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Adult roles in training

There are a number of adult roles in training, both on a county level and more locally.

Below are sample role descriptions for roles in Adult Training to be used to help as part of the six steps of recruitment and to help adults new to a role understand what they will be expected to do.

Line Manager: Training Support Manager (England)

Support Manager: Regional Commissioner

Role Outline: To provide specialist advice and support in relation to adult training and in particular act as mentor to County Training Managers.

Functional Relationships:

  • Regional Commissioners, County Commissioners, County Training Managers
  • Adult Support Core Team
  • Training Support Manager (England)
  • Other Regional Training Managers
  • Other volunteers within the headquarters’ structure
  • Professional staff within the Scouting Operations Directorate

Main Tasks

For new County Training Managers:

  • Support and deliver the training management element of County Training Manager induction in partnership with the County Commissioner. This will include reviewing current provision in the County, the creation of a development plan and support to implement this plan for the first 12 months.
  • Support the allocation of an appropriate training adviser for new County Training Managers in partnership with the County Commissioner and the new County Training Manager.
  • Delivery of training manager specific modules (33 and 34).

For existing County Training Managers:

  • Maintain regular contact with CTMs assisting to identify issues, offering support and providing advice and solutions. Make sure training provision in county is meeting the needs of learners participating in the scheme and is aligned to County and Region strategic plans.
  • Support the quality assurance of county training provision on request.
  • Encourage networking and collaboration to support the adult training scheme within the Region and across Region borders as appropriate. Including actively contributing to, and if requested also chairing, Regional County Training Manager Meetings.

Regional Commissioner:

  • Maintain regular contact with Regional Commissioner to provide training advice and support, and an overview/updates of the training provision in the Region including identifying and ensuring training priorities meet the needs of the Region’s strategic plan.

County Commissioners:

  • Maintain regular contact with County Commissioners in the Region to provide training advice and support, and an overview/updates of the training provision in the County including identifying and ensuring training priorities meet the needs of the County’s strategic plan.
  • If requested assist with recruitment for a new County Training Manager.

National:

  • Attend 6 monthly National Adult Training Meeting (exact format to be agreed).
  • Participate in monthly conference calls.
  • Keep up to date with national training developments, promoting proposed changes and providing feedback as appropriate to Adult Support Core Team and project teams.
  • Network and collaborate with other Regional and Country Training Managers to share best practice, encourage cross border training initiatives and promotion of the adult training scheme.
  • Act as Region ‘Champion’ for national training initiatives i.e. manager training, updated modules, etc.
  • Represent the views and opinions of The Scout Association – as may be appropriate.

FS330066

Outline: Responsible for the administration of all aspects of training/learning process for adults the County, maintaining records of Training Advisers and adults undertaking training

Responsible to: County/Area Training Manager

Main Contacts: County/Area Training Managers, Local Training Managers, Training Advisers, District Commissioners, County/Area Commissioner, Appointment sub-Committee Secretaries, District and County/Area Secretaries, Local Training Administrators and County/Area training team.

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

Training Requirements: Must complete Module 1 within five months of full appointment, and Module 30 within three years of full appointment.

Main Tasks

  • Maintain records of Training Advisers including their training/learning needs.
  • Provide records and information as required by the Local and County/Area Training Managers.
  • In co-operation with Local Training Administrators, maintain records of progress on all adults undertaking training and learning.
  • Maintain financial records associated with the costs incurred/authorised by the County/Area and Local Training Manager.
  • Act as Course Registrar for all County/Area-run training sessions.
  • Assist the County/Area Training Manager in undertaking regular communication with the team.
  • Work with Local Training Managers and Administrators with the aim of maintaining consistency and accuracy of reporting.

Skills for a County/Area Training Administrator

  • Computer literate
  • Database and spreadsheet management.
  • Access to email and the Internet

FS330068

Outline: Responsible for the administration of all aspects of training/learning process for adults in their District, maintaining records if Training Advisers and adults undertaking training

Responsible to: County/ Area Training Manager

Main Contacts: County/ Area Training Managers, Local Training Managers, Training Advisers, District Commissioners, County/Area Commissioners, County/Area Training Team, Appointment sub-committee Secretaries, District Secretaries, County/Area Training Administrator, Volunteering Office at HQ

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

Training Requirements: Must complete Module 1 within five months of full appointment, and Module 30 within three years of full appointment.

