Youth Justice Volunteer Community Panel Member (CPM)

Redbridge Youth Justice & Targeted Prevention Service

• Are you passionate about helping children and young people ‘get back on track’ using restorative approaches?
• Are you interested in holding a restorative meeting with children and young people (who have been sentenced to a Referral Order) and their parent/carer?

 If so, then applying to work as a Volunteer Community Panel Member (CPM), could be the role that you are looking for. You will be working with the Redbridge Youth Justice & Targeted Prevention Service, to reduce the likelihood of children becoming involved in further offending behaviour.

Main tasks and responsibilities:

• As a Volunteer Community Panel Member, you will be specially trained in how to explore with the child what happened on the day of the offence and the harm caused, using open questions and restorative themes. 
• A contract is then co-produced with the child and their parent/carer.  The Panel Members then meet with the child approximately every three months to review their progress until the end of their Order, when they hold a final panel meeting.

•  Motivation to promote a process with children and parents/carers to prevent further offending.

•  Integrity, discretion, and a firm commitment to confidentiality

• A willingness to listen to advice and to the views of others;

• A commitment to make a difference to children/young people and their families      

• An ability and strong commitment to work without prejudice towards people of different ages, sexual identities, ethnic, cultural, and social backgrounds;

• Are willing to attend face to face meetings at the YJS (availability twice per fortnight).

Benefits to Volunteer

• You will be making a difference to the lives of children and those harmed by the offending behaviour;
• You will be presented with a certificate and an opportunity to register with the Restorative Justice Council, where there will be further opportunities to work towards accreditation in Restorative Justice.
• You will receive Group Supervision and (one to one supervision is also on offer)
  
• Ongoing support is provided with a named single point of contact.
  

What skills do I need?

Skills, attributes, experience and qualifications.

• Volunteer CPMs must be at least 18 years old and a resident/work in Redbridge (or on the  periphery)
• Can listen and communicate effectively
• Have a non-judgemental approach
•  Have an awareness of the issues affecting children and young people and those harmed by crime
• Willing to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check prior to starting the training
• Commit to attending ALL the training, REGULAR SUPERVISION, PLUS follow-on TRAINING and WORKSHOPS
• Commit to the Service for ONE YEAR, following completion of the training.

When do I need to be available?