months Clinks will be conducting research, in the South West & Wales, to track the experiences of women offender services in the community to better understand how they are coping with a changing policy context, the current funding environment, and the impact of this upon their service users. The findings will be used to inform policy makers and commissioners as to what issues women offender services are experiencing and how these might be overcome. The findings will be published in early 2014. The work is being led by Louise Clark. Find out more here

CLINKS SEMINAR: leadership in uncertain times

'Leadership in uncertain times' is a Clinks expert seminar  [10th May, Bristol, from £40], delivered by Pauline Crowe of Prisoners Abroad. The session will explore the difference between leadership and management, and will examine how to motivate yourself and your team when the goalposts keep moving, how to hold the whole team, including trustees together, and how to respond to challenges and finding the right support.   This seminar provides an opportunity to explore the economic downturn and a fast moving policy agenda in the Criminal Justice System and the challenges this presents for leaders in the Voluntary & Community Sector. Senior managers and CEOs who want to hear how others lead in these challenging times, and share their own experiences can apply here

CLINKS SEMINAR: influencing and advocacy

'Influencing and advocacy' is a Clinks expert seminar  [6th June, London, from £40], delivered by Juliet Lyon, of Prison Reform Trust and Rob Owen of St Giles Trust. The session will examine the key factors to be considered in order to be successful at influencing and advocacy, including how networks and relationships should be developed to meet outcomes, how to ensure your voice is heard and your aims understood, public campaigning versus private lobbying and much more. This seminar provides an opportunity to explore the economic downturn and a fast moving policy agenda in the Criminal Justice System and the challenges this presents for leaders in the Voluntary & Community Sector. Senior managers and CEOs who want to hear how others lead in these challenging times, and share their own experiences can apply here

CLINKS SEMINAR: skills to win and deliver contracts

'Skills to win and deliver contracts' is a two-day masterclass [23rd - 24th May, Peterborough, from £25] designed to share the skills, tools and techniques used by experts in the private and voluntary sectors to win and deliver public service contracts. Using case studies, practical commercial tools and the direct experiences of expert facilitators, the masterclass will guide you through the skills required to succeed in a world of contracts and subcontracts, competition and payment by results. Each event will be tailored to your stated needs and interests established beforehand, and will tackle the key issues involved in both direct contracting and sub-contracting. For more information visit Clinks

CLINKS TRAINING: criminal justice commissioning and collaboration

New dates have been announced for the Clinks/NAVCA 'Criminal justice commissioning and collaboration' [13th June, Oxford | 14th June, London | from £30], an interactive training day exploring how collaboration could help you succeed in the criminal justice commissioning environment. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS FILM: Safer Future Communities

The Safer Future Communities project have produced a film that outlines the role of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector in addressing the wide range of community safety needs and the role of local Safer Future Communities networks in supporting these activities. View the 12 minute film here.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: legal aid consultation

'Transforming legal aid: delivering a more credible and efficient system' is a government consultation aimed at reducing the reported £1 billion yearly cost of providing legal aid to those going through the courts. The consultation aims to "tackle areas which are destroying public confidence – such as wealthy defendants who can afford to pay their own costs routinely receiving legal aid, prisoners being given legal aid for unnecessary issues, a small amount of high cost cases swallowing up many millions in public money and immigrants who have barely stepped over the border, or may even be here illegally, qualifying for civil legal aid." Read the full press release here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: victims of crime consultation

The Ministry of Justice have announced a consultation for the new Code of Practice for Victims of Crime. This consultation sets out the Government’s plans to reform the Victims’ Code to give victims clearer entitlements from criminal justice agencies and to better tailor service to individual need. The deadline for responding is 10th May 2013. Details here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: inspecting probation work in Devon & Cornwall

Sally Lester, Assistant Chief Inspector of Probation, has asked Clinks to let Light Lunch readers know that her team will be inspecting work in Devon & Cornwall during the weeks commencing 10 June 2013 and 24 June 2013.  Local providers who work with people supervised by the Probation Trust, or with victims, may be contacted by a probation inspector to discuss their work.  If you have any queries about this, please contact HMI Probation admin mailbox. If you would like further information about the Inspection of Adult Offending Work programme, please visit HMI Probation website.

COMMISSIONING: probation staff spin-off into mutuals

In response to the Transforming Rehabilitation proposals staff within Probation Trusts are looking to set up mutuals, and are seeking commercial and legal advice and introductions to providers from all sectors and potential investors in order to become competition ready in proposed national competitions for rehabilitation services. They intend to be bidding for interventions and offender management. For more info, download the invitations to tender for Essex; Kent, Surrey and Sussex; Devon & Cornwall; Cumbria, Lancashire & Merseyside; London or West Mercia. 

FUNDING: educational activities for disadvantaged young people

The Ironmongers' Company wishes to support projects that provide opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people to fulfil their potential. Projects must consist of educational activities that develop learning, motivation and skills. Grants range from a few hundred pounds up to around £10,000. The next deadline for applications is 31st July. Details here

FUNDING: to improve an individual's prospects of finding work

The Thomas Wall Trust supports individuals who want to break through the barriers in their lives and life chances by pursuing technical or skill-based training which will improve their prospects of finding paid work. It will also consider grants of up to £1,000 for charities with an annual income of less than £200,000 active in serving the social and/or educational needs of their communities, especially where a grant can make a real impact in improving the lives of local people. Details here

AWARDS: for disabled entrepreneurs

The Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs in the UK identifies and celebrates business ability by recognising an exceptional disabled entrepreneur. The competition is open to disabled entrepreneurs on the management board, and with ownership, of any business in the UK. Eligible businesses must have an annual turnover above £10,000 and have been trading for between one and five years. The Award carries a prize of £50,000. This money is to be reinvested in the winner's business. For more information, click here

