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Dominic Williamson
Making an impact in a time of change
8 February 2013
8 February 2013 - Today we are publishing our impact report setting out what we have achieved at the half way point in our strategic plan 2010 - 2015. We’ve kept it very brief – I know you are all very busy! - but we wanted to give a sense of what we’ve been doing and the difference we think we’ve started to make.
National liaison and diversion conference - 28 Nov 2012
28 November 2012
Today I was with colleagues in Manchester for the first conference of the National Liaison & Diversion Development Network. This event was an important milestone in efforts to improve responses to people with mental health problems and learning disability or difficulties who come into contact with the criminal justice system.
Election? What election?
1 October 2012
Here at the Labour Party conference in Manchester a number of fringe events are bringing together the party's candidates ahead of the election of the first generation of police and crime commissioners on 15 November. The potential of the role to build effective partnerships to reduce crime is high on the agenda at these meetings. But elsewhere there is little sign that these elections have ignited the interest of the delegates.
Integrated offender management – joined up solutions?
3 July 2012
IOM has become a key tool for local areas seeking to tackle repeat offending. If coordinated with other services, it could provide a means of engaging people who have previously been caught in the revolving door cycle, helping them access the support they need. Our new briefing paper, launched today alongside the national IOM conference, explores ways that partnerships can improve outcomes and reduce reoffending among people with multiple needs.
Breaking the cycle conference
30 March 2012
30 March 2012 - I am at the Ministry of Justice/NOMS conference at Warwick University. This morning I volunteered to be one of the delegates to step onto the Soapbox in the lobby area during the refreshment break to have my say for 10 minutes with a microphone in front of the milling delegates. My theme: Stopping the revolving door – addressing the unmet needs of repeat offenders. My blog sets out my '10 points in 10 minutes' checklist.
A clear message on social justice
14 March 2012
Yesterday, 14 March, saw the launch of the government’s social justice strategy, setting out the “government’s commitment to coordinated approaches to support for people facing multiple disadvantages”. Crucially for Revolving Doors, it focuses on individuals as well as families, and recognises that “more can be done to support those who are least well served by current approaches.”
We're moving office!
23 February 2012
23 February 2012 - We are moving office over the next two days. We're saying goodbye to our cold leaky office in Farringdon and moving into a smaller but brighter office in Borough. The transition means our phones and email will be interrupted. Please bear with us until we are up and running again on Monday.
Complex or simple?
18 November 2011
In September we published Turning the Tide, a vision paper setting out how political leaders could transform the way our public services respond to people with multiple needs. Often the issue seems so complex that a solution might remain elusive. But the truth is that what we are arguing for is simple: that our public services should respond to the reality of human experience.
Turning the Tide -
a vision for multiple needs
14 September 2011
14th September 2011:
Last night we launched Turning the Tide, a vision paper for multiple needs and exclusions at an event in Westminster. The paper was a result of a partnership between us and the Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) coalition. Today's blog is the speech that MEAM director Ollie Hilbery and I shared at the event.
The riots – the result of a broken penal system?
8 September 2011
Ken Clarke’s comment piece in The Guardian on Tuesday caused a storm of protest over his unfortunate use of “feral underclass” and “criminal classes” to describe the rioters. Beyond the debate on the semantics, his article underlined the justice secretary’s analysis of the need for reform in criminal justice and beyond.
IPPR Report makes pragmatic case for reform
11 August 2011
The riots that began in London last Saturday night and then spread to other cities across England have focused even more attention on criminal justice reform. As journalists and commentators struggle to understand why the riots happened, thoughts also turn to how rioters should be dealt with and what long-term lessons can be learned.
In this context, the recent IPPR report ‘Redesigning justice: Reducing crime through justice reinvestment’ provides a helpful addition to the practical, pragmatic case for criminal justice reform.
New review highlights multiple needs of short term prisoners
16 May 2011
Our new literature review, launched today, provides evidence and tools for anyone concerned with commissioning or delivering support to short-sentenced prisoners in order to improve health outcomes and reduce reoffending.
With the government's focus on this group, we hope that the report will also inform policymakers as they move to implement the changes in Breaking the Cycle.
Breaking the cycle
4 March 2011
Today we submitted our response to the Government's Breaking the Cycle green paper. This sets out how we believe that it is possible to achieve a "rehabilitation revolution" in this country. But only if the Government ensures that every community can offer services that work holistically with people with multiple needs outside the criminal justice system with effective routes to this support from every police station, court, probation service and prison.
