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  Child Safety Policy  

Reputation

 Scouting and Girlguiding has an excellent reputation for providing a safe environment for its members to enjoy activities, whether indoors or outside  
Our Leaders All our adult Leaders follow clear safety guidelines, set out by Scouting and Girlguiding, and undertake an Adult Leadership Qualification. Many of our Leaders undergo additional training in the additional activities we offer.  
Criminal Record Checks All new Leaders and those who have unsupervised access to our members are asked to agree to a check through the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). 

We are also now required to carry out checks on all our Young Leaders once they reach the age of 16.

Both Scouting and Girlguiding, since 1 April 2002,  are now carrying out retrospective checks on all their volunteers.

In addition to criminal-record checks, all volunteers are asked to complete our Warrant Reference form. This involves:

  • Providing two referees who can confirm the volunteer’s suitability to work with specific age groups.
  • Disclosing any criminal convictions involving children and/or young people or involving dishonesty/deception.
  • Signing a declaration that they agree to abide by Our Safe from Harm Policy.

When a volunteer has been with us for three years, he/she is asked to complete a renewal form, which, once again, requests details regarding any criminal convictions.

The Government is currently working on legislation to introduce a Vetting and Barring list, which will contain a list of all individuals who are considered unsuitable to work with children and vulnerable adults.  Once this legislation has been passed, Scouting and Girlguiding UK will make a decision on whether a programme of rechecking should be introduced.

  
Parental and Volunteer CRB checks Any parent or volunteer who helps out with Scouting and Guiding, even on an occasional basis is now required to undergo a CRB check.

We have not taken the decision at Stockton Brook to carry out checks on 'every parent' as yet, there are some units elsewhere in the Country who have taken this step. We are currently monitoring proposed changes by the Government before such a decision is taken.

 
Can Parents ask to see CRB info All information held regarding adults in scout and guiding is held in confidence. We are governed by criteria laid down in the Data Protection Act and the CRB Code of Practice regarding retention and disposal of personal data.
When a new volunteer joins he/she does not have unsupervised access to our members  until all the necessary checks have taken place.  Once the checks are complete, a volunteer is issued with a Membership or Recognised Volunteer card which any volunteer would be more than happy to show you.		  
Scouting All members of the Scouting movement follow the  'Young People First' code of good practice (yellow card)  
Guiding All members of Guiding follow the 'Safe from Harm' code of practice, and are required to carry out training in this policy as part of their Adult Leadership qualification.  

This page was last updated 29 August 2009