Introduction
Introduction
About this Guide
The aim of the Adult’s Personal File is to introduce you to The Scouts’ Adult Training Scheme and to provide you with some tools and information to help you with your training. This guide only refers to the compulsory training that is relevant to those taking on appointments as Managers or Supporters. A full list of all of the modules within the Adult Training Scheme can be found in the Module Matrix.
How does the scheme work?
To ensure that young people experience good quality Scouting, The Scouts requires each adult in Scouting to demonstrate a range of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are relevant to your Scouting role.
The range of skills The Scouts expects of people in different roles is described in a number of modules, which together make up the Adult Training Scheme. Find out more about the principles of The Scouts’ Adult Training Scheme.
Learning and validation
There are two key elements to the Adult Training Scheme:
- Learning - This is when you have the opportunity to gain or improve the knowledge and skills which you need for your role.
- Validation - This is when your Training Adviser will check that you can apply what you have learnt to your role. Validation is essential for every module
Training Advisers and ongoing support
Different Districts and Counties operate in different ways, but either before you begin your Getting Started training or soon after you begin, you will meet with a Training Adviser who will explain the scheme fully.
Training Advisers for Managers and Supporters, with their personal management experience, will be able to help support you through your training. They will help you identify what training you need to complete, and then decide with you whether you need to complete any learning. From then on, they will review your progress and ensure that you can put the learning from each module into practice.
The Stages of Training for Managers and Supporters
The training for Manager and Supporter roles comprises three stages:
1. Getting Started
2. The Wood Badge – this is broken down into:
- Training for All Appointments – six training modules delivered through a variety of
learning methods - Leadership and Management Training – delivered through independent learning
units and skills courses
3. Ongoing Learning
Getting Started
Getting Started is made up of six modules which must be completed before the adult can be fully appointed. There is a seventh module for trustees.
Getting Started needs to be completed within five months of the role start date, as recorded on Compass. These modules are:
- Personal Learning Plan (02)
- Essential Information (01)
- Safety
- Safeguarding
- Tools for the Role (Section Leaders) (03) Tools for the Role (Managers and Supporters) (04)
- General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
- Trustee Introduction (for trustees)
These modules may be completed in any order. In order to ensure that adults can complete Getting Started within the required timescale (five months) the modules are available as online learning.
Once a learner has completed Getting Started they may wear the Gilwell woggle. Non-uniformed adults may wear the Getting Started pin. Both are available to purchase from Scout Stores.
If an adult’s provisional appointment expires and they have not completed Getting Started, then the adult’s line manager will be informed (through a locally defined route). The line manager will then review the situation with the learner to find out why they have not completed this stage. Mutually agreed restrictions must be put in place by Commissioners to support learners to complete their training. Find out more about mutually agreed restrictions.
This module consists of creating a plan to meet the training requirements of your role, taking your existing knowledge and skills into account.
Although the parts of Getting Started can be completed in any order, it's recommended that you complete the Personal Learning Plan as the first step, particularly if you are changing roles. This will mean that you will have a clear idea of the process from the outset, and you will be able to get advice and guidance from a Training Adviser for Managers and Supporters at an early stage on how to go about completing your training.
This module provides the basic information that all adults in Scouting need to know. It covers the movement’s history, the Fundamentals of Scouting, key policies, the structure of The Scouts and support available to adults in Scouting.
It's important that the learner receives this training as early as possible. The module has been redesigned as online independent learning which includes built-in assessment and the generation of a certificate that can be used for validation. Find out more about online learning.
This module provides the information that all adults in Scouting need to know to keep young people and adults safe. It covers the Safety Policy, how to assess and manage risk, role of leader in charge, emergency, incident and near miss procedures and how to access safety resources and guidance for the safe management of activities.
It's important that the learner receives this training as early as possible. The module has been redesigned as online independent learning which includes built-in assessment and the generation of a certificate that can be used for validation to ensure that learners can access the module as easily as possible.
This training needs to be renewed every three years.