MEMBER’S EVENT: social value for commissioners

The Social Value Act places new legal obligations on those commissioning and procuring public services. 'Maximising Social Value' is a series of NAVCA learning events for the public sector [Birmingham, 1st May | London, 2nd May) | Newcastle, 9th May | Manchester, 10th May | Bristol, 17th May | Leeds, 30th May] aimed at local government, CCG and housing association staff who are involved in the generation of social value in local commissioning. These events are not chalk and talk information sessions, but the opportunity to get together and share issues and learning with those in the same position as you. Find out more and book your place here

MEMBER’S EVENT: winning and delivering public service contracts

Supported by Cabinet Office, these two day masterclasses are designed to share the skills, tools and techniques used by experts in the private and voluntary sectors to win and deliver public service contracts. Designed and delivered by a cross-sector partnership (ACEVO, AVANTA, Capita, Ingeus, NAVCA, NCVO, Serco and Social Enterprise UK), with administrative support from Clinks. These masterclasses are the first in a national programme funded by Office for Civil Society with pro-bono support from our private sector partners. For more information on locations and dates visit Clinks

MEMBER'S FUNDRAISER: golf day

bl&st Foundation are hosting a Golf Day [18th June, Beaconsfield, £85] to build awareness of the work they are doing in prisons. bl&st provides Business, Life and Skills Training programmes that transform and educate prison inmates, enabling them to obtain the skills and qualifications needed for their successful reintegration into society, following release from prison. The bl&st team and trustees, would like to invite you to enter individually, as a pair or a team of four. For more details, email Ralph Findlay

EVENT: non-Member events and training

  • ‘Why employers should employ ex-offenders’ | Royal London Society | 15th May, London, free | RSVP
  • 'Exploring new models of financing public services' | Cymorth Cymru | 20th May, Cardiff, from £85 | Details

PUBLICATION: domestic violence and substance misuse

'Making the connection: developing integrated approaches to domestic violence and substance misuse' is a new report from DrugScope and London Drug and Alcohol Network (LDAN). The issues discussed in the report include: perpetrators of domestic violence; substance misuse, domestic violence and the LGBT community; children and families affected by domestic violence and substance misuse; and risk management and partnership working. It summarises the national policy context and includes examples of local good practice. Download it here

PUBLICATION: code of practice for prime and subcontractors

A new Code of Practice published last week by NCVO aims to improve the relationships between prime and subcontractors in public services. The Code warns against primes paying lip service to VCS organisations in order to boost their chances of winning public sector contracts, and says that regular discussions should take place between prime and subcontractors if, for example, referral numbers are lower than expected. It also advises that delivery models should recognise and mitigate the risk of primes ‘cherry picking’ clients, and that primes should ensure subcontractors are not exposed to disproportionate financial risk. Serco has pledged to follow the guidance when it subcontracts within its public service contracts, and will also encourage other outsourcing companies to sign up to the document. Download it here

PUBLICATION: resettlement of young offenders

A review of current thought on the resettlement of young offenders has been published by Beyond Youth Custody. The review highlights evidence from the literature and emerging principles of effective practice, setting out key questions for future resettlement policy and practice. Beyond Youth Custody is a five year England-wide programme led by Nacro in partnership with ARCS, the University of Salford and the University of Bedfordshire. It aims to bring immediate positive change to young people leaving custody by developing best practice and improving the effectiveness of resettlement services to reduce reoffending. Read the review and find out more about the programme here 

RESOURCE: use technology more effectively

Could technology be helping you do more, more easily? 'Community How To' brings together top tools and tips in one place - grouping them under common activities like managing or evaluating projects, recruiting volunteers, fundraising and profile raising. You can see what different tools do at a glance, and see testimonials from other community organisations already putting them to good use. By registering on the site visitors can add their own tools and case studies, leave comments, join discussions and ask help from those who’ve been there and done it already. Find out more here

SURVEY: assessing the impact of the Make Justice Work campaign

After four years, the Make Justice Work (MJW) campaign is drawing to a close. The campaign has been guided by a commitment to the open-minded pursuit of hard evidence. Therefore, they have commissioned Stephen Boyce to evaluate independently just how useful and effective the campaign has been and any lessons that can be learned. The evaluation report will be published in June, and it ia hoped that it will be a useful resource for others who are already campaigning and those who may wish to in the future. Your contribution to the evaluation is crucial so MJW are asking people to complete a short online survey. It should take no more than ten minutes and all responses shall remain anonymous. By completing the survey you will be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 High Street voucher accepted in over 20,000 stores! Take part here

VACANCIES IN THE CJS

Vacancies posted recently include a Head of Recovery Services & Business Development at Kenward Trust [Yalding, Kent], a Programme Manager for User Voice [South West], a Public Affairs Officer at Catch22 [London], a Shop Manager at Re:work Ltd [Bristol], 9 x Caseworkers and Senior Caseworkers at St Giles Trust [Leeds, Cardiff, London], and a Through the Gates Worker at St Giles Trust [Leeds]. View these and loads more CJS vacancies at: Clinks Members' vacancies

TIPS OF THE WEEK...

TIP OF THE WEEK I: Register your details then print the voucher from the National Trust to get free entry to over 200 National Trust properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Sat 20 and Sun 21 Apr only. One voucher is valid for up to four people (max two adults).

TIP OF THE WEEK II: Print this BHS voucher and when you buy a hot drink from 1.30pm on Fridays, you'll get free fish & chips (usually £5.75) at BHS restaurants.

TIP OF THE WEEK III: London - Oslo return flights are just £30 in April and May. Details

EXTRA Information...

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