The facts about manager and supporter training
This training is for:
Group Scout Leaders, Assistant Group Scout Leaders, District Commissioners, Deputy District Commissioners, District Youth Commissioners, County Commissioner, Deputy County Commissioners, County Youth Commissioner, District Scouters, County Scouters, Scout Active Support Managers, County Training Managers, Local Training Managers (depending on role description), District Explorer Scout Commissioners, District Scout Network Commissioners, Assistant District Commissioners, Assistant County Commissioners
All adults in scouting have a requirement and an opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge through the Scout Association's national adult training scheme.
The scheme is designed to support you, so the training provided is relevant and tailored to what you do in scouting.
It also recognises there may be learning and skills that you have gained through work and life experiences, and the scheme is designed to complement these with further opportunities to enhance your skills.
The training and development opportunities available range from skills-based training such as first aid, risk assessment, safeguarding and public relations through to experience in leadership, management, communication, organisation, safeguarding, executive training and experience of working with young people.
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Learners are expected to complete their wood badge training within 3 years, from the date of full appointment.
How it works
The training scheme is made up of a series of modules, independent learning units and skills courses that cover each of the different development areas. It is a UK-wide scheme for scouting, so the training you complete in one place will be recognised in another. The scheme manger and support specific areas of the scheme is structured around the six core areas of leadership and management in scouting plus a module on safety for managers and supporters. In total the training framework is made up of 4 parts...
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and consists of:
Part 1 - Getting Started Training
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Module 1: Essential Information
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Module 2: Personal Learning Plan
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Safety
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Safeguarding
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The General Data Protection Regulation Awareness
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Module 3: Tools for the role (section leaders)
And, if you also sit on a executive committee (at any level) you also need to complete:
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Introduction to being a trustee
Part 2 - Core training for all appointments
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Module 05: Fundamentals of scouting
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Module 07: Scouting for all
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Module 10: First aid
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Module 11: Administration
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Module 12A: Delivering a quality programme
Part 3A - Independent learning
The Independent learning units cover the knowledge you need to understand the key topics of leadership and management and related scouting processes. The learning is accessed via a variety of methods, including videos, e-learning and workbooks.
The following independent learning units are available as part manager and support training:
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Building effective teams
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Dealing with difficult situations
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Enabling change
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Keeping, developing and managing volunteers
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Planning for growth
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Leading local scouting
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Safeguarding for managers and supporters
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Managing time and personal skills
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Finding, appointing and welcoming volunteers
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Project management
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Getting the word out
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Supporting the adult training scheme
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Financial and physical resources
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Decision making
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Safety for managers and supporters
It is recommended that the learning relevant to your role is completed prior to attending the skills courses.
Part 3B - Skills courses
This consists of three courses:
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Skills of management
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Meeting the challenges
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Achieving growth
These course provide you with the opportunity to discuss and demonstrate different skills relating to leadership and management.
Part 3C - Additional modules
If you hold an ADC role supporting a section you are require to complete the following additional modules:
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Module 17: Running safe activities
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Module 19: International scouting
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Module 12B: Programme planning
If you hold a role supporting the adult training scheme you are required to complete additional modules to support you in your role. These could include:
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Module 25: Assessing Learning
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Module 30: Supporting Local Learning
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Module 31: Planning a Learning Experience
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Module 32: Delivering a Learning Experience
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Module 33: Planning a Learning Provision
Prior learning, knowledge and experience are also recognised as forms of learning and are valued within the Adult Training Scheme. This means that learning may not need to be completed for every aspect of training. This is especially so if you can clearly show that you are able to meet the module objectives by demonstrating your skills in your scouting role through the validation process.
Validating your training
Validation is the process of finding out if you are able to put the learning covered by a module into practice in your role in scouting. All modules and training for your role require validating regardless of whether you have gained the skills from previous experience or by planned learning.
Each module or element of leadership of management in scouting has fixed requirements. Validation methods are simple and effective and should always be something that you do as part of your normal role. The focus should be on you ‘doing something’ and this will often be backed up by discussion. Validation should not be seen as an exam – it is a positive experience in which you will receive supportive feedback.
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The Leadership and Management Training is validated against six core skill areas and a safety module. These are:
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Working with People
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Managing Time and Personal Skills
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Providing Direction
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Using Resources
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Enabling Change
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Achieving Results
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Safety for Managers and Supporters
The specific validation criteria can be found in the adult's personal file for managers and supporters.
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Once all 4 parts have been complete a Wood Badge will be awarded.
Ongoing learning
Ongoing learning, or ongoing training, is essentially any training, learning or development your complete that your subsequently use in your scouting role. It can take place both inside and outside scouting, but must ultimately benefit the young people, and the other adults your work with in scouting.
Requirements
Following the completion of your Wood Badge, you are required to undertake some ongoing learning in order to maintain your appointment as current. Over the calculated period of the appointment, you must complete an average of five hours ongoing learning each year.
Ongoing learning can come from a variety of sources and could be in the form of:
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additional modules from the adult training scheme, for example a attending Module 28 (presenting skills)
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training within The Scout Association but outside of the adult training scheme, for example, an activity assessor course or an ongoing learning module
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training completed outside of scouting, for example evening classes that provide you with new talents that can be of use to you in your scouting role, an IT class for example
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an external qualification in a practical skill such as archery, for example.
On occasion, usually due to major policy or legal changes, Headquarters may specify particular compulsory ongoing learning topics for a fixed period. On such occasions Headquarters will make training material and support documentation available.
Mandatory Ongoing Learning
(to be completed 3 year after the original topic was completed as part of your Wood Badge training)
Although the on-going learning hours you are required to complete each year can be any number of things, there are also some specific on-going learning requirements which adults who hold an appointment for which an appointment review is required must complete.
There is currently two specific pieces of mandatory on-going learning:
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Safeguarding
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Safety
First aid training
As a manager or supporter you must hold a current first aid qualification at the time of gaining your Wood Badge and at the time of your appointment renewal. However, they are encouraged to keep their qualification up to date at all times.
The minimum standard for this qualification is First Response, but higher levels of qualification are needed if delivering first aid training or leading certain kinds of adventurous activities. This provision will ensure a minimum standard of first aid knowledge and training across the Movement.
More information on First Response, the Refresher, requirements and equivalents can be found on our first aid and first response pages.