Referral Order Panel Member Volunteer

An opportunity has arisen to Join Harrow Youth Justice Service (HYJS) as a Volunteer Community Panel Member and make a difference to your local community! Volunteers have a great impact on our community often bringing the community together socially. Volunteering will also offer you opportunities to meet new people, gain and improve your skills, build your confidence and self-esteem, as well as improve your physical and mental wellbeing and gather experience.

If you are reliable, non-judgemental, have good communication skills and are able to travel around the borough, you can make a positive difference in your community and we need you! Referral Order Panel Members

Description:

Referral Order Panel Members will work alongside others to discuss an agreement plan for children who commit crime (aged between 10-18 years) at Referral Order Community Panels to repair the harm of the offending behaviour and engage in interventions to reduce their risk of reoffending during their Court Order. An agreement is drawn up in line with the principles of restorative justice.

Panel members will review the child’s progress throughout the Order. Referral Order Panel Members are supervised and supported by the Restorative Justice Worker. These meetings will take place weekdays in the early evenings, and some occasional day times. What is a Referral Order Community Panel? The usual sentence for a young person appearing in Court for the first time and pleading guilty is to be made subject of a Referral Order of between 3 and 12 months.

The young person then attends a Referral Order Community Panel which will include at least two community members who are volunteers from the local area. As the Panel Members are local people they will take the lead in challenging the young person to take responsibility for their actions and help them to change their behaviour. Panels also give victims a chance to say how the crime has affected them and what can be done to put things right.

These panels are important to the Criminal Justice System as they involve working with children who commit crime, their parents and victims. Panel Aims Involve those have been harmed and the community to represent their wishes, wherever possible. Help put things right for the victim. Ensure children who have offended take responsibility for their behaviour and make amends for their crimes.

Help children make a positive contribution to their local community and positive choices for their futures. Reduce crime and fear of crime in the community. Specific Tasks of a Referral Order Community Panel Member:
To attend panel meetings for a minimum of two evenings a month and work alongside others to agree an appropriate Referral Order contract for the young person. To represent the local community. To chair Panel Meetings as directed by the Restorative Justice Worker. To read all relevant reports prepared by the HYJS about the young person prior to a scheduled meeting.

To attend quarterly group supervision, yearly appraisals and undertake training as required What if I have a criminal record? Being a Referral Order Panel Member involves working with children and for that reason we are required to request a full criminal record check. Previous convictions, especially those which are minor in nature and old will not automatically prevent you from becoming a Referral Order Panel Member.

This is something we can discuss further with you. How much of my time will it take? Interviews are expected to be held throughout January and February. Training will run over four consecutive Saturdays from February 28th through to March 21st 2026, 9.30am-4.00pm. There will also be a virtual Safeguarding training session on Wednesday 11th March pm. Additional reading, videos and follow up work will also be given between each week.

Upon completion of the training you will need to be able to commit to approximately two sessions a month for a minimum of 18 months.

To apply you must be over 18 years of age and free from criminal convictions which preclude contact with children. The deadline is 5pm on Friday 13th February 2026.