Beavers/Scouts

[noname11]

If your children go to Beavers or Scouts - do you know if the staff are police-checked? and if staff have been there for many years, how often do they get checked? I am not so worried about the weekly events; but more concerned about the sleep-overs & camps coming up...

Gosh, they'll be CRB checked, for sure. At least I assume they will be. Why do you think they aren't?

I have no idea - I was given very little information, but not sure how they will take it if I ask? Do you know for sure?

The leaders doing sleepovers have to go through extra training in order to get their Nights Away permit.

I'm saying this from the perspective of having friends who do this kind of thing.

I'm hoping actual MNers who are Scout Leaders will come along to confirm it.

Even the parents helping out have to be CRB checked.
Leaders will be enhanced check, defo.

Right then, you are the parent. You ask.

Why do you doubt the leaders?

At our pack they are all checked, and those checks are updated regularly. Also, any parents who help out, or who go to camp/sleepovers have to be checked.
I presume we follow national guidelines and all others are the same.

My last post was addressed to the OP.

Brownie Leader here. CRB checked for sure and extra training for sleepovers, and even more training for sleepovers longer than one night.

Are you worried about anything in particular??

Staff?! You mean the volunteer leaders? Yes, they are all CRB (now called DBS) checked. They are also trained on safeguarding issues. Read here for their rules & regs ... members.scouts.org.uk/supportresources/search/?cat=299,304

I'm a Brownie leader, on my local Scout committee and I'm a teacher. I've had 7 different CRB/DBS checks in the past 5 years for the various schools and organisations that I'm with.

I am a parent of a cub. I do not take the group or lead a group. I have to be CRB checked before I am allowed to stay overnight at a scout campsite. I have to renew it every 3 years.

HTH

Have now found Scouts' leaflet aimed at parents ... hope that this reassures you OP

OP, your average scout/cub/beaver troop/pack/colony is completely clued up on child protection stuff. I was claiming ignorance at the top of the thread but actually I do know that this is the case. All leaders attending the camp will have CRB clearance. There will be at least one leader with the Scout Association qualification to take the group away.

What are your specific concerns??

Thanks for all the replies, just call me cynical - I used to work in child protection...I have just emailed my local district scouts leader to confirm this. I have no specific concerns, just following my instincts..

All Scout leaders and helpers are DBS checked, as is anyone who works or volunteers with children or vulnerable adults on a frequent or regular basis unsupervised. By law. DBS is the "new" CRB. I went on Cub Camp as a parent helper last month and had to be cleared, despite having 2 existing checks from other organisations.

There is no need to "renew" a DBS check: if a person is arrested for any crime which might present a risk to children or vulnerable adults, the first thing the Police do is to find out if they have ever been DBS/CRB checked and then contact the organisation that did it to inform them that the arrested person should not be allowed to continue in that role pending the outcome of their investigations. Organisations act on that information with astonishing rapidity. I know of a Scouts helper who was arrested for an offence at 11pm, bailed to return home later that night, and received a notice to leave the pack at 6am, hand delivered by bike courier from 30 miles away.

What was the offence, Harriet?
Because it's not unusual for Scout leaders or teachers even to have something on their criminal record. After all, 30% of adults of working age have a criminal record. But the offence is supposed to be relevant to child protection now.

I am a Brownie leader.

noname - If you are so cynical (your word, not mine) you may need to reflect on whether you are happy for your child to join Scouting or any other volunteer-led organisation.

DS does beavers and all the volunteers are CRB checked.

They are also only allowed to have a certain number of kids due to child/adult ratio and also due to the size of the hut.

The other thing that helps paranoid parents is if there are clear protocols about how certain events are handled. The leaders and helpers should have gone through a short safeguarding talk, more for their own protection than any worry that they are predators in the pack.
Things like helping with injuries that involve clothing removal, the occasional 'accident' now to deal with things either in clear view or with another adult as witness.
If you used to work in CP OP, I'm surprised that you don't know what is required, or that you don't have more formal routes for checking than a post on MN.

As someone has pointed out they are not staff, they are unpaid volunteers and it isn't surprising that they find it difficult to recruit leaders when you get attitudes like OP.
I was a Beaver Leader and of course I was CRB checked, as are all leaders. There are also strict rules about giving lifts, trips to the toilet- about anything you care to name.
It does make we wonder why I left my own family to do fun things when cynical people want to question my motives.
Become a leader in the Scouts, OP , and then you will find out about screening, training etc. Put something back into the community rather than question those who do give their time and effort.
CRB checks have to be up to date.

A word of advice if you do decide to let your child join - on no account call the volunteer leaders 'staff' and be sure to thank them when they do do the extras - like use some of their precious holidays for camps.

Now, I deliberately hadn't used the word paranoid ...

I am feeling bad today as DS had his last beavers evening yesterday (of the school year and his ever as he will move to cubs in Sept) and I forgot to get a thank you present

'Now, I deliberately hadn't used the word paranoid ...'

I could hear you thinking it. Loudly. Oh yes I could.

at "staff". DH volunteers as an assistant scout leader on top of his 60 hour working week; the leaders are all trained and CRB checked but they aren't paid!

Oh dear.

::dons tin foil hat::

I am well aware that there have in the past been Scout leaders who have committed appalling offences against children. (And possibly there have been Guide leaders who have committed similar offences, I just can't bring any instances to mind). But I do think there's a world of difference between being aware that a tiny number of people have volunteered with Scouting for malevolent reasons and assuming (or having an instinct) that this is why people volunteer.

Simpson - Just send a sincere thank you message to the leaders, telling them what being a Beaver has meant for your son. That will be worth more than any pot plant.

' I have no specific concerns, just following my instincts..'

This just sounded like such an odd 'Felt it in me water' sort of phrase. What instincts? To be suspicious of everyone? To feel that an enhanced CRB will ensure your child's safety?
It won't. It just means those that pass haven't been caught doing anything wrong.
Best protection is a strong safeguarding policy that is used.