Lone working within Scouting

FS120341 (Published May 2025, replacing November 2024)

Introduction 

There are many incidences where adult volunteers or even young people may be considered to be lone working as part of their scouting activities (Where a member is operating under Policy, Organisation and Rules and seen to represent The Scout Association).

Lone working is considered higher risk as it is possible that there will be no verbal or visual contact with team members, which may result in a lack of immediate assistance during an emergency. This can be defined in two ways:

• Where adult volunteers or young people are undertaking Scouting activities by themselves. This doesn’t mean that they are physically alone, it means they are in a separate location to the rest of their regular Scout volunteer team. This is still considered lone working even if it is only a small amount of their day.
  
  
• Where adult volunteers or young people are undertaking Scouting activities alone with the public or members unfamiliar to them. Such individuals may be exposed to risk because there is no-one familiar to assist them.

A scouting activity would be where a member is operating under Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR) and would be seen to be representing The Scout Association.

Some examples of lone working are:

Physically alone:

• Research and planning trips, particularly for nights away and outings
  
  
• Managing premises and scout premises e.g. maintenance, external bookings, store and equipment checks
  
  
• Remote supervision of groups and activities
  
  
• Remote supervision of nights away activities when using an Event Passport
  
  
• CPD (Continuing Professional Development) opportunities
  
  
• One off activities whilst camping e.g. shopping, refuelling the minibus
  
  
• Before / after a meeting e.g. tidying and locking up the hut.

Alone with people unfamiliar to themselves:

• Fundraising
  
  
• Community work
  
  
• Mentoring
  
  
• Attending conferences, World and European
  
  
• 121 permit assessments
  
  
• 121’s with learning advisers or learners
  
  
• 121 reviews
  
  
• Visiting activities, events or sites alone

Approval

Prior to every activity the member must ensure that it has been approved by the relevant District /County Lead Volunteer (POR 9.1).  Details of systems which District/County Lead Volunteers can put in place to approve activities. This agreement could be as simple as the programme for the term being agreed in advance, the activity training schedule for the year being approved, or making sure there is always a buddy for the person who locks up after meetings. 

As part of the approval process the relevant Lead Volunteer or their delegate should be making sure:

• A risk assessment is carried out in accordance with Rule 9.1;
  
  
• Any legal requirements for the activity have been complied with;
  
  
• Any requirements of The Scout Association, including Visit Abroad process and Safety, have been complied with;
  
  
• The individual is appropriately trained;
  
  
• All equipment is appropriate for the activity;
  
  
• Suitable first aid materials are available;
  
  
• If appropriate, the weather forecast is obtained and acted upon in terms of selecting the area in which the activity will operate and the participant is suitably equipped to tackle predicted/possible extremes.

InTouch

InTouch is the system used to manage communications at all Scout activities and events. It is flexible to allow those organising events to implement a system best suited to their particular needs or circumstances.

Whenever any activity, event or meeting is run within Scouting it is a requirement that an InTouch system is put in place (POR 9.1). This is also the requirement when undertaking a period of lone working to ensure that everyone involved in lone working knows who to communicate with, and how, so that their peers or line manager are aware that they are OK. It is also important for raising an alarm if they have concerns over someone’s safety or if an emergency occurs.

The procedures put in place are likely to vary for different types of events and activities due to the differing circumstances and needs. Whatever the Scouting event or activity, the InTouch process must be communicated to all and followed- to ensure that everyone understands what will be put in place to manage communication between those at the event and those not.

Examples of lone working InTouch systems

Permit holder delivering a session to an unknown scout group with other leaders.

1. Permit holder to make nominated and trusted person aware (e.g. family member, scouting network, line manager etc) of approximate timings of travel, activity and when they should be expected safety home, with a check in to the nominated person to confirm safe arrival. 
2. Permit holder to give the visiting group volunteer team any relevant medical details and their emergency contact before the activity begins. 
3. Visiting group to hold the emergency details for the permit holder alongside the group details. 

Adult volunteer carrying out maintenance work at the local scout hut.

1. Adult volunteer gives next of kin details when they sign up to be part of the support team. Details to be held centrally. 
2. Adult volunteer arranges the maintenance work and notifies line manager of approximate timings of arrival on site and departure, with a check in to the nominated person to confirm. 
3. Adult volunteer checks in with line manager at confirmed intervals (e.g. every hour). If the line manager does not receive a check in message from the adult volunteer, the nominated person should attempt to make direct contact with the adult volunteer to confirm their safety.
4. If the adult volunteer cannot be contacted, the local scout hut should be attended by the line manager, or other appropriate party trained in first aid, to confirm safety of the adult volunteer. 

Guidance for Lead Volunteers and Team Leaders

There are many controls you could choose to implement if you are managing someone who is undertaking a period of lone working, or if you are planning on lone working yourself. The controls that are put in place will vary depending on the nature of the activity that is being undertaken, but considering the diversity of these situations you may not have explicit lone working plans for all, for example a volunteer needing to do a shop during a week long summer camp could be assumed as part of the event approval and managed within the event leadership team.

There are some common principles and practices that should be considered:

• Assess the risks involved in conjunction with the individual. You should be aware that some tasks may be too difficult or dangerous to be carried out (for example, maintenance working from height or using chainsaws) unaccompanied and they should be willing to adapt or not undertake the activity if necessary. When assessing the risk you should consider:
  • the environment – location, security, access
  • the activity – nature of the task, any special circumstances
  • the individuals concerned - any health conditions, or special circumstances
  • any other special circumstances
  • previous experiences with similar situations or activities (near misses etc), what worked well- what did not work as well
• Ensure that they leave details with you as line manager or another appropriate person of where they plan to go, approximate times of when they are expected to undertake the activity, details of any meetings they have arranged, including the name any people they are meeting. Agree a plan in case circumstances change including who and how they will let people know, and a check in once they are finished. 
• Ensure there is an appropriate means of communication. If taking a mobile phone, check it is fully charged, has sufficient credit (if applicable) and is switched on. Some apps can be useful in aiding safe lone working, when used with the consent of both parties. Remember to consider if relying on a mobile phone is appropriate in low signal areas.
• Ensure they carry emergency contact details in case of illness or accident and ensure their membership profile has their emergency details.
• On most smartphones it is possible to set emergency details and contacts to be viewable on the lock screen in case of emergency- it is useful to note these with I.C.E (In Case of Emergency).
• Think about where they will be going and what they will be doing; consider whether there are particular risks relating to that location or activity (e.g. an unusually isolated location or near a body of water, adverse weather conditions for driving, type of maintenance work). If there are, discuss them before setting off.
• Remind them :
  • That the procedures in place are to support their own safety.
  • To follow the agreed lone working process and discuss any changes that can be made for improvements to safety and efficiency.
  • They should consider locking the premises when they are working or volunteering alone. However they should still make sure they have a safe means of exit, in an emergency such as fire. 
  • To leave immediately or not enter any situation or premises if they feel unsafe.
  • To report any concerns, lone working incidents or near misses to their line manager as soon as possible.
  • They should report any safety practices that need to be improved or risks not otherwise identified.
  • If they are meeting with members of the public, or someone unfamiliar to them then they should arrange the meeting to take place in a public place such as a café, a communal area at a meeting place, a County/District office or activity centre where others will be present.
• The lone working process should be reviewed regularly and ideas for improvement discussed with the team who are using it. Everyone should be comfortable with the process that they are following and always feel safe.