How can I gain some voluntary experience?
If you are able to spare some time and are looking to gain more
experience in the Youth Justice field we are always looking for
volunteers. We have opportunities on our Referral
Panels and as Appropriate Adults.
Contact
Khristy Kelly or
Kath Arnott-Gent
or ring our freephone number: 0800 083 3645
You will be sent an information leaflet and application form and then be invited to an introductory session to find out more.
If successful you will be offered specific training:
- Appropriate Adult – 2 half day sessions
- Referral Order – 6 days
- These training sessions are held at the weekends. All training is accredited to GMOCN Level 2 by MANCAT College
APPROPRIATE ADULT SCHEME
What is an Appropriate Adult?
Appropriate Adults were introduced in 1984, alongside the Police
and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE), to protect young people who
can be vulnerable in custody. Young people CANNOT be interviewed
without a parent or other appropriate adult present.
After being
arrested the police may have to do an interview under the Police
and Criminal Evidence act. You, as an appropriate adult, need
to be present at the police station to ensure that the young
person is getting a fair and proper interview.
It is also your responsibility to:-
- Make sure that the young person has been offered something
to eat and drink
- To inform a family member or other significant person if
appropriate
- Check
that a solicitor is on the way
- Check whether medical assistance is required
- Check that the young person is fit to attend the interview
(not under the influence of drink or drugs)
- Contact children’s services if a young person is in need
of accommodation
How Much Time Will I Be Expected To Give?
Manchester YOS operates the Appropriate Adult
service between the hours of 8:30 am and 11:00 pm, 7 days a week.
We need volunteers who are available to work unsociable hours,
weekends and also between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.
Do I Need Any Qualifications Or Experience?
No. You will receive full training, and do not need to have done
this sort of work before. We are looking for volunteers who:
Have
a genuine desire to protect the rights of young people
- Are enthusiastic
- Are committed and reliable
- Are willing to undertake training
- Have good communication skills
You will, however, need to be
prepared to undergo police checks and also provide references
to show that you are suitable to deal with young people.
Criminal
convictions will not necessarily disqualify you from becoming
an appropriate adult, but this will depend on their nature.
REFERRAL ORDER PANELS
What is a Referral Order?
Referral Orders are an innovative and effective way of dealing
with first time young offenders. They involve members of the
community, youth justice professionals, the offender and their
family in working to repair the harm caused by the offence and
prevent further re-offending.
Most young people who appear in
court for the first time and plead guilty will receive a Referral
Order, between 3 and 12 months in duration, which requires them
to attend a Referral Order Panel meeting.
Each Referral Order
Panel meeting will be attended by the offender and their family,
two community panel members, the victim (if they wish to attend)
and a member of the Youth Offending Service.
What Happens at the Panel Meetings?
The Panel will be lead by the community panel members, with the
Youth Offending Service member providing information and support.
The panel’s aim is to reach an agreement that:
- Considers how and why the offence occurred and takes action
to prevent a reoccurrence
- Ensures the young offender takes responsibility for their
behaviour
- Increases the young offender's understanding of the harm
done to the victim and how they can make amends
Afterwards the Youth
Offending Service will work with the young offender and monitor
them to ensure that they keep to the agreement. The Panel will
meet every three months to review the progress, and can refer
the young offender back to court if the agreement is not being
kept
How is a Youth Offending Panel Different from Court?
Although the Panel has the backing of the court, it is not a
court of law. There are several important differences:
- Panels are less formal than the courts. This encourages communication
between the young offender, their family and their victim
- Referral Order Panel members will have a particular understanding
of the effects of crime in their own community
- The nature of Panels will enable the young offender to consider
the effects of their actions on their victims and also on the
rest of the community
Who Can be a Panel Member?
If you are over 18 you can apply to become a Referral Order Panel
Member. Qualifications and experience are not required - we
are looking for personal qualities.
Panels should reflect the
communities you serve. We are looking for panel members who
reflect the diversity of the area they come from, in terms
of age, gender, ethnic origin and social background.
You will
need to be prepared to undergo police checks and also provide
references to show that you are suitable to deal with young
people. Criminal convictions will not necessarily disqualify
you, but this will depend on their nature.
How Much Time Will it Involve?
Panel members will need to commit themselves for at least one
year, and are expected to sit on around 25 panels per year.
All volunteers must attend 40 hours intensive training, after
which they will be qualified as Panel Members. Panel Members
will be given the opportunity of having their training accredited
through MANCAT |
