Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 305 | 19th July 2013

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In this week's edition....

 

CLINKS SURVEY: how are you faring?

We have opened our latest State of the Sector survey, which provides us with information on how your organisation is faring in the current economic and political climate. With funding cuts, the Transforming Rehabilitation agenda, and an increasing number of people in need of your services, our survey allows us to collate your experience and present a powerful voice to policy makers and influencers. Over 100 people contributed to the last survey, so make sure your voice is heard - take part here

CLINKS RESPONSE: to the MoJ's Straw Man

We have formally responded to the MoJ's Straw Man payment mechanism document. Whilst we are grateful that the early thinking has been shared with the Sector, and it seems like some of the feedback from the Work Programme has been acknowledged, we feel the document is fairly complex and leaves a lot of questions, especially for Tier 2 and Tier 3 providers. In our response we ask for more detail on how the mechanism will affect smaller organisations, specifically around upfront payments, transfer of financial risk, outcomes measurement and the learning curve discount. Read our response here

CLINKS RESOURCE: improving your evidence

The Clinks and NPC 'Improving your evidence' project has produced three new briefings. 'Evaluation hints and tips' provides a brief introduction to some of the themes around research and evaluation by VCSE organisations working in criminal justice. 'Introduction to developing a theory of change' involves mapping how a service or project aims to deliver its intended outcomes. This step by step guide shows you how to develop a theory of change and provides an example. And 'Introduction to the Justice Data Lab' explains how you can use the Justice Data Lab to access reoffending data for your service users. These briefings, along with reports from the project’s recent series of events held across England and Wales, can all be downloaded here

CLINKS RESOURCE: one week left to register on Partnership Finder

Clinks' new Partnership Finder service launches on 1st August 2013. Register today so your organisation will be included from day one. An online directory of Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organsations working in criminal justice, Partnership Finder is a fantastic way to promote your services to commissioners, prime providers and potential partners. "Serco sees Clinks’ Partnership Finder as a useful tool to aid us in identifying VCS organisations for our bids and delivery work" says Stephen Hornby, Rehabilitation Lead for Serco UK & Europe. Check if your organisation is registered, and sign up today here

CLINKS EXPERT SEMINAR: building and leading consortia

The latest of Clinks' popular expert seminars [24th July, Newcastle, from £40] will explore consortia building and leadership. VCSE organisations are increasingly seeing consortia as essential in this environment. By working in consortia, the Sector can: bid for outsourced contracts, or act as a significant player in the supply chain; provide a holistic range of services to meet user need;  and increase efficiency through sharing back office services. However, anyone with experience of working in partnerships will know how challenging it can be. So how do you make it work? What are the challenges and benefits of consortia working? Is it worth it? Book your place today here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: women offenders 'an afterthought'

Introducing a report by the Justice Select Committee, Rt Hon Sir Alan Beith MP, Chair of the Committee, said: "The Government’s Transforming Rehabilitation reforms have clearly been designed with male offenders in mind. This is unfortunately symptomatic of an approach within the Ministry of Justice and National Offender Management Service that tends to deal with women offenders as an afterthought." The Committee says that Government plans to introduce payment-by-results in probation services need to be redesigned in respect of women offenders—who are often classified as presenting a lower risk of reoffending—so that they receive the intensive tailored support they need. Download the report here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: response to the Riots, Communities and Victims Panel report

The Government has published its response to the Riots, Communities and Victims Panel's final report on the August 2011 riots. The response summarises what the government has done to provide support to those affected by the riots and the actions that the government is taking forward to address some of the more entrenched issues highlighted in the panel’s report. Read the report here

FUNDING: Rehabilitation Social Action Fund

Further to our advance notice in last week's Light Lunch, Cabinet Office have released full details of their major new criminal justice funding pot. The Rehabilitation Social Action Fund will give organisations the resource to explore approaches to deliver social action programmes at a greater scale, whether that is through partnership working, expansion of an existing service, or replication of a model in a new location. VCSE Sector organisations can apply for between £50,000 and £250,000 from a £3.5m pot. Organisations will be supported to develop scale over the 18 month grant period (from October 2013 to end March 2015), appropriate to their size and expertise, in order to achieve sustainability. Cabinet Office will strongly welcome organisations with match funding and a strong case for how they plan to fund their activities beyond this fund. The deadline for applications is 5th September 2013. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: What is Justice?