This module provides the information that all adults in Scouting need to know to keep young people and adults safe. It covers the Safeguarding Policy, the Young People First Safeguarding Card Code of Conduct (Yellow Card), how to recognise abuse, concerns and how to make Scouts safe.
It's important that the learner receives this training as early as possible. The module has been redesigned as online independent learning which includes built-in assessment and the generation of a certificate that can be used for validation.
This training needs to be renewed every three years.
This module provides Trustees with information on their legal responsibilities and current regulations.
It covers the trusteeship in Scouts, key policies and the roles and responsibilities of being a trustee in Scouts.
This module is only required of those who are Trustees. This includes those who are ex-offico trustees – Group Scout Leaders, District and County Commissioners for example.
It is also required by Section Leaders who opt into a Trustee role.
It is important that the learner receives this training as early as possible. The module has been designed as online independent learning which includes built-in assessment and the generation of a certificate that can be used for validation.
This contains some basic information about the role, roles and responsibilities of those managed and/or supported by the learners. It also covers areas of leadership and management, managing time and personal skills.
This covers the basic information that individual’s need to know in relation to the General Data Protection Regulations, what this means for their role and for Scouting and how to effectively align with it. Topics covered:
- Personal Data
- Individuals' rights
- Consent
- Accountability & Governance
The Wood Badge
The Wood Badge is the internationally recognised Scouting training insignia awarded to adults by Headquarters on completion of the training required for your role. The Wood Badge consists of two wooden beads threaded onto a leather thong which is worn with Scout uniform.
You are required to complete your Wood Badge within three years from your role start date as recorded on Compass. At the end of this process, for most roles, you will be awarded a Wood Badge to mark your achievement.
Ongoing learning
Every adult who holds an appointment for which a Wood Badge is required has to do a minimum of five hours ongoing learning each year, calculated over the length of the appointment. For example, if you go on a week-long residential course this could be counted as your ongoing learning for the whole period of the appointment. This is to ensure you continue to acquire new skills and keep up to date with new trends and policies.
You will be required to agree what ongoing learning you are going to do in the first year after achieving your Wood Badge with your Training Adviser before you can be awarded your Wood Badge. It then becomes your line manager’s responsibility to monitor and agree your ongoing learning.
Ongoing learning can be any number of things. In essence any training, learning or development that you complete and can then use in your Scouting role is appropriate to count as ongoing learning. For example:
- The maintenance of a current adult first aid qualification/first response certificate
- A District Commissioner attending a County recruitment workshop
- Any of the supplementary modules, for example Facilitating (28) or Presenting (29) if they are not part of the minimum training requirements for your role.
Your Training Adviser will be able to give you more support and advice on courses, qualifications and other Scouting activities that may count as ongoing learning
Mandatory ongoing learning
Although the ongoing learning hours you are required to complete each year can be any number of things, there are also some specific ongoing learning requirements which all Managers and Supporters must complete.
Any member who holds an appointment for which Safety and Safeguarding training is completed as part of Getting Started is required to keep it up to date. This training must be renewed every three years.
Members are required to complete the approved Scouting specific safeguarding training at least every three years. This module provides the information that all adults in Scouting need to know to keep young people and adults safe. It covers the Safeguarding Policy, the Young People First Safeguarding Card Code of Conduct (Yellow Card), how to recognise abuse, concerns and how to make Scouts safe.
Members are required to complete Scouting specific safety training at least every three years. This module provides the information that all adults in Scouting need to know to keep young people and adults safe. It covers the Safety Policy, how to assess and manage risk, role of leader in charge, emergency, incident and near miss procedures and how to access safety resources and guidance for the safe management of activities.
All adults in Scouting holding a Manager or Supporter appointment are also required to hold a current First Aid certificate. A current First Aid qualification should be maintained at all times and the First Aid certificate must be valid at the issue of the Wood Badge and for appointment renewal. This should be monitored by their line manager at the point of appointment review, at least every three years.
Adult Personal File for Managers and Supporters
Download the file