Youth Justice Service Volunteering Opportunities

Opportunity - Referral Order Panel Member

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Birmingham Youth Justice Team! 

Role Title: Referral Order Panel Member

  • Where: Various locations throughout Birmingham.
  • When: Specialist training is provided to support this role. E-training days where necessary times and dates are confirmed at the point of successful interview.
  • Panel duration: Panels are normally 45 minutes to one hour in duration. 
  • Panel frequency: We ask Volunteers to commit to supporting a minimum of 2 panels per month. The expectation of volunteers is to sit at least 2 panels per month minimum.
  • Role commitment: We ask volunteers to commit to a minimum of 6 months (however, we would love for you to stay volunteering with the service for years to come with the opportunity to gain more experience). 

What will volunteers be doing?

Volunteer panels will consist of 2 volunteers, a Youth Justice Team representative, a manager (chair) and the child along with their parent/carer/responsible adult. 

Tasks

  • Being a panel member involves attending Referral Order Panels. These are community sentences given to children who have been convicted of criminal offences. The panel brings together the child, their parents/carers, and the victim (if they choose to be involved), to discuss what has happened. Panels are conducted with restorative principles. This means repairing relationships and moving forward. It’s not about punishment, but about making amends. 
  • As a Panel member, you would be trained to facilitate the meeting, initiate discussions with the child, parents/ carers and the victim(s) and explore what happened. The child will be supported to repair the harm they have caused and see what support they need moving forwards to stop causing harm to others. 
  • The panel will write a ‘contract’ which should include a range of goals, activities and restorative interventions.These meetings enable children to recognise the consequences of their offending and to be accountable for their actions. 

What is required to become a Referral Order Panel Member? 

  • BYJS Volunteer Induction Training 

To support and strengthen your induction training, you will need to complete e-learning modules through the Youth Justice Institute and Birmingham Children’s Services. You will not be able to begin volunteering with us without first completing all the necessary aspects of the induction process, 

This includes:

  • An enhanced DBS being completed and signing up to the DBS Update service. 
  • Suitable references.
  • Completion of required e-learning and panel training. 

Essential skills and qualities:

  • Good communication skills.
  • Empathy.
  • Patience.
  • Non-judgmental approach.
  • An open mind. 
  • Calm.
  • Good time management.
  • Work as part of a team.
  • Commitment. 
  • Reliability.
  • Adaptability. 
  • Supportive.
  • Maintaining confidentiality.

Through training we will help you develop knowledge and understanding about: 

  • The Youth Justice System.
  • Referral Orders (RO).
  • Restorative practice language.
  • Facilitating the panel process.
  • How to engage children.
  • Restorative Justice. 
  • Safeguarding.
  • Different roles within BYJS. 
  • Desistance.
  • Current issues affecting children. 
  • YJS interventions. 
  • Setting SMART targets (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time Bound).