Restorative Justice Coordinator
Facilitate structured restorative processes between people who have caused harm and those who have been harmed — an RJC-qualified practitioner role working in criminal justice, schools, and community settings.
Low
High
RJC-endorsed training: 3–5 days plus supervised portfolio (typically 6–12 months to RJC Registered Practitioner status); direct entry from youth work, victim support, probation, or school background is common
RJC-endorsed practitioner training (typically 3–5 days; delivered by RJC-endorsed providers); RJC Registered Practitioner status requires supervised casework portfolio and competency evidence. Level 3 or above qualification in community justice, social care, counselling, or education typically required by employers. DBS Enhanced check required.
possible
What you do
Restorative Justice (RJ) Coordinators facilitate structured voluntary processes in which people who have been harmed by crime or conflict have the opportunity to communicate directly — in a face-to-face conference, shuttle process, or written exchange — with the person responsible, to explain the impact of the harm, ask questions, and contribute to agreed actions or reparation. The restorative justice process is victim-led and voluntary at every stage. As a coordinator, you assess suitability, prepare all parties carefully (typically through separate meetings over several weeks), facilitate the restorative meeting, and support follow-through on any agreed outcomes.
RJ Coordinators work in criminal justice settings (commissioned by His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, police and crime commissioners, or victim support organisations under the statutory duty to offer RJ to victims of crime), in schools (delivering restorative approaches to address bullying, conflict, and exclusion), in NHS and workplace settings, and in the community. The Restorative Justice Council (RJC) is the professional membership body, and RJC-endorsed training and Registered Practitioner status are the recognised quality standard for practitioners delivering formal restorative processes in criminal justice contexts.
Why this career is resilient
The statutory duty on police and crime commissioners to provide access to restorative justice for victims of crime (Victims' Code, 2021) creates a legally underpinned demand for RJ services across England and Wales. Home Office and Ministry of Justice investment in RJ as a cost-effective alternative to reoffending has driven expansion of commissioned RJ services. Schools increasingly adopt restorative approaches as a whole-school culture and exclusion-reduction strategy — with Ofsted recognising relational, restorative practice as a quality indicator.
The careful preparation, facilitation skill, and trauma-informed communication expertise required for restorative practice cannot be automated. RJC Registered Practitioner status and endorsement provide a quality kite-mark valued by commissioners. The breadth of settings in which RJ is applicable — criminal justice, schools, workplaces, healthcare — gives RJ Coordinators wide employment options.
A typical day
Morning: preparation meeting with a victim of a house burglary — the third preparation session, exploring her needs, the questions she wants to ask, and what outcome she is hoping for. She agrees she is ready to meet the offender. Afternoon: preparation meeting with the offender at the probation office — reviewing the process, his understanding of the impact of his actions, and his readiness to participate. Phone call to the victim support worker to coordinate a joint update. Evening: complete case notes, update the RJC case management system, and prepare the written materials for next week's restorative conference.
Routes in
Employer-funded training
Some employers — particularly the NHS, emergency services, and larger care providers — run their own funded training programmes. You apply for a job and train as you work.
Full-time college course
Study full-time at a further education college, usually for 1–2 years. You will need to fund yourself or apply for a student loan (available for Level 4+ courses).
Pay and costs
Earning potential: Voluntary sector RJ Coordinator: £24,000–£32,000. HMPPS-commissioned service: £26,000–£35,000. School-based restorative practice lead: £28,000–£38,000 depending on school size and scale. Senior RJ practitioner or service manager: £35,000–£45,000.
Training costs: RJC-endorsed training: approximately £400–£1,000 depending on provider; often employer or grant-funded. RJC membership and Registered Practitioner registration fees — check RJC website for current fees. DBS check: typically employer-funded.