Outline: To manage and support the Scout Group and its Leaders to ensure it runs effectively and that Scouting within the Group develops in accordance with the rules and policies of The Scout Association.

Responsible to: District Commissioner (or deputy if appropriate).

Main Contacts: Section Leaders and their leadership teams in the Group, parents/carers of the young people in the Scout Group, Group Executive Committee members, sponsoring authority of the Group (if applicable), Group Scout Active Support Manager, District Commissioner, Deputy District Commissioner(s), other Group Scout Leaders in the District, County/Area/Region (Scotland) Commissioner.

Appointment requirements: Must successfully complete the appointment process within 5 months of the role start date. The relevant Getting Started modules must be completed within 5 months of the role start date. A Wood Badge must be completed within three years of the role start date and Safeguarding and Safety training completed renewed every three years.

It’s expected that whilst volunteering for this role you will undertake regulated activity.

Main Tasks

• Ensure that the Scout Group thrives and has the best systems in place to support adult volunteers and develop the Group – including a Group Executive Committee and Section leadership teams.
• Provide line management and support to the Leaders in the Scout Group, including setting objectives for their work and holding regular reviews and one-to-one meetings.
• Ensure that the Scout Group has an adequate team of supported and appropriate adults working effectively together and with others to meet the Scouting needs of the area.
• Ensure that a challenging, exciting and balanced programme is offered to young people in the Scout Group.
• Work with the District Commissioner, Deputy District Commissioner(s) and other Group Scout Leaders in the District to ensure that the District thrives and supports Scout Groups.
• Note: Some of the tasks for which the Group Scout Leader is responsible may be delegated to others in the Group, including a Deputy Group Scout Leader, if appointed.

Person specification

Knowledge and experience:

Essential:

• Ability to manage adults effectively

Desirable:

• Understanding of the challenges of working in the voluntary sector
• Experience of working with young people and/or community work with adult groups
• Experience of working in the Scout or Guide Movement as an adult

Skills:

Essential:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Provide advice and guidance effectively to others
• Provide inspirational leadership for the Group
• Build, maintain and facilitate effective working relationships with a wide range of people
• Enable others to identify issues, clarify objectives, develop attainable objectives  and gain the necessary skills and confidence to work as an effective team
• Ability to negotiate compromises
• Plan, manage and monitor own tasks and time
• Construct and implement long-term plans that improve and expand the Scouting offered to young people and identify any training, resources and other needs required to undertake this work
• Use basic computer software

Personal qualities:

Essential:

• An understanding of the needs of adult volunteers
• Flexible approach
• Self-motivated
• Able to work as part of a team and promote good teamwork
• Resourceful, energetic and enthusiastic about the job
• Acceptance of the fundamentals of the Scout Movement

Detailed description of the role

The role of Group Scout Leader is based around six key areas of leadership and management.

1. Providing direction – as an effective Group Scout Leader you will be required to:

• Lead by example to promote a co-operative culture of working in the Group.
• Create a vision for the future development of the Group that takes into account the strategic objectives of The Scout Association and the plans for your District.
• Develop a plan to realise the vision for the Group, implement and regularly review it.
• Provide leadership, inspiration and motivation for all adults volunteering in the Group.
• Ensure that everyone in the Group follows the policies and rules of The Scout Association.
• Carry out regular one-to-one meetings and support adults who report directly to you.

2. Working with people – as an effective Group Scout Leader you will be required to:

• Develop good working relationships based on trust and Scout values with adults in the Group and with others in Scouting.
• Plan for and ensure that suitable adults are recruited to work in appropriate roles in the Group.
• Manage and support the adults in the Group – including allocating tasks and reviewing their progress.
• Support adults in the Group to develop by: completing formal training requirements, learning on the job, trying out new skills and addressing problems affecting performance.
• Build a team spirit in the Group and support the development of the team as a whole.
• Address conflict as it occurs within the Group and reduce the likelihood of it happening through good communication and other methods.
• Run effective Leaders’ Meetings in the Group and participate fully in the Group Executive and District meetings.
• Ensure that adults in the Group perform to agreed standards and if serious problems occur, that correct procedures are followed in consultation with the District Commissioner.
• Carry out effective reviews and re-assign or retire people if necessary.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with other relevant organisations in the
  Group’s local area.

3. Achieving results – as an effective Group Scout Leader you will be required to:

• Satisfactorily complete projects in the Group for which you are responsible.
• Satisfactorily resolve problems and issues raised by adult and youth members of the Group and by parents or carers of youth members in the Group.

4. Enabling change – as an effective Group Scout Leader you will be required to:

• Encourage adults in the Group to think of new and creative ways to improve the Group.
• Be enthusiastic about new ideas, give constructive feedback on those ideas and encourage and support further work on them.
• Carry out plans to implement change, working together with all members of the Group.
• Recognise the contribution of others towards change and improvement.

