Group Scout Leader: 12th Willesden
The search is on for a new volunteer team leader for 12th Willesden Scouts,
and we need you to think about anyone you know who would thrive in this role!
So what is the role?
The Group Scout Leader (GSL) is a volunteer manager, supporting other volunteers to ensure the Group runs effectively and provides quality Scouting to more and more young people in Kingsbury and the surrounding area.
In a nutshell, the Group Scout Leader would:
Inspire and enthuse people
Apply strategic thinking to a challenge
Build and lead a team of key volunteers
Be resourceful and energetic
Believe passionately about developing young people and volunteers
What’s in it for you?
Volunteering with us is both fun and rewarding. It offers the opportunity to develop a range of skills and attributes which are transferable to the workplace, such as confidence, social skills, teamwork ability and leadership and management skills, including line management experience. In addition to this is the opportunity to rediscover adventure, make new friends and get involved in the community; all of which is great for personal development and will enhance the CV. At the same time, this could support your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities and objectives.
There are a number of different ways to apply or nominate someone else:
Share this page which contains a full role description, a nomination form and an application form.
Click here to apply/nominate someone using our online form.
Contact David Kitchen, District Commissioner at dc@brentscouts.org.uk.
The closing date for receiving applications is Friday, 5th January 2024.
The group - 12th Willesden
12th Willesdsen Scout Group is in Brent District and comprises 3 sections.
It currently has:
· 16 Beaver Scouts (6 - 8 year olds)
· 11 Cub Scouts (8 - 10 ½ year olds)
· 26 Scouts (10 ½ - 14 year olds)
· 14 Adults (18+ year olds).
The role – Group Scout Leader
Role description
Outline:
To manage and support the Scout Group and its Leaders to ensure it runs effectively, and that Scouting within the Group develops in accordance with the rules and policies of The Scout Association.
Responsible to:
Deputy District Commissioner: North
Responsible for:
All adults in the Scout Group.
Main Contacts:
Section Leaders and their leadership teams in the Group
Parents/carers of the young people in the Scout Group
Group Executive Committee members
Sponsoring authority of the Group (if applicable)
Group Scout Active Support Manager
Other Group Scout Leaders in the District
District Commissioner, Deputy District Commissioner(s)
County/Area/Regional Commissioner(s)
Appointment requirements:
Must complete relevant training (wood badge) within three years of accepting the role. Must be eligible for charity trustee status (a member of the Group Executive Committee). It is expected that whilst volunteering for this role you will undertake regulated activity.
Main Tasks
Ensure that the Scout Group thrives and has the best systems in place to support adult volunteers and develop the Group – including a Group Executive Committee and Section leadership teams.
Provide line management and support to the Leaders in the Scout Group, including setting objectives for their work and holding regular reviews and one-to-one meetings.
Ensure that the Scout Group has an adequate team of supported and appropriate adults working effectively together and with others to meet the needs of Scouting in the area.
Ensure that a challenging, exciting and balanced programme is offered to young people in the Scout Group.
Work with the District Commissioner, Deputy District Commissioner(s) and other Group Scout Leaders in the District to ensure that the District thrives and supports Scout Groups.
Note: Some of the tasks for which the Group Scout Leader is responsible may be delegated to others in the Group, including an Assistant Group Scout Leader if appointed.