Main Tasks

  • Maintain records of Training Advisers including their training/learning needs.
  • Provide records and information as required by the Local Training Manager and County/Area Training Managers.
  • Maintain records of progress on all adults undertaking training/learning in their area of responsibility, passing on relevant information to the County/Area Training Administrator.
  • Maintain financial records associated with the costs incurred/authorised by the Local or County/ Area Training Manager.
  • Act as Course Registrar for all locally running training sessions.
  • Assist the Local or County/ Area Training Manager in undertaking regular communication with the team.
  • Work with County/ Area Training Administrators and other District Training Administrators with the aim of maintaining consistency and accuracy of reporting.

Skills for a Local Training Administrator

  • Computer literate
  • Database and spreadsheet management.
  • Access to email and the Internet

FS330067

Outline: Responsible for the management of all aspects of the training / learning process for adults within the County (including appropriate training, support structures and personnel to achieve this), together with the recommendation of the award of Wood Badges.

Responsible to: County Commissioner.

Responsible for: Those involved in the management, delivery and administration of training including Deputy County Training Managers, Local Training Managers, Training Administrators, Training Advisers
and Trainers.

Main contacts: District Commissioners, the Adult Support office at Gilwell Park, Specialist Adviser (Adult Training), other County Training Managers in the Region, Deputy County Training Managers, Local Training Managers, County Training Administrators, Local Training Administrators, Training Advisers, Safeguarding Awareness Coordinator, Wales only: Assistant Chief Commissioner(Adult Training)

Appointment requirements: Must successfully complete the appointment process (including acceptable personal enquiries and acceptance of The Scout Association's policies). During the five months of Provisional Appointment the relevant Getting Started modules must be completed. A Wood Badge including the role specific modules 33 and 34 must be completed within three years of Full Appointment, and ongoing safeguarding and safety training.

Main tasks:

  • Work with the County Commissioner and District Commissioners, to determine, review, and maintain the appropriate vision and structure for management and support of learning opportunities within the County.
  • Implement the county training strategy in line with the principles of The Scout Association’s Adult Training Scheme.
  • Plan and ensure the delivery of a high quality learning provision in the County so that all adults in Scouting completing a Personal Learning Plan have access to the suitable learning opportunities
    using a variety of methods.
  • Ensure that all those involved in the management, delivery and administration of training have effective line management either directly by the County Training Manager or by others (including
    recruitment, induction, support and appointment reviews).
  • Ensure that robust systems are in place to liaise with District / County Appointments sub-committees to receive notification of new appointments and ensure that these individuals are assigned a Training Adviser.
  • Ensure that people involved in the learning provision are suitably qualified and effective.
  • Ensure that administration relevant to learning / training is completed efficiently and effectively.
  • Ensure that the recommendation of Wood Badges is carried out in a timely and efficient manner.
  • Work with other County Training Managers in the Region to share ideas and support the development of the training provision in the County.
  • Any other specific tasks agreed with the County Commissioner.

Some of the tasks for which the County Training Manager is responsible may be delegated to others such as Deputy County Training Managers or Local Training Managers.

Person specification

Knowledge and experience

Essential:

  • Ability to manage adults effectively
  • Understanding of the learning process specifically as it applies in a voluntary context.

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 training team 
  • Provide strategic direction for the training team 
  • Motivate adults volunteering in the training team 
  • 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 
  • 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 
  • Commitment to the principles of The Scout Association’s Adult Training Scheme.

Detailed description of the role

The role of County Training Manager is based around six key areas of leadership and management.

