The Ministry of Justice has championed the changes as a shift that will discourage reoffending by requiring young offenders to make amends to the victim and community.
Referral orders require young offenders to answer for their actions and make amends to their victims by attending a youth offender panel of community volunteers, which can demand that criminal damage be repaired and costs repaid.
The revised guidance document gives direction to YOTs and community panel members, including guidance on the selection of community panel members and the conduct of youth offender panels.
The guidance has also been provided to courts.
John Drew, chief executive of the Youth Justice Board, said: "We welcome the publication of this revised guidance which will offer greater flexibility and wider use of the referral order.
"This latest guidance pulls together all we have learned since the national introduction of the order in 2002 and puts it in the context of recent changes in legislation via the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008."
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