The East Riding Youth Justice Service are looking for Referral Order Panel Member Volunteers

Come and Volunteer for an “Outstanding” Youth Justice Service.

In March 2019 the East Riding of Yorkshire Youth Justice Service became the first to ever score full marks across the board in an inspection by HM Inspectorate of Probation. Inspectors noted:

“Staff build fruitful relationships with children, young people, parents and carers, and partner services. It is evident that children and young people are listened to and their goals and aspirations are taken seriously and acted upon.”

We are seeking volunteers to come and join our service as Referral Order Panel Members.

This role involves working restoratively with the Youth Justice Service (YJS) in chairing Referral Order Panels, whereby volunteers meet with the young person, their parent/guardian, and the Youth Justice Service to collectively agree and tailor the plan of work that a young person will complete throughout their court order. Referral Order Panels take place after a young person receives a Referral Order at Court, which can be up to 12 months in length.

The panels provide an opportunity for young people to be involved in co-creating their own plan of work, alongside the Youth Justice Service and Referral Order Panel Members, which can include;

  • Support with any underlying needs such as metal health and emotional wellbeing, substance use, and speech and language.
  • Support with education, training and employment.
  • Intervention programmes relating to their offence.
  • Intervention relating to impact of their offence on victims and communities.
  • Consideration of the victim’s individual needs and wishes.
  • Consider ways in which they can repair harm caused by giving back directly or indirectly to the victim, or to the community through reparation.

The panel can sit at different stages of the Referral Order;

  • At the beginning of the Referral Order
  • Every 3 months to review the young person’s progress
  • At the end of the Referral Order to agree completion

Additional panels can sit in exceptional circumstances. This may be;

  • If the Youth Justice Service is struggling to engage the young person in their order and consideration needs to be given if the young person needs to return to Court.
  • If the young person reoffends whilst subject to a Referral Order and an extension/change of the plan is needed.
  • If the young person has completed all their intervention early and an agreement can be made to send the child back to Court to end their Referral Order early.

Referral Order Panel Members promote community involvement in devising effective programmes to ensure that young people’s needs are met, communities are safe, crime and reoffending rates are reduced, victim’s voices are heard, and a positive difference is made to the lives of young people. Volunteers make important decisions relating to a young person’s court order, and they are a vital part of the service we offer.

All training relevant to the role will be provided, and will be ongoing throughout a volunteer’s time working with us.

Applications should be returned directly to the recruiting manager Emily Harrison.

Want to know more?

Get in touch for more information.

Name: Emily Harrison
Role: Restorative Justice Officer
Phone: 07890919307
Skip to content