1. Providing direction – as an effective County Training Manager you will be required to:

  • Promote a co-operative culture of working in the training team – leading by example.
  • Create a vision for the future development of the training provision.
  • Develop a plan for the training provision and work with others to implement and review it.
  • Provide leadership, inspiration and motivation for all members of the training team.
  • Ensure that everyone in the training team 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 County Training Manager you will be required to:

  • Develop good working relationships based on trust and Scout values with the adults in the training provision and with others in Scouting including key line managers to ensure that training is completed within the prescribed timescales.
  • Manage succession planning and identify the roles that you need to make the training provision work effectively and recruit suitable people into those roles.
  • Allocate tasks to people in the training team and monitor the progress of those tasks.
  • Support adults in the training team 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 training team and support the development of the team as a whole.
  • Appropriately acknowledge good work by individuals.
  • Address conflict as it occurs within the training team and reduce the likelihood of it happening through good communication and other methods.
  • Run effective team meetings in the training team and participate fully in County meetings.
  • Ensure that adults in the training team perform to agreed standards and if serious problems occur, the correct procedures are followed in consultation with the County Commissioner
  • Carry out effective reviews and re-assign or retire people if necessary.
  • Build and maintain collaborative relationships with other relevant organisations in the County’s local area.

3. Achieving results – as an effective County Training Manager you will be required to:

  • Satisfactorily complete projects in the training provision for which you are responsible.
  • Ensure that all the initiatives in the training provision are managed appropriately.
  • Ensure that there are suitable processes in place to ensure that training is effectively delivered to adult volunteers.
  • Ensure that the training provision is promoted in Scouting locally.
  • Build up an understanding of the adult volunteers in your local area and ensure that the training provision is focussed on their needs and expectations.
  • Monitor and review the progress that training team members are making against their targets
  • Have a robust training development plan in place and regularly review progress.
  • Satisfactorily resolve problems and issues raised by adult volunteers using the training provision.
  • Continually improve the performance of all elements of the training provision within the County.

4. Enabling change – as an effective County Training Manager you will be required to:

  • Support and encourage members of the training team and others within the County to think of new and creative ways to improve the training provision.
  • Be enthusiastic about new ideas, give constructive feedback on those ideas and encourage and support further work on them.
  • Communicate your vision for the future of the training team and lead people through changes that this vision requires.
  • Develop effective plans to implement change and then carry them out, working together with relevant members of the training team and others in the County.
  • Recognise the contribution of others towards change and improvement.

5. Using resources – as an effective County Training Manager you will be required to:

  • Ensure that appropriate financial systems are in place and followed by members of the training team.
  • Ensure that the training provision has sufficient funding including the identification of other income sources such as grants.
  • Ensure that all training events and activities comply with The Scout Association’s safety policy.
  • Ensure that the County has sufficient physical resources to support the training provision.
  • Minimise the negative impact and maximise the positive impact that the training provision has on the environment.
  • Make decisions about all matters within the training provision based on the best available information.
  • Ensure that key knowledge within the training provision is properly managed and used to improve the operation of training.
  • Provide resources, support and encouragement for the training team to work in many ways including virtual team working.

6. Managing your time and personal skills – as an effective County Training Manager you will be required to:

  • Agree realistic goals and targets with your County Commissioner for the development of the training provision so that it work towards the County and The Scout Association’s strategic objectives.
  • Consider the future requirements of your role then identify, plan and address areas for personal development.
  • Ask for and act on feedback about how you carry out your role.
  • Develop and maintain personal contacts with people both inside and outside of Scouting who may be able to help you to achieve your plans for the County training provision.

FS330069

Outline: To assist the County Training Manager in managing the Training and Learning process in a given area of responsibility

Responsible for: Training Advisers (TA), Local Training Administrators (LTA)

Responsible to: County Training Manager

Main Contacts: Training Advisers, Local Training Administrators, County Training Manager, County Training Administrator, Trainers, District Commissioners, Adult Support Office at HQ

Appointment requirements: Must successfully complete the appointment process (including acceptable personal enquiries and acceptance of The Scout Association's policies). During the five months of Provisional Appointment the relevant Getting Started modules must be completed. A Wood Badge must be completed within three years of Full Appointment, and ongoing safeguarding and safety training.

