Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 300 | 31st May 2013

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In this week's edition....

CLINKS BLOG: the state of the Sector working with offenders

Joe Gardham wrote a short blog article this week based on our recent survey of Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organisations working in criminal justice. "My greatest concern from the whole survey is that two thirds of respondents are not achieving full cost recovery on their contracting arrangements. Reserves are being used to subsidise this shortfall, which is clearly unsustainable. We are aware that many organisations are doing this because it’s all that is available, and you are doing your best to meet the high levels of need that you're experiencing. Clinks will work with the Sector to try and ensure you are getting the best deal possible, through continued provision of information, training and support." Read and comment on the blog post here 

CLINKS EVENT: best practice with young women offenders

Working with Cornwall VSF and Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, Clinks is holding an event [20th June, Cornwall, free] to share best practice on working with young women offenders in the transition to adulthood. The event is part of the Going for Gold project, which is providing consultancy support to four local areas to help them develop and improve services for young adults in contact with the Criminal Justice System, using the Transitions to Adulthood Alliance approach. Find out more here 

CLINKS BRIEFING: our notes on Transforming Rehabilitation events last week

Clinks Policy Team has produced a short briefing outlining some more detailed information on the Government’s Transforming Rehabilitation proposals, following the MoJ stakeholder events last week in London, York and Rugby.  This includes new information on timescales, market stewardship and the commercial model. Read it here 

CLINKS EVENTS: improving your evidence

As part of our new 'Improving your evidence' project, we will be running a series of free events across the country [London 11th June | Newcastle 18th June | Birmingham 25th June | Cardiff 2nd July]. The events will give participants an opportunity to: discuss with peers and commissioners what makes good evidence; share and learn about effective monitoring and evaluation techniques and ways of overcoming the challenges and barriers to this; and feed into designing the support Clinks provides to organisations as part of this project. To book your place visit Clinks 

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: Court Liaison and Diversion for BAME offenders

PLIAS Resettlement's Court Liaison and Diversion Mentoring Project was established in 2012 to provide a mental health diversion service to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) clients at all stages of the criminal justice pathway, in the London boroughs of Brent and Harrow. On May 21 2013 a launch event was held to mark the publication of a training resource for volunteer mentors, and included moving presentations from members of staff and mentors. Kim Davis, Client Services Advisor at PLIAS, spoke movingly about her experiences of imprisonment, the challenges faced by people from BAME backgrounds in the justice system and her progression to working at the organisation. Alfred Ekpenyong talked about his experience of receiving a service from PLIAS and subsequently training to be a volunteer mentor in his own right. For further information about PLIAS, or to purchase a copy of its mentoring information pack, please email PLIAS at resettlement@plias.co.uk 

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: new project to support young parents in Welsh prisons

Thanks to a grant of £940,000 from the Lottery Bright New Futures programme, Pact will support over 2,140 young parents aged 18-25 imprisoned in HMP Cardiff and HMP Swansea, with work also planned for HMP Usk/Prescoed. The Supporting Young Parents in Prison project will provide casework support, parenting programmes and support for parents in the community. Young people will be supported to engage in their child's life from prison, make plans for resettlement, reduce re-offending and promote good practice in prisons. The project will also support the wives, partners and parents of those imprisoned by linking them to existing local services and by providing relationship and parenting interventions. Read the press release here 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: disclosure and barring service update

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has announced that their new Update Service will launch on 17th June. This is designed to deliver portability of DBS (previously known as CRB checks). Volunteers can subscribe to the Update Service for free (an annual fee of £13 applies for other members of the workforce). On the same date the DBS will make two other changes: 1. In the 'position applied for' field you now need to say which workforce the post is part of (child; adult; child and adult or other); 2. The DBS will only issue one certificate to the applicant - i.e. organisations will no longer be automatically sent a copy of the disclosure for individuals undertaking roles for them. For more information, click here (Source: NCVYS) 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: private sector perspectives of the VCSE

In his blog last week, Russell Webster asked if cross-sector reducing reoffending partnerships work, and analysed 3SC's Voluntary Sector Action Plan: "It was interesting to see 3SC explore private sector perceptions of the voluntary sector. Two issues in particular caught my eye. Firstly, the fact that many Primes perceive voluntary organisations as wanting to sell existing services, expecting the marketplace to adapt to them. Secondly, Primes think that voluntary sector organisations need a better understanding of cost models and to be aware of the simple fact that Primes will not invest in services which do not generate a return. If 3SC's proposed action plan to build voluntary sector capacity is to be effective, it will have to achieve its aims of increasing understanding between stakeholders, and addressing stereotypes on both sides of the divide." Read the full article here 

