Provision of feasibility research for IASIO:

IASIO wish to invite applications from suitably qualified researchers with a high level of knowledge of family focused interventions and the criminal justice sector. IASIO is conducting research into developing formal family engagement as part of its Resettlement Service. Specifically, we want to explore if greater stability around release is possible through formal family engagement. IASIO has received funding under the St. Stephen’s Green Trust (SSGT), Family Matters Grant Programme, to conduct a research and feasibility study into the impact and benefits of formal family engagement during the process of prisoner release.

1. Who we are and what we do:

IASIO (the Irish Association for Social Inclusion Opportunities), is a national organisation that works with State agencies in the development and delivery of services to marginalised groups, enabling communities to become more socially inclusive through excellence in practice. IASIO’s current operational scope includes three national Services and two smaller projects: The Linkage Service, the Gate Service, the Resettlement Service; and, The Community Support Scheme and The Supported Employment Service. In particular, it is the only national organisation for adult offenders in the community and voluntary sector with a specific focus on alternatives to both offending and re-imprisonment. This is achieved through the provision of direct services to offenders in the community and to prisoners, services which range from 1-to-1 guidance counselling, group work, psychometric assessment, resettlement planning & support and placement in the community. IASIO’s core mission is the social inclusion of people marginalised from mainstream opportunity.

2. The Resettlement Service:

The Resettlement Service is a stability support service for people leaving prison, it operates throughout the prison estate and is available to all sentenced prisoners. The Resettlement Service is frontline and provides support services to every eligible prisoner as part of their release. The intervention starts with pre-release resettlement planning, the identification of necessary supports, and continues to the community with supported access to essential services in housing, welfare and medical card provision.

3. The task:

The current tender seeks an applicant to lead research on the feasibility of formalising family engagement as part of IASIO’s Resettlement Service. Formal family engagement, that is prescribed, measured and reported family engagement may lead to increased stability and positive impact for both prisoners and their families. The current tender is twofold: it is for research that will identify best practice in family engagement as part of prisoner release, both national and international; and it will provide a feasibility study on applying best practice in family engagement to IASIO’s Resettlement Service.

The successful applicant will:

• Develop the research and feasibility framework
• Develop a project workplan and timeline for implementation
• Prepare a briefing document/presentation for the IASIO project management group
• Conduct desk-based research on national and international best practice
• Conduct stakeholder interviews and collect the necessary data to inform recommendations
• Produce an interim and final feasibility study on the feasibility of formalising family engagement as part of IASIO’s Resettlement Service.

4. Timeline:

It is anticipated that this work will be completed before the end of 2024, with interviews and data collection to take place between September and December 2024.

5. Criteria:

• Applicants will be scored on the basis of the following criteria:
• Proven track record of excellent writing and research skills
• Knowledge of family engagement interventions
• Knowledge of the criminal justice sector, especially prisoner release processes
• Cost
• Availability to complete the task within the proposed timeline.

Please note, successful bidders must have a recurrent tax clearance certificate.

Any Intellectual Property (IP) developed, acquired, made or discovered by you during the Term of the Agreement, which arises in the provision of the Services in connection with or in any way affecting or relating to the business of IASIO shall belong to and be the absolute property of IASIO (the ‘IASIO IP’). You hereby assign to IASIO the IASIO IP for their full term throughout the world. IASIO hereby grant a royalty free, non-transferable, non-exclusive licence to you to utilise the IASIO IP subject to the necessary protections which may arise under relevant legislation, including Data Protection Legislation. In addition, the parties hereby agree to grant upon request a royalty free, non-transferable, nonexclusive licence to The Department of Justice and its agents to utilise the IASIO IP subject to the necessary protections which may arise under relevant legislation, including Data Protection Legislation.

6. Budget:

The budget for the project is €20,000.

7. Application Process:

Applicants should provide the following information to the address below by Friday 30th of August 2024 at 5 pm.

• Comprehensive CV, including reference to the criteria named above;
• Proposed methodology
• Costs (including daily rates);
• Anticipated number of days to complete the work/timeline for the project;
• Two recent professional referees;
• Proposed timelines.

Contact Details:

Interested applications to be returned by 5 pm, Friday 30th August 2024 to: Tom Harte tharte@iasio.ie , and Barry Owens bowens@iasio.ie . Informal queries can also be directed to Tom on 086 2012082 and Barry on 086 3824503.