First reported 7 Feb 2020•Latest report 22 Feb 2024
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes The Scouts Association's processes for selecting, training, assessing, verifying and maintaining the competence and qualifications of leaders responsible for young people's health, safety or safeguarding.
Not included
Excludes the broader central oversight of local Scout groups where leader competence assurance is not the specific deficient control.
Excludes generic staff or volunteer training deficiencies outside Scout leadership and its health-and-safety or safeguarding responsibilities.
Excludes failures in operational activity planning, equipment use or supervision where leader competence assurance is not the shared unsafe condition.
Excludes isolated poor performance by a leader where no deficiency in the Scout leader competence-assurance process is identified.
Reports
2
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
3
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2020–2024
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
8
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
The Scout Association2
Children's Commissioner for Wales1
Department for Education1
Health and Safety Executive1
Office of the Children's Commissioner1
The Charity Commission1
Unity Insurance Services1
Welsh Government1
Registered charity2
Charity regulator1
Company1
Devolved government1
Ministerial department1
Statutory commissioner1
Workplace safety regulator1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
North Wales (East and Central)
Concerns raised2
Failure to ensure permit-holder competence and permit-scope clarity
Appointment of leaders without suitable competence or qualifications
This report raised 15 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.7
Action
Introduce the Adult Membership System to digitise and audit Nights Away applications, permits, approvals and compliance information.
Stated by The Scout AssociationStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 26 February 2024.
Action
Commission enhanced supplementary safety training and validation for all volunteers, prioritising nights-away and adventurous-activity leaders.
Stated by The Scout AssociationStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 February 2024.
Action
Strengthen Nights Away Notification requirements by requiring risk assessments and complete planning documentation.
Stated by The Scout AssociationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 26 February 2024.
Action
Assure that permits are appropriately issued under POR and spot-check compliance through the Audit and Assurance team.
Stated by The Scout AssociationStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 26 February 2024.
Action
Commission an independent review of the permitting scheme and implement the required actions.
Stated by The Scout AssociationStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 26 February 2024.
Action
Introduce the Learner Management System with role-specific training, competency validation and training-compliance auditing.
Stated by The Scout AssociationStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 26 February 2024.
Action
Update safeguarding suspension systems to prevent suspended volunteers being appointed to other roles.
Stated by The Scout AssociationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 26 February 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
The Department cannot comment on the Scout Association’s internal structure, workings, or implementation of internal policies and procedures.
Stated by Department for EducationOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
The Scout Association and the Charity Commission are expected to address matters concerning internal operations and charity trustees’ legal duties, respectively.
Stated by Department for EducationRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
North Wales (East and Central)
Concerns raised1
Failure to assess leaders' health and safety competencies
This report raised 13 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Launch and mandate enhanced online safety training, extend it to additional roles, assess learning, and require three-yearly refreshers.
Stated by The Scout AssociationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 26 February 2020.
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Includes The Scouts Association's processes for selecting, training, assessing, verifying and maintaining the competence and qualifications of leaders responsible for young people's health, safety or safeguarding.