MEMBER'S EVENT: on older prisoners

Action for Prisoners' Families are hosting a seminar [11th July, Nottingham, £75] exploring the issues faced by the families of prisoners aged over 60. Prisoners aged over 60 are the fastest growing group in custody with Government figures showing a 100% increase over the past 10 years. Prisons are slowly being forced to adapt to the older population but often their families’ needs are not considered. This seminar will feature a range of speakers from statutory and voluntary organisations and workshops examining all aspects of policy and practice around the families of older prisoners. Book your place here 

MEMBER'S EVENT: transforming rehabilitation information session

Devon Reform are hosting an information giving session [11th June, Exeter] to explain where we are and what we need to consider in response to the proposed changes under Transforming Rehabilitation. The event aims to cover: Contract Package Areas, outsourcing probation services, finding partners, linking it up to Health and the police and crime commissioner. For more information and to book your place, click here 

NON-MEMBER EVENTS

  • 'The Rehabilitation Revolution: opportunities for mutuals, charities and social enterprises' | 3rd July, London, £150 | Details
 

TRAINING: evaluating your volunteer programme

What difference do your volunteers make to your group or organisation and to the people and communities you serve?  How can you prove it, evidence it, and make a stronger case for funding your volunteer programme? Experts in Evaluation are offering free two day training courses [dates between June and September, London, free] that will provide you with effective methods for evaluating your volunteering programme and proving its value and impact. Find out dates and more information here 

PUBLICATION: race in probation

'Race in Probation: Achieving better outcomes for black and minority ethnic users of probation services' is a new book from IARS (£9.99) that asks how service outcomes can be improved for black and minority ethnic users of probation services. London was the locus of investigation and the London Probation Trust the nexus of the book’s research. Issues around community engagement, restorative justice, mental health, substance abuse, foreign nationals, victims and resettlement are analysed, and recommendations are posited. The book identifies new paths to race equality that seize the international and national momentum of institutional and policy restructures. Buy it here 

PUBLICATION: interns in the VCSE

Unite in conjunction with Intern Aware, recently published 'Interns in the voluntary sector – time to end exploitation'. The report calls on charities to stop 'exploiting' unpaid interns and says there is a risk that internships will be the preserve of the wealthy elite. It also says that interns should be paid the minimum wage and entry-level jobs to the charity sector should be reintroduced. Download the report here (Source: V4CE) 

PUBLICATION: healthcare in police custody

Developed by Revolving Doors Agency's service user groups, this briefing draws on their experiences of detention in police custody while requiring support for a physical or mental health issues or a learning disability. The contributors present innovative, yet practical solutions to improve the experience and outcomes of detainees with healthcare or other support needs in police custody. Download it here 

GOVERNANCE: new Light Lunch section for trustees

Following feedback from readers, we will start including information and resources for trustees. If you find, or know of any useful resources for criminal justice trustees, please email them to joe.gardham@clinks.org. Please share Light Lunch with your board, and, of course, encourage them to sign up at www.clinks.org/subscribe 

GOVERNANCE: different views of staff and trustees

A short blog post on the NCVO website discusses the problem of trustees and staff viewing issues in quite different ways. A very common issue but one rarely even acknowledged, let alone discussed. Read it here 

GOVERNANCE: strategic planning

A reminder from KnowHow NonProfit on how strategic planning can be done in a way that involves the board. The online article looks at the advantages and disadvantages of being led by the staff or the board, and ends with a five step process for strategic planning. Find out more here 

OPPORTUNITY: free volunteer's fair

Does your organisation involve volunteers? Register for your free stand at Lifetimes Wandsworth's Volunteer Summer Fair [10th July, London SW18 4TJ]. The event will be attended by prospective volunteers with a wide range of skills and interests, and will provide your organisation with the chance to promote your work and recruit new volunteers. Stands are free but places are limited; one table and two chairs per organisation will be provided. Book your stand here 

MEMBER'S VACANCIES

Vacancies posted by our Members recently include: a Programme Manager for User Voice (Kent/South East), a Caseworker for Prisoners Abroad (Finsbury Park, London), Caseworkers with St Giles Trust (Cardiff), Lay Leadership Training Worker for Pact (London), a Public Affairs Officer at Howard League (London), and a Project Manager (Coventry) and a Housing Manager (Rochdale) with Langley House Trust. View these and other vacancies here 

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Stay at the 4-star Beaumont Estate near Windsor for £99 per night, which includes upgrade, 2 course dinner, breakfast and bottle of wine. Details
  • Tip of the week II: Get a free eye test at Optical Express (worth £15) with this voucher
  • Tip of the week III: Two night stays on Derwentwater in the Lake District have been reduced to £149 per person. The deal includes daily breakfast, dinner on both nights, Pimms and strawberries on arrival and a £10 spa voucher each. Enter code TZOO when booking. Details
 

EXTRA INFORMATION

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