5. Using resources – as an effective Group Scout Leader you will be required to:

• As part of the Executive Committee, manage the Group’s budget.
• As part of the Executive Committee, ensure that there is an adequate income for the
  Group including identifying other income sources such as grants.
• Work with the Executive Committee and Leaders to ensure that the Group’s meeting place and equipment are safe and that adult volunteers act in a responsible manner.
• Work with the Section Leaders and the Executive Committee to ensure that the Group
  has sufficient physical resources to support the programme.
• Work with adults and youth Members to minimise the negative impact and maximise the
  positive impact that the Group has on the environment.
• Make decisions about all matters within the Group based on the best available information.
• Ensure that all adults in the Group have the right information provided in a timely manner and in the most effective way.

6. Managing your time and personal skills – as an effective Group Scout Leader you will be required to:

• Agree realistic goals and targets with the District Commissioner for the development of the Scout Group that work towards The Scout Association’s strategic objectives.
• Ask other adult volunteers for feedback about how you carry out your role and act on it.
• Regularly check how you use your time and identify possible improvements so that you focus on the goals and priorities that you have agreed with the District Commissioner.
• Identify the skills and knowledge that you need to develop or improve and the steps you will follow to do so.
• Attend National, Regional, County/Area and District Group Scout Leader meetings, workshops and events.

Outline: The Secretary will support the Chair of the Executive Committee to ensure the smooth functioning and sound administration of the Scout Group, District or County/Area/Region in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.

Responsible to: The relevant Scout Council.

Appointment Requirements: Must successfully complete the appointment process (including acceptable personal enquiries and acceptance of The Scout Association’s policies).

It’s expected that whilst volunteering for this role you will undertake regulated activity.

Main Tasks

The responsibilities of the Secretary:

• Provide administrative support to the running of the Executive Committee.
• Act as Secretary for the relevant Scout Council.
• Work with the Chair of the Executive Committee to set meeting agendas and arrange meeting logistics for the Executive Committee.
• Taking accurate and accessible minutes of Executive Committee meetings.
• Distributing agendas, minutes and supporting documents for Executive Committee meetings.
• Maintaining accurate records for the administration of the Group, District or County/Area/Region; including meeting minutes, census details, ownership of property and equipment, insurance and financial information.
• Ensuring the safety and security of records maintained by the Executive Committee, complying with appropriate legal requirements.
• Communicating with the Executive Committee and relevant Scout Council.
• Support the completion of the Annual Census return.
• Preparing the appropriate administration for the Annual General Meeting, including collating the Annual Report and Accounts for the Annual General Meeting.

General Executive Committee Responsibilities:

• To be a full and active participant in Executive Committee meetings and activities.
• To uphold the responsibilities of an Executive Committee as outlined in The Scout Association’s Policy Organisation and Rules.
• Willingness and eligibility to act as a Charity Trustee for the Group, District or County/Area/Region.*
• Contribute to the strategic aims and future development of the Group, District or County/Area/Region

Skills for a Secretary:

• Strong organisational skills
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Able to think creatively and solve problems
• Good IT skills
• Ability to summarise information for different audiences
• Willing to speak one’s mind and listen to the views of others.
• Able to maintain independent and objective judgement

Note: any other tasks are to be agreed with the Line Manager.

Do you have a little extra time to spare? Are you enthusiastic about working with young people? Interested in supporting your community?

We often need an extra pair of hands when meeting away from Stockbridge Primary School, attending an event or going away on a camp.

Does your young person attend Beavers? Are you interested in volunteering once in awhile?

We often need an extra help, particularly when meeting away from Stockbridge Primary School, attending an event or going away on a camp.

All adult volunteers will need to complete a Personal Enquiry including a Disclosire Check (PVG).

Our Beaver Leader and Assistant Beaver Leaders work together to run the Section and to plan and deliver a safe, balanced, exciting, and stimulating programme of activities for our young people (aged between 6 and 8 years old).

All Section and Assistant Section Leaders must successfully complete the appointment process, including acceptable personal enquiries and disclosure check. During the 5 months of Provisional Appointment the relevant Getting Started modules must be completed and a Wood Badge must be completed within three years of Full Appointment, as well as ongoing safeguarding and safety training.

We ask that you make a commitment to attend the relevant weekly Section meetings.  

Our Cub Leader and Assistant Cub Leaders work together to run the Section and to plan and deliver a safe, balanced, exciting, and stimulating programme of activities for our young people (aged between 8 and 10 ½ years old).

All Section and Assistant Section Leaders must successfully complete the appointment process, including acceptable personal enquiries and disclosure check. During the 5 months of Provisional Appointment the relevant Getting Started modules must be completed and a Wood Badge must be completed within three years of Full Appointment, as well as ongoing safeguarding and safety training.

We ask that you make a commitment to attend the relevant weekly Section meetings.