Getting everyone back together safely
in Central Notts
Restarting face-to-face Scouting
Last Updated: 6th Sept 2021
This guidance is provided by Central Notts District Scouts and just gives and overview of the main points in relation to returning safely to face-to-face Scouting. It should not be used as an alternative to the guidance/framework issued by HQ. Full guidance can be found at: Getting everyone back together safely
​
If you have any questions, or require a bit more clarification around Scouting and Coronavirus, please Contact us, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible with an answer.
Check your COVID risk assessment
Don't forget that ahead of restarting face-to-face activities you should review your COVID safe risk assessment and make sure it's current. If nothing significant has changed or only changes to your numbers then this does not need to be re-approved ahead of you restarting.
General Overview
1. Current Readiness Level
Following the recent announcement from the Scout Association, face-to-face Scouting in England has moved to GREEN readiness level from the 6th September.
Green
Residential Activities
Residential activities can resume for members who live in England. Nights Away activities may take place, more details available in the planning COVID-safe Nights Away in 2021 guidance.
​
Residential activities are no longer limited to six people sharing accommodation. This means more flexibility for you when planning your nights away activities, although you should still be managing the spread of COVID-19. We’ve also updated our guidance to explain that members who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days (but are outside of the isolation period) are no longer required to undertake lateral flow testing in order to take part. We’re aware that is could generate false positives and prevent participation.
​
International Travel: Visits abroad may resume but must follow the FCDO travel advice and still manage the transmission of COVID and ensuring that the trips are safe and accessible.
​
NOTE: It’s important to remember that we’re still in the middle of the pandemic and we all have the duty to make sure we’re following the letter and spirit of the guidance. Although there is no longer a legal requirement for many things, as Scouts, with a duty of care to others and to young people, we recommend and expect the application of good hygiene and covid-safe approaches to all our meetings, events, activities and residential experiences.  
2. The Covid Code
Getting back together safely: The COVID Code
1. A COVID-safe risk assessment has been completed and we have communicated control measures to volunteers, young people and parents and all are encouraged to raise concerns.
2. Additional hygeine measures are in place.
3. Social Distancing will be observed (check current distance determined by the Government).
4 Maximum group sizes will be limited and determinded by scouts.org.uk and members will be consistent where possible.
5. Make adjustments for young people and adults vulnerable or affected by COVID, and consult to make sure return plans are accessible and inclusive.
3. The approval process for restarting
England - Approval process
​
Following the recent updates to restrictions in England, many of the legal restrictions unique to the youth sector are no longer in place. Therefore the Scout Association have removed the requirement to have COVID-19 risk assessments approved by District or County Commissioners. Groups and sections must still document COVID-19 risks assessments, but like all other risks that we manage every day, it can be agreed within the Group itself (and within the District team for Explorer Units and Scout Networks). For general section meetings, there is no longer a requirement for parent or carer consent to our COVID-19 secure methods.
Nights Away Approval Process
We are changing the COVID-safe approval process for nights away. Camps or Residentials taking place whilst areas are in Yellow must have covid hazards and controls included within the event risk assessment which is submitted along with the Nights Away Notification Form. This will be checked by someone within the District and like any overnight event requires DC approval but does not need to go through the restart risk assessment smartsheet process. Those organising camps or residentials MUST show how they comply with current government guidance on numbers, social distancing and safe use of accommodation and sleeping areas.
Most of the restart decisions will happen at a Scout Group level, however this process may start at other levels such as a District Explorer Scout Unit or a District-led event. In each case, the approver will need to be independent and usually at the next level up in our federated structure.
Group Scout Leader and Chair of the Group Executive check that necessary risk assessment(s) are completed by Section Leaders, informed by volunteers, parents and young people, control measures are in place and leaders/volunteers are prepared to carry them out.
Documents shared with District Commissioner & District Executive's (or their nominee) and if all satisfactory, approval will be given to re-start face-to-face activity. Risk assessments and decision to approve recorded.
Confirmation passed to County Commissioner or nominee and a record maintained in a shared database which can be accessed by both the District and the County.
Group Scout Leader informs young people and parents/carers of section start dates, times and any operating procedures they need to follow. Parents or carers can confirm that they understand the measures and are happy for their young person to attend.
Face-to-face activities begin.
4. Risk assessments/action plans
With your leadership teams, you'll need to consider how you'll operate for the current alert level, and compile and submit written risk assessments for each section and for every environment the group wishes to operate in. You'll need to do this in order to move from each level of alert and also when any significant changes occur.
​
A template risk assessment is available for you to use from the Scout website, plus you will also be able to watch the video which will help you in completing your COVID-19 restart risk assessment:
Guidance for Leaders - Developing your risk assessments for face to face activity
​
Once you are ready to request the restart of your section/Group, you should submit your documents via the HQ form.
If you need guidance to help you complete the form you can find it here.
Getting Back together Safely - Smart Sheet
​
5. Compliance/training (DBS, Safety, Safeguarding, First Aid)
DBS disclosures - All leaders will need a valid DBS so that they can take part in face-to-face activities. However, for anyone who's DBS has expired during this lockdown period, there will be a 90 day period for outstanding DBS checks to be completed.
​
Safety & Safeguarding - All leaders will need to have completed both safety and safeguarding training. Anyone who requires to complete this training should do so before they restart face-to-face Scouting. Both modules are available to complete via e-learning and once complete your certificate should be forwarded on to either your line manager, Training Advisor, Local Training Manager or District Commissioner, so that Compass can be updated.
​
Safety e-learning training module
Safeguarding e-learning training module
​
First Aid - whilst face-to-face Scouting is suspended, no face-to-face training is able to take place. This is especially challenging for First Response where elements of the programme are required to be demonstrated by participants in order to complete the courses (for example CPR). This challenge means that the completion of online training is not possible and won’t allow people to complete the full requirements of first response. Whilst we understand trainers will use the opportunity of volunteers being at home to go through theory and pre-work to make face-to-face courses shorter, all first aid validation will still need to take place in person, as well the practical elements of the course.
​
We know that there will be a backlog of people requiring first aid training once face-to-face Scouting returns, and so in order to reduce the impact of this we are allowing members an extension to their existing first aid expiry date, lasting for 6 months from the time that your area reaches readiness level GREEN. It is hoped that in this time members will be able to access the first aid training they require for their role and not prevent any Scout activities from taking place.
​
Nottinghamshire Scouts, are currently running First Aid training in a 'blended' programme of online and face-to-face training/validation. For more information about this process, please click here.