Partnerships & Development
Thinking Local conference

Thinking Local conference

Thinking Local: Policy, practice and partnership to address the multiple needs of offenders

Wednesday 16th March 2011

Revolving Doors Agency, in partnership with the National Advisory Group to the Government’s Health and Criminal Justice Programme, presented this one-day conference at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre in Westminster.

This event brought together parliamentarians and senior policymakers from across Whitehall together with practitioners, commissioners and service users.

It showcased innovative partnerships from our National Development Programme projects, Together and the Centre for Mental Health. These all deliver successful interventions with people facing multiple disadvantages in our communities who are at risk of contact with the criminal justice system.

Members of Revolving Doors National Service User Forum filmed interviews with participants and contributors to the conference to find out what they got from the day.

Speakers on the day included Paul Burstow MP, Minister of State for Care Services, Department of Health, and Nick Hardwick, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons.

Other presentations from the day will be posted here as they become available.

Speeches and presentations at the event are set out in order here.

Morning plenary

Chaired by Sir Keith Pearson, chair of the National Advisory Group to the Criminal Justice Programme Board.

The session started with a Welcome address by Sir Keith Pearson before a screening of the photostory by Danny, a member of our service user forum:

Keith Pearson Conf

DM Conf

Next, Dominic Williamson, chief executive at Revolving Doors Agency, told the conference that by understanding and addressing people’s multiple needs we can transform lives, reduce reoffending and make communities safer. And save money. Read his full speech here.

Dominic's speech, Thinking Local - Starting a conversation:

DomW Conf

Catherine Hennessy's speech, Director of Development and Partnerships for Revolving Doors, Stepping over one-foot bars - Lessons from Revolving Doors' development programme. Read her full speech here:

CH Conf

Moving On, A video on the Criminal Justice System and the multiple needs of users filmed by Revolving Doors' service user forum:

Nick Hardwick's speech, Revolving Doors and Revolutions - Have strategies for dealing with offenders with multiple needs come full circle?:

Nick Hardwick Conf

There then followed a question and answer session with the previous speakers:

Next were the workshop breakout sessions which were:

North Devon Custody Project & Navigator Project Watford - Approaches to offering support following arrest:

The afternoon started with an introduction by Sean Duggan, Vice chair, National Advisory Group to the Health and Criminal Justice Programme Board followed by a screening of the photostory by Martin, a member of our service user forum:

Sean Duggan Conf