Revolving Doors Agency
Encyclopedia
The Revolving Doors Agency (RDA), also known as Revolving Doors, is a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom
which works across England and Wales
. Through research, policy and campaigning work, the organisation aims to improve services for people with multiple needs who are in repeat contact with the criminal justice system.
and an ITV Telethon
identified a group of people who were caught in a downward cycle of homelessness and found themselves in repeat contact with both the mental health and criminal justice system. This group was identified as the 'revolving doors' group, which subsequent research has estimated to include 60,000 people at any one time.
Following the publication of the report in 1993, the Revolving Doors Agency was established by some of the parties involved in the initial publication who sought to demonstrate new ways of working in these three areas of criminal justice, mental health and homelessness. The focus of the organisation was on the people who kept falling between the mainstream services in the community.
Initially, the organisation conducted research in prisons and police stations to identify the needs of the revolving doors group and establish the issues they faced.
In the late 1990s the organisation established a series of experimental services, called Link Worker Schemes, to test effective interventions
for their target group. The schemes offered individuals practical and emotional support, assisting them to access appropriate services and to address the underlying causes of their offending behaviour. An independent evaluation conducted by the Home Office
found that the scheme cut reoffending by 22 per cent.
Following a strategic review in 2006, the organisation adjusted its focus to research, policy and campaigning work in relation to people who become stuck in a cycle of mental health problems and crime. The Link Worker Schemes were passed over to other voluntary sector providers.
, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, the Henry Smith Charity, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the Pilgrim Trust
and Trusts for London
. The organisation has previously received funding from Comic Relief
.
Revolving doors has also received pro-bono support from Clifford Chance
who, in partnership with the University of Cambridge
Pro Bono Society, assisted the organisation with additional research.
who oversee the activities of the organisation, which itself is run by a team of 9 members of staff who are supported by associates across the country. The organisation is a registered private company limited by guarantee, with no share capital, which means it is run for non-profit purposes. It is a recognised as a charity by the Charities Commission.
GCB CBE
(Former Chief Inspector of Prisons
), the Rt Hon.
Hilary Armstrong
(Former Member of Parliament for North West Durham and Cabinet Minister for Social Exclusion and Duchy of Lancaster), Ian Bynoe (Former Acting Deputy Chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission
), Rose Fitzpatrick (Acting Assistant Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police
), Professor John Gunn (Professor of Forensic Psychiatry at the University of Birmingham
), Dru Sharpling CBE
(London Director of the Crown Prosecution Service
), His Honour
Judge Fabyan Evans, Bharat Mehta OBE
(Chief Executive of Trusts for London
), Joe Simpson (Consultant), Ann Windiate (Former Chief Executive for Medway
Social Services) and Peter Wrench, Consultant and Writer, former Prison Service and Home Office Director.
of Revolving Doors are Christine Laing QC (Barrister at 3 Temple Gardens), Gary Lashko (Community Service Director, CHS Group), Tom MacInnes (Research Director, New Policy Institute), Dr. Nick Maguire (Deputy Director of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Academic Course, University of Southampton
), Patrick Ryan (Chief Executive, Hestia Housing and Support), David Walton (Retired Chief Probation Officer, Staffordshire), Julie Weston (Director of Human Resources, British Heart Foundation
), David Williams (Performance Manager, NHS West Midlands) and Elizabeth Liberda-Moreni (Accountant).
The organisation maintains a list on their website of their most recent publications. Some earlier publications can also be found on the Homelessness Pages website.
In 2010, Neighbourhood Link, a scheme in the Islington developed in partnership by St. Mungo's and the Revolving Doors Agency, was highlighted as evidence of good-practice by the Cabinet Office
. The scheme helps people with multiple and complex needs who are either involved in crime or at risk of becoming involved in crime and becoming homeless. As a result of the project, contact with the police amongst the users has fallen from 31 per cent to 9 per cent.
In 2002 the organisation received two UK Charity Awards
, which are given for outstanding achievements within the UK not-for-profit sector, in the category of Research, Advice and Support, as well as being the Overall Winner.
In 2006 the Revolving Doors Agency received an award from the Care Services Improvement Partnership, part of the Care Services Directorate at the Department of Health, for their Link Worker Scheme in the London Borough of Islington
. The same year, the organisation was also highly commended by the Centre for Social Justice
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
which works across England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
. Through research, policy and campaigning work, the organisation aims to improve services for people with multiple needs who are in repeat contact with the criminal justice system.
Vision
The vision of the organisation is that by 2025 there is an end to the revolving door of crisis and crime, when anyone facing multiple problems and poor mental health is supported to reach their potential, with fewer victims and safer communities as a result.Activities
To fulfil its vision, Revolving Doors organises its work around three areas:- Policy and Communications - Working with policymakers in national and local government, across Whitehall and in local and regional authorities, to improve responses for the revolving doors group. This work is informed by their research, the work of the organisation's service user forums and their partnership and development work across the country.
