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The handling of concerns relating to roles or the volunteer joining journey

The process for managing potential unsatisfactory criminal record checks (DBSs), or internal checks, rests with the UK Headquarters Safeguarding Team. The UK Headquarters  Safeguarding Team may need to request local support as part of  reaching their determination.

If the two people undertaking the welcome conversation have concerns and are unable to agree, then the District Lead Volunteer for Group or District roles, or County Lead Volunteer for County roles, must consult with the two people undertaking the welcome conversation and make a final decision. If the Lead Volunteer was part of the welcome conversation, the Lead Volunteer’s line manager must take on this responsibility.

Where there are safeguarding concerns raised from any of the steps in volunteer joining journey process or the process for people joining a new team, or changing role within a 

Team, these must be reported to the UK Headquarters Safeguarding Team for advice. 

Where there are any other concerns raised from any of the steps in either of these processes, these must be reviewed by the relevant Lead Volunteer and their Volunteer Safeguarding Lead. The Lead Volunteer must make a final decision.

 If a Volunteer Safeguarding Lead has not been appointed, the Lead Volunteer must work together with another Lead Volunteer or Volunteer Safeguarding Lead at the same level or higher. 

If the decision is not to appoint, the Lead Volunteer must ensure that the membership system is updated by ending the role as unsatisfactory. The person may appeal via the process to appeal a non-appointment or the ending of a Group, District or County role route (as detailed in POR, chapter 16, rule 16.8.5.). 

The Lead Volunteer must ensure that the applicant is advised of the non-appointment, and that any appeal must follow the process to appeal a non-appointment or the ending of a Group, District or County role.

UK Headquarters may exceptionally exclude volunteers deemed unsuitable to participate in the Scouts.