'What is Justice? Re-imagining penal policy' is a two day Howard League for Penal Reform conference [1st & 2nd October, Oxford, from £103] that will generate an intellectual debate on the role of the penal system and explore ideas for a new paradigm that would deliver a reduced role for the penal system, fewer victims of crime and safer communities. It will explore themes of local justice and participation; social justice, human rights and penal policy; and the role of the state. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: female substance misusers

'The Road to Recovery for Women and Children' is Brighton Oasis Project's fifth annual conference [5th September, Brighton, £140] that will bring together a wide range of speakers from academia, medicine, nursing and social care to address and debate the issues affecting female substance misusers. The conference will centre around the question: How can services support women through this austerity agenda and what will be the emerging needs in terms of substance misuse and its impact? Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: the value of the arts in reducing reoffending

'Sharing Good Vibrations' is a Good Vibrations event [17th - 20th October, London, from £75] that will explore, debate and celebrate the value of the arts in reducing reoffending and in generating wider social benefits. Good Vibrations are inviting people to join them for four days of workshops, presentations, debates and performances as they highlight the creative, important and inspiring work done with gamelan music - and other art forms - in criminal justice and the community. Find out more and book your place here

NON MEMBER'S EVENTS AND TRAINING

'National Consortium of Social Enterprises - London launch' | 30th July, 10am - 12pm, London, free | Details

PUBLICATION: the third sector in criminal justice

'The Third Sector in Criminal Justice' is a briefing paper by Mary Corcoran and Anthea Hucklesby, that presents the key findings from the ESRC-funded seminar series of the same name. Findings include Sector uncertainty and concerns surrounding their identity and integrity; optimism that opportunities exist, but caution in working with a 'predatory' private sector; and questions around contract readiness and evaluation. Download the paper here

RESOURCE: new National Standards for Appropriate Adult schemes

Clinks Member National Appropriate Adult Network (NAAN) has published revised National Standards for Appropriate Adult schemes. The 2013 National Standards feature a number of revised and new elements including employee and volunteer checks; maximum response times; monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance systems; personal training records and links with liaison and diversion services. NAAN's Chief Executive, Chris Bath, said: "The recent judicial review illustrated that Appropriate Adults can be the difference between life and death. National Standards enable service providers, commissioners and policy makers to encourage and extend best practice. Achieving the standards means ensuring the welfare and rights of children and vulnerable adults and increasing public confidence in our justice system." Find out more here

SURVEY: routes to employment for those with a history of drug / alcohol misuse

DrugScope is conducting a national survey to learn more about the experiences that people with histories of alcohol use have of looking for, preparing for, and being in employment. All responses will be completely confidential and anonymous. Participants who leave their email address will be entered into a prize draw for 4 x £25 Amazon vouchers. Take part here

CLINKS MEMBER'S VACANCIES

Clinks Member's vacancies this week include; a Keyworker and a Senior Keyworker with Wiltshire Probation Trust [Swindon], a Programme Manager with User Voice [South West], an Office Manager at Back on Track [Manchester], a Temporary Housing Support Worker [Craven] and a Director of Development & Communications with Foundation [Leeds], a Volunteer Project Manager with Worldwide Volunteering [Renfrewshire], a Support Worker, Sessional Worker and a GROW worker with Elmore Community Services [Oxford], a Trust Fundraiser with Music in Prisons [Brixton], a Clinical Supervisor with CRI [West Sussex], an Operations Manager with The Crime Diversion Scheme [HMP Brixton] and a Workshop Supervisor with Blue Sky Development [HMP Bronzefield]. View these, and more, here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

Tip of the week I: Get a free pint of Grolsch or a cocktail at Pitcher & Piano when you register here
Tip of the week II: Sign up for Time Out London's deals & get £5 off a £10+ spend. Details
Tip of the week III: Deluxe Berkshire Hotel with Champagne Tea is half price at £99 for two people. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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Joe Gardham

Clinks

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