Main Tasks

  • Act as line manager for Local Training Administrators (recruit, induct, support and carry out appointment reviews).
  • Act as line manager for Training Advisers.
  • Plan and ensure the delivery of the learning provision in their area of responsibility so that all adults in Scouting completing a personal learning plan have access to suitable learning opportunities using a
    variety of methods.
  • Ensure that people involved in the learning provision are suitably qualified (have attained or are working towards the relevant role specific Modules).
  • Make Wood Badge recommendation within their responsibility.
  • Provide training opportunities locally.
  • Any other task as agreed with the County Training Manager.

FS330070

Outline: Responsible for supporting and assessing learners through their training up to the award of the Wood Badge.

Responsible to: County/Area Training Manager or Local Training Manager (depending on County/Area structure)

Main Contacts: County/Area Training Manager, Local Training Manager, adults undertaking training, the line managers of adults undertaking training (e.g. Group Scout Leaders, District Commissioners County/Area Commissioners, Chief Commissioner), other Training Advisers, those validating modules and Training Administrators.

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

Training Requirements: Must complete Module 1 within five months of full appointment, and Module 25 within three years of full appointment. 

Main Tasks

  • Brief new participants about the Adult Training Scheme.
  • Create a Personal Learning Plan with each learner.
  • Validate modules for learners as appropriate (some Modules may be validated by other people).
  • Meet regularly with each learner to support and encourage the individual; review progress of the Personal Learning Plan; and plan actions to work toward the completion of the Personal Learning Plan.
  • Review and validate completed Personal Learning Plans and inform the County Training Manager or Local Training Manager so that the Wood Badge may be recommended to Headquarters.
  • Maintain records and inform the County Training Manager, Local Training Manager or others as agreed locally of the learners progress.
  • Meet with other Training Advisers and the County Training Manager or Local Training Manager to discuss progress; consider items of concern and issues; keep informed of the local training opportunities; and make plans for developing the support offered to individuals by Training Advisers.

Outline: Responsible for supporting and assessing learners in Manager and Supporter roles through their leadership and management training up to the award of the Wood Badge.

Responsible to: County/Area Training Manager or Local Training Manager (depending on County/Area structure), Assistant Region Commissioner (Adult Training) in Scotland

Main Contacts: County/Area Training Manager, Local Training Manager, Assistant Region Commissioner (Adult Training) and Assistant District Commissioner (Adult Training) in Scotland, Managers undertaking training, the line managers of adults undertaking training (e.g. District
Commissioners County/Area Commissioners, Chief Commissioner), other Training Advisers, those validating modules and Training Administrators.

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

Training Requirements: Must complete Module 1: Essential Information within five months of full appointment, and Module 25: Assessing Learning within one year of full appointment.

Main Tasks

  • Brief new learners about the Leadership and Management Training
  • Create a Personal Learning Plan with each learner
  • Validate training for each learner as appropriate
  • Meet regularly with each learner to support and encourage the individual; review progress of the Personal Learning Plan; and plan actions to work toward the completion of the Personal Learning Plan
  • Maintain records of the learner’s progress and inform the County/Area Training Manager or Assistant Regional Commissioner (Adult Training) so that the Wood Badge may be recommended on Compass
  • Meet with other Training Advisers and the County/Area Training Manager or Local Training Manager or Assistant Regional Commissioner (Adult Training) to discuss progress; consider items of concern and issues
  • Other tasks as agreed with the Line Manager

Person Specification

  • Knowledge and Experience
  • Ability to provide advice and support to other adults
  • Understanding of the learning and validation process
  • Understanding of different learning styles and how to meet learner’s individual needs
  • Understanding of the challenges of managing volunteers
  • Experience as a manager in The Scout Association or externally

Skills

  • Able to provide constructive feedback
  • Motivate participants to apply their learning in their Scouting role
  • Manage and monitor own tasks and time

Personal Qualities

  • Flexible approach
  • Self-motivated
  • Enthusiastic about learning
  • Acceptance of the Fundamentals of the Scout Movement
  • Commitment to the principles of The Scout Association’s Adult Training Scheme.