- Service User Involvement - The organisation operates a national service user forum and a young peoples’ forum. The Forums bring together individuals from different areas of the country who have experienced mental health and other problems and have had contact with the criminal justice system. The forums are designed to root the organizations work in the reality of people's experiences.
- Local Partnerships and Development - Revolving Doors works with organisations and individuals across England and Wales to demonstrate solutions for the revolving doors group.
Definition
The revolving door group refers to the experiences of people who are caught in a cycle of crisis, crime and mental illness, whereby they are repeatedly in contact with the police and often detained in prison as well as being victims of crime themselves. This is a group that often has multiple problems for which they need the input of a wide range of agencies, including housing, drugs, mental health, and benefits. The mental health problems of the group are usually a core or exacerbating factor. Routinely, they fall through the gaps of existing mental health service provision, as their mental health problems are not considered sufficiently "severe" to warrant care from statutory services; but they are frequently excluded from mainstream services in the community, such as GPs and Housing Associations, on account of the perceived complexity of their needs and their often challenging behaviour. Consequently, the lack of support contributes to a downward spiral that brings people into contact with the criminal justice system. It is estimated that the number of individuals within the revolving door group is approximately 60,000 at any one time.Formation
In 1992 a report undertaken by NACRONACRO
Nacro is a registered criminal justice charity operating in England and Wales. It is not formally linked with Sacro in Scotland or NIACRO in Northern Ireland.-History:...
and an ITV Telethon
ITV Telethon
The ITV Telethons were three charity telethons organised and televised in the UK by the ITV network. They took place in 1988, 1990 and 1992. Each lasted for 27 hours and all were hosted by Michael Aspel.- Thames Telethon :...
identified a group of people who were caught in a downward cycle of homelessness and found themselves in repeat contact with both the mental health and criminal justice system. This group was identified as the 'revolving doors' group, which subsequent research has estimated to include 60,000 people at any one time.
Following the publication of the report in 1993, the Revolving Doors Agency was established by some of the parties involved in the initial publication who sought to demonstrate new ways of working in these three areas of criminal justice, mental health and homelessness. The focus of the organisation was on the people who kept falling between the mainstream services in the community.
Initially, the organisation conducted research in prisons and police stations to identify the needs of the revolving doors group and establish the issues they faced.
In the late 1990s the organisation established a series of experimental services, called Link Worker Schemes, to test effective interventions
Intervention (counseling)
An intervention is an orchestrated attempt by one, or often many, people to get someone to seek professional help with an addiction or some kind of traumatic event or crisis, or other serious problem. The term intervention is most often used when the traumatic event involves addiction to drugs...
for their target group. The schemes offered individuals practical and emotional support, assisting them to access appropriate services and to address the underlying causes of their offending behaviour. An independent evaluation conducted by the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
found that the scheme cut reoffending by 22 per cent.
Following a strategic review in 2006, the organisation adjusted its focus to research, policy and campaigning work in relation to people who become stuck in a cycle of mental health problems and crime. The Link Worker Schemes were passed over to other voluntary sector providers.
Funding
The organisation is funded by charitable donations from individuals, grants from statutory bodies and applications to charitable foundations. Recent funders include the Big Lottery FundBig Lottery Fund
The Big Lottery Fund is a grant-making non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom created by the Government to administer the funding of "good causes" following the creation of the National Lottery. It has an annual expenditure of £630 million...
, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, the Henry Smith Charity, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the Pilgrim Trust
Pilgrim Trust
The Pilgrim Trust is a London-based charitable trust. It was founded in 1930 by a two million pound grant by Edward Harkness, an American philanthropist. The trust's first secretary was former civil servant, Thomas Jones....
and Trusts for London
City Parochial Foundation
City Parochial Foundation , which in 2010 changed its name to Trust for London, is an independent charitable foundation established in 1891. It aims to tackle poverty and inequality in London and its root causes....
. The organisation has previously received funding from Comic Relief
Comic Relief
Comic Relief is an operating British charity, founded in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry in response to famine in Ethiopia. The highlight of Comic Relief's appeal is Red Nose Day, a biennial telethon held in March, alternating with sister project Sport Relief...
.
Revolving doors has also received pro-bono support from Clifford Chance
Clifford Chance
Clifford Chance LLP is a global law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom and a member of the 'Magic Circle' of leading UK law firms. It is one of the ten largest law firms in the world measured by both number of lawyers and revenue...
who, in partnership with the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
Pro Bono Society, assisted the organisation with additional research.