Trauma and recovery
26 January 2011
Having spent 20 years talking to people with multiple needs, who are homeless or in the criminal justice system, it seems to me that there are two main pathways through life that might lead to someone ending up in that situation.
Because you're worth it
18 January 2011
One of my favourite moments since I joined Revolving Doors was the day when I was invited into our meeting room to join a group of our service user forum members who had just completed a training course in photo films...
Anger is reasonable in response to crime but now let’s use it to support real reform
7 December 2010
Ken Clarke has launched the Government's rehabilitation revolution green paper. Any negative reaction may well be driven by the anger felt in response to crime. But Breaking the Cycle could offer a once in a generation opportunity to shift the terms of the debate and deliver real solutions that will cut crime and save money.
Reasons to be cheerful - part 1?
26 November 2010
Faced with the gloomy prospect of the cuts – plus the early arrival of winter and student riots – I have decided to start compiling a list of things that are happening that might provide a moment of hope for those of us working for better services for people with multiple needs.
Comprehensive Spending Review part 2
21 October 2010
The departmental budgets and welfare benefit changes announced in yesterday's Comprehensive Spending Review risk undermining efforts to support people with multiple needs unless accompanied by significant reform of public services.
Comprehensive Spending Review
20 October 2010
It will take some time for the dust to settle from today's CSR. But when it does, I believe that the need for a new direction for public services will become more apparent and more urgent. Indeed, with cuts of this extent, continuing with old approaches will simply not be an option.
Summing up
14 October 2010
When I arrived at Revolving Doors 16 months ago and looked at the reports on the shelves, one of the first things I realised was needed was a summary of the research we had carried out over the previous decade.
So today we are publishing Summing Up, a briefing which distils the finding from this research and sets out what we know as a result of that substantial body of work.
Talking about a revolution
22 September 2010
Talking about a revolution - Dominic's speech to NACRO's mental health conference 22 September 2010 - called for a "paradigm shift" that should inform the government's rehabilitation revolution, putting an understanding of offenders' dynamic multiple needs at the forefront of efforts to reduce reoffending.
Government key principles
26 August 2010
In preparing to advise the government on its policy on criminal justice, welfare reform and a number of other areas, we have been considering what their key principles mean for the revolving doors group.
100 days - a letter to the PM
20 August 2010
20th August 2010
Yesterday marked the first 100 days of the Coalition Government. I have written to David Cameron about how the government's reform programme must work together if it is to improve prospects for the revolving door group and help reduce the deficit. Read my letter below:
Linking agendas - part 1
13 August 2010
Since coming back from my summer holiday on Monday I’ve been reminded that we are in a time of incredibly fast change, the pace of which is not likely to abate for the foreseeable future. Much of this week has been about making connections between different elements of this complex policy agenda.
Ken Clarke to consider cross government working to reduce reoffending
30 June 2010
Justice secretary Ken Clarke made a keynote speech today in which he signalled his intention to consult on a "rehabilitation revolution". In response to my question he also committed to working with colleagues across government to improve responses for people with multiple needs.
Launch of transition to adulthood guides
17 June 2010
Today (17th June 2010) as part of the T2A Alliance we are launching two new guides on working with young adults with multiple needs who are making the transition to adulthood. This is a crucial time in vulnerable people’s lives when the right sort of help can make all the difference. At a time of cuts to budgets getting this right will be more important than ever.
Reaction to Iain Duncan Smith's speech
27 May 2010
New Secretary of State Iain Duncan Smith made his first major speech today and announced a new cross government cabinet committee on social justice.
Writing to new government ministers
19 May 2010
19th May 2010: We have started writing to the new government ministers to seek meetings and see how we can best use the evidence we have to contribute to formation of policy.
Our first letter went today to Iain Duncan Smith, the new Secretary of State for work and pensions.
A new Government
12 May 2010
And so, following the dramatic transition in Westminster yesterday evening, we enter a new era …
Regional advisers gather in London
11 May 2010
Our regional advisers met today at their regular quarterly meeting to exchange updates on the projects and to help us think about dissemination of the learning from our National Development Programme.
After the Election:
6 May 2010
After the Election, cuts are coming. But not all cuts are equal. Get it wrong and they could end up costing more.
Election candidates respond
28 April 2010
We are starting to get responses from parliamentary candidates in response to our Case for Change.
Welcome to our new website!
27 April 2010
Today we are launching our new website, a new strategy and a Case for Change.
