The posting
Contract to start ASAP
Duration: 28 weeks with a possible extension.
Referral Order and Volunteer Coordinator
Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)
Contract: 28 Week Temporary Contract, ending 2 May 2027
Support Young People, Volunteers and Restorative Justice Services Across Birmingham
We're recruiting an experienced Referral Order and Volunteer Coordinator to join Birmingham Children's Trust, supporting the effective delivery of Referral Orders and the coordination of volunteers working with children and young people involved in the youth justice system.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone with experience in youth justice, criminal justice, children's services, volunteer coordination, restorative practice, or community-based services who is confident working with young people, families, volunteers, and partner agencies.
You'll play a key role in coordinating Referral Order panels, supporting and developing volunteers, maintaining effective case administration, and helping ensure young people receive appropriate interventions designed to reduce reoffending and promote positive outcomes.
About the Role
As a Referral Order and Volunteer Coordinator, you'll support the planning, coordination, and delivery of Referral Orders, ensuring panels are effectively organised and appropriately supported.
You'll also coordinate volunteers involved in Referral Order and youth justice activity, supporting recruitment, training, supervision, and ongoing engagement while working closely with Youth Justice professionals and external partners.
What you'll be doing:
- Coordinating Referral Order panels for children and young people involved with the Youth Justice Service
- Organising panel meetings, ensuring appropriate volunteers, young people, parents or carers, and professionals are available
- Supporting the effective delivery of Referral Orders in accordance with relevant legislation, guidance, and local procedures
- Recruiting, coordinating, and supporting volunteers involved in Referral Order panels and related youth justice activities
- Supporting the induction and training of volunteers, ensuring they understand their responsibilities and relevant procedures
- Maintaining regular communication with volunteers and supporting their continued engagement with the service
- Coordinating volunteer rotas and availability to ensure sufficient panel coverage
- Supporting young people and families to understand the Referral Order process and what is expected of them
- Working closely with Youth Justice Officers, Social Workers, police, courts, education professionals, and other partner agencies
- Ensuring Referral Order panels are conducted professionally, fairly, and in accordance with restorative justice principles
- Supporting panel members to develop appropriate contracts and interventions with young people
- Promoting restorative approaches that encourage young people to understand the impact of their behaviour and make positive changes
- Maintaining accurate records of panels, volunteer activity, attendance, outcomes, and agreed actions
- Monitoring Referral Order arrangements and identifying any issues that require escalation
- Supporting the collection and analysis of service information, including volunteer and panel performance data
- Responding to enquiries from volunteers, young people, families, professionals, and partner organisations
- Promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion throughout volunteer and youth justice activity
- Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries when working with young people and volunteers
- Ensuring safeguarding concerns are identified and reported appropriately
- Supporting service development and continuous improvement within Referral Order and volunteer programmes
- Working flexibly to meet service requirements, including attendance at meetings or panels outside standard office hours where necessary
Requirements
We're looking for a highly organised, confident, and approachable individual with strong coordination skills and an understanding of youth justice, safeguarding, and working with volunteers.
You'll ideally have:
- Experience working within youth justice, children's services, criminal justice, social care, community services, or a related environment
- Experience coordinating or supporting volunteers
- Experience working directly with children, young people, and families
- Knowledge or understanding of Referral Orders and the youth justice system
- Understanding of restorative justice or restorative practice principles
- Experience organising meetings, panels, programmes, or community-based activities
- Strong safeguarding awareness and an understanding of professional responsibilities when working with vulnerable young people
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to engage effectively with young people, parents, carers, volunteers, and professionals
- Confidence communicating with people from a wide range of backgrounds
- Ability to manage sensitive or challenging situations professionally
- Strong administrative and organisational skills
- Experience maintaining accurate records and handling confidential information
- Ability to coordinate diaries, rotas, meetings, and multiple competing priorities
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Good understanding of equality, diversity, and inclusion
- A professional, non-judgemental, and child-centred approach
- Enhanced DBS clearance or willingness to undertake the required safeguarding checks
- Eligibility to work in the UK
- Ability to provide three years of references/work history
- Ability to complete a Criminal Convictions Declaration
- Ability to sign a Confidentiality Agreement
Why Apply
- Competitive Umbrella rate of £24.34 per hour
- Opportunity to work within Birmingham Children's Trust
- Longer-term 28-week temporary assignment
- Varied role combining youth justice, volunteer coordination, administration, and direct engagement
- Opportunity to support young people through the Referral Order process
- Work alongside Youth Justice professionals, volunteers, families, and partner agencies
- Gain valuable experience within statutory Children's Services and Youth Justice
- Opportunity to contribute to restorative approaches designed to reduce reoffending and improve outcomes for young people
Benefits
- Weekly Pay
- Company Pension
- Ongoing Agency Support
Additional Information
Client: Birmingham Children's Trust
Location: One Avenue Road, Aston, Birmingham, West Midlands, B6 4DU
Start Date: 19 October 2026
Contract Duration: 28 weeks, ending 2 May 2027
Hours: 37 hours per week
Pay Rate: Umbrella: £24.34 per hour
Employment Type: Temporary
Number of Positions: 1
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary contract
Contract length: 28 weeks
Pay: £24.34 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
Application question(s):
- Do you have experience working within youth justice, children's services, criminal justice, social care, or a related environment?
- Do you have experience coordinating, supervising, or supporting volunteers?
- Do you have experience working directly with children, young people, or families?
- Do you have knowledge or experience of Referral Orders, restorative justice, or youth offending services?
- Are you confident organising panels, meetings, rotas, and multiple competing priorities?
- Do you have a good understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries when working with young people?
- Please confirm your current location and whether you can reliably travel to One Avenue Road, Aston, Birmingham, B6 4DU.
Experience:
- Youth Justice / Children's Services: 1 year (preferred)
- Volunteer Coordination: 1 year (preferred)
- Working with Young People: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Enhanced DBS on the Update Service (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
Disclaimer: On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify iWork Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.
OR117839-10-26