Governance
Revolving Doors is governed by a Board of TrusteesBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
who oversee the activities of the organisation, which itself is run by a team of 9 members of staff who are supported by associates across the country. The organisation is a registered private company limited by guarantee, with no share capital, which means it is run for non-profit purposes. It is a recognised as a charity by the Charities Commission.
Partnerships
The organisation affiliates itself to the Criminal Justice Alliance, a coalition of 58 organisations involved in policy and practice across the criminal justice system, the Mental Health Alliance, a coalition of 75 organisations which aims to secure a better mental health legislation, and the Transition to Adulthood Alliance, which works to improve the opportunities and life chances of young people in their transition to adulthood, who are at risk of committing crime and falling into the criminal justice system.Patrons
The current patrons of Revolving Doors are Lord David RamsbothamDavid Ramsbotham, Baron Ramsbotham
General David John Ramsbotham, Baron Ramsbotham GCB CBE is a retired British Army officer, who later served as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons...
GCB CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(Former Chief Inspector of Prisons
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons is the head of HM Inspectorate of Prisons and the senior inspector of prisons, young offender institutions and immigration service detention and removal centres in England and Wales...
), the Rt Hon.
The Right Honourable
The Right Honourable is an honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain people in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Anglophone Caribbean and other Commonwealth Realms, and occasionally elsewhere...
Hilary Armstrong
Hilary Armstrong
Hilary Jane Armstrong, Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for North West Durham from 1987 to 2010.-Early life:...
(Former Member of Parliament for North West Durham and Cabinet Minister for Social Exclusion and Duchy of Lancaster), Ian Bynoe (Former Acting Deputy Chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission
Independent Police Complaints Commission
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is a non-departmental public body in England and Wales responsible for overseeing the system for handling complaints made against police forces in England and Wales.-Role:...
), Rose Fitzpatrick (Acting Assistant Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
), Professor John Gunn (Professor of Forensic Psychiatry at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
), Dru Sharpling CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(London Director of the Crown Prosecution Service
Crown Prosecution Service
The Crown Prosecution Service, or CPS, is a non-ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for public prosecutions of people charged with criminal offences in England and Wales. Its role is similar to that of the longer-established Crown Office in Scotland, and the...
), His Honour
His Honour
His Honour or Her Honour is an honorific prefix which is traditionally applied to certain classes of people, in particular justices and judges and mayors...
Judge Fabyan Evans, Bharat Mehta OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(Chief Executive of Trusts for London
City Parochial Foundation
City Parochial Foundation , which in 2010 changed its name to Trust for London, is an independent charitable foundation established in 1891. It aims to tackle poverty and inequality in London and its root causes....
), Joe Simpson (Consultant), Ann Windiate (Former Chief Executive for Medway
Medway
Medway is a conurbation and unitary authority in South East England. The Unitary Authority was formed in 1998 when the City of Rochester-upon-Medway amalgamated with Gillingham Borough Council and part of Kent County Council to form Medway Council, a unitary authority independent of Kent County...
Social Services) and Peter Wrench, Consultant and Writer, former Prison Service and Home Office Director.
Trustees
The current trusteesBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Revolving Doors are Christine Laing QC (Barrister at 3 Temple Gardens), Gary Lashko (Community Service Director, CHS Group), Tom MacInnes (Research Director, New Policy Institute), Dr. Nick Maguire (Deputy Director of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Academic Course, University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
), Patrick Ryan (Chief Executive, Hestia Housing and Support), David Walton (Retired Chief Probation Officer, Staffordshire), Julie Weston (Director of Human Resources, British Heart Foundation
British Heart Foundation
The British Heart Foundation is a charity organisation in Britain that funds research, education, care and awareness campaigns aimed to prevent heart diseases in humans.-Foundation:...
), David Williams (Performance Manager, NHS West Midlands) and Elizabeth Liberda-Moreni (Accountant).
Publications
Revolving Doors has published a number of works with a focus on the revolving doors group who have mental health problems within the criminal justice system, including a report on the financial impact of supporting women with multiple needs in the criminal justice system. This report established that an investment of £18 million per year England-wide in interventions could reduce the cost to the state by £384m over three years and almost £1 billion over five years.The organisation maintains a list on their website of their most recent publications. Some earlier publications can also be found on the Homelessness Pages website.
Reception
Revolving Doors is widely regarded as one of the UK's leading charities concerned with mental health and the criminal justice system.In 2010, Neighbourhood Link, a scheme in the Islington developed in partnership by St. Mungo's and the Revolving Doors Agency, was highlighted as evidence of good-practice by the Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
. The scheme helps people with multiple and complex needs who are either involved in crime or at risk of becoming involved in crime and becoming homeless. As a result of the project, contact with the police amongst the users has fallen from 31 per cent to 9 per cent.
In 2002 the organisation received two UK Charity Awards
UK Charity Awards
The UK Charity Awards are annual awards for outstanding achievements within the UK not-for-profit sector. Categories reflect the management of charities and not-for-profits, and awards are made to individuals, departments and whole organizations....
, which are given for outstanding achievements within the UK not-for-profit sector, in the category of Research, Advice and Support, as well as being the Overall Winner.
In 2006 the Revolving Doors Agency received an award from the Care Services Improvement Partnership, part of the Care Services Directorate at the Department of Health, for their Link Worker Scheme in the London Borough of Islington
London Borough of Islington
The London Borough of Islington is a London borough in Inner London. It was formed in 1965 by merging the former metropolitan boroughs of Islington and Finsbury. The borough contains two Westminster parliamentary constituencies, Islington North and Islington South & Finsbury...
. The same year, the organisation was also highly commended by the Centre for Social Justice
Centre for Social Justice
The Centre for Social Justice is an independent, not-for-profit thinktank set up by the Rt. Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP, to advance the education of the public in the subject of social justice and to promote the role of the voluntary sector...
.
See also
- AddactionAddactionAddaction is a British charity founded in 1967 and working with people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. The charity works extensively throughout England and Scotland, with administrative base in Farringdon, central London.- Beginnings :...
- Centre for Crime and Justice StudiesCentre for Crime and Justice StudiesThe Centre for Crime and Justice Studies is a charity based in the United Kingdom focusing on crime and the criminal justice system. It seeks to bring together people involved in criminal justice through various means, including publications, conferences, and courses.The Centre was established in...
- Centre for Mental Health
- Centre for Social JusticeCentre for Social JusticeThe Centre for Social Justice is an independent, not-for-profit thinktank set up by the Rt. Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP, to advance the education of the public in the subject of social justice and to promote the role of the voluntary sector...
- Howard League for Penal ReformHoward League for Penal ReformThe Howard League for Penal Reform is a London-based registered charity in the United Kingdom. It is the oldest penal reform organisation in the world, named after John Howard. Founded in 1866 as the Howard Association, a merger with the Penal Reform League in 1921 created the Howard League for...
- Mental Health FoundationMental Health FoundationThe Mental Health Foundation was founded in 1949. It is a British charitable organization that provides information, carries out research, and campaigns to improve services for people affected by mental health problems...
- Mental Health Providers' ForumMental Health Providers ForumThe Mental Health Providers' Forum is a charity and the representative body for voluntary sector mental health organisations in England and Wales, working nationally and regionally to influence practice and policy...
- Mind
- NacroNacroNacro is a registered criminal justice charity operating in England and Wales. It is not formally linked with Sacro in Scotland or NIACRO in Northern Ireland.-History:...
- National Mental Health Development UnitNational Mental Health Development UnitThe National Mental Health Development Unit is a governmental organisation in England charged with supporting the implementation of mental health policy...
- Prison Reform TrustPrison Reform TrustThe Prison Reform Trust was founded in 1981 in London, England by a small group of prison reform campaigners who were unhappy with the direction in which the Howard League for Penal Reform was heading, concentrating more on community punishments than on traditional prison reform issues...
- RethinkRethinkRethink Mental Illness is a charity in England. Its mission statement is "Working together to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life." The organisation was founded in 1972 by relatives of people diagnosed with schizophrenia, following an article by a...
- Richmond FellowshipRichmond FellowshipRichmond Fellowship is a mental health charity founded in 1959 by Elly Jansen, a Dutch theology student, who bought a house in Richmond, London, and invited patients from the local psychiatric hospital to live with her...
- SANESANE (charity)SANE is a mental illness charity in the UK. It provides telephone and email support services and has established a research centre. The opinion of SANE's founder and chief executive, Marjorie Wallace, is often quoted in media reports on mental health issues....
- Stand to Reason (charity)Stand to Reason (charity)Stand to Reason is a UK-based mental health charity which aims to raise the profile of people who are mentally ill, fight prejudice, establish rights and achieve equality.It is run by former corporate financier Jonathan Naess....
- St Giles TrustSt Giles TrustSt Giles Trust works primarily with ex-offenders to help with training and equipping them for life beyond prison. The charity was founded in 1962 and the current chief executive is Rob Owen.....
- TogetherTogether: Working for Well-beingTogether: Working for Wellbeing is a UK charity working in mental health. Until 2005 it was known as the Mental After Care Association .-Description:...
- Turning PointTurning Point (charity)Turning Point is a social care organisation and registered charity in the United Kingdom. It provides services for people with complex needs, including those affected by drug and alcohol misuse, mental health problems and those with a learning disability. Turning Point runs projects in 244...