Person Specification
| Knowledge and experience | Essential/Desirable |
|---|---|
| Ability to manage adults effectively | Essential |
| Understanding of the challenges of working in the voluntary sector | Desirable |
| Experience of working with young people and/or community work with adult groups | Desirable |
| Experience of working in the Scout or Guide Movements as an adult | Desirable |
| Skills | Essential/Desirable |
|---|---|
| Excellent written and oral communication skills | Essential |
| Provides advice and guidance effectively to others | Essential |
| Provides inspirational leadership for the Group | Essential |
| Can build, maintain and facilitate effective working relationships with a wide range of people | Essential |
| Enables others to identify issues, clarify objectives, develop attainable objectives and gain the necessary skills and confidence to work as an effective team | Essential |
| Ability to negotiate compromises | Essential |
| Plans, manages and monitors own tasks and time | Essential |
| Can construct and implement long-term plans that improve and expand the Scouting offered to young people, and identify any training, resources and other needs required to undertake this work | Essential |
| Can use basic computer software | Essential |
| Personal qualities | Essential/Desirable |
|---|---|
| An understanding of the needs of adult volunteers | Essential |
| Flexible approach | Essential |
| Self-motivated | Essential |
| Able to work as part of a team and promote good teamwork | Essential |
| Resourceful, energetic and enthusiastic about the job | Essential |
| Acceptance of the fundamentals of the Scout Movement | Essential |
Detailed Role Description
The role of Group Scout Leader is based around six core areas of leadership and management.
1. Providing direction. As an effective GSL, you will be required to:
Lead by example to promote a co-operative culture of working in the Group.
Create a vision for the future development of the Group that takes into account the strategic objectives of The Scout Association and the plans for your District.
Develop, implement and regularly review a plan to realise a vision for the Group.
Provide leadership, inspiration and motivation to all adult volunteers in the Group.
Ensure that everyone in the Group follows the policies and rules of The Scout Association.
Carry out regular one-to-one meetings and support adults reporting directly to you.
2. Working with people. As an effective GSL, you will be required to:
Develop good working relationships based on trust and Scout values with adults in the Group and with others in Scouting.
Plan for and ensure that suitable adults are recruited to work in appropriate roles in the Group.
Manage and support the adults in the Group – including allocating tasks and reviewing their progress.
Support adults in the Group to develop by completing formal training, learning on the job, trying out new skills and addressing problems affecting performance.
Build a team spirit in the Group and support the development of the team as a whole.
Address conflict as it occurs within the Group, and reduce the likelihood of it happening through good communication and other methods.
Run effective Leaders’ meetings in the Group and participate fully in the Group Executive and District meetings.
Ensure that adults in the Group perform to agreed standards, and if serious problems occur, that correct procedure is followed in consultation with the District Commissioner.
Carry out effective reviews and re-assign or retire people if necessary.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with other relevant organisations in the Group’s local area.
3. Achieving results. As an effective GSL, you will be required to:
Satisfactorily complete projects in the Group for which you are responsible.
Satisfactorily resolve problems and issues raised by adult and youth members of the Group and by parents or carers of youth members in the Group.
4. Enabling change. As an effective GSL, you will be required to:
Encourage adults in the Group to think of new and creative ways to improve the Group.
Be enthusiastic about new ideas, give constructive feedback on those ideas and encourage and support further work on them.
Carry out plans to implement change, working together with all members of the Group.
Recognise the contribution of others towards change and improvement.
5. Using resources. As an effective GSL you will be required to:
As part of the Executive Committee, manage the Group’s budget.
As part of the Executive Committee, ensure that there is an adequate income for the Group, including identifying other income sources such as grants.
Work with the Executive Committee and Leaders to ensure that the Group’s meeting place and equipment are safe, and that adult volunteers act in a responsible manner.
Work with the Section Leaders and the Executive Committee to ensure that the Group has sufficient physical resources to support the programme.
Work with adults and youth Members to minimise the negative impact and maximise the positive impact that the Group has on the environment.
Make decisions about all matters within the Group based on the best available information.
Ensure that all adults in the Group have the right information provided in a timely manner and in the most effective way.
6. Managing your time and personal skills. As an effective GSL, you will:
Agree on realistic goals and targets with the District Commissioner for the development of the Scout Group, which work towards The Scout Association’s strategic objectives.
Ask other adult volunteers for feedback about how you carry out your role and act upon it.
Regularly check how you use your time and identify possible improvements so that you focus on the goals and priorities that you have agreed with the District Commissioner.
Identify the skills and knowledge that you need to develop or improve and the steps you will follow to do so.
Attend National, County/Area/Regional, and District Group Scout Leader meetings, workshops and events.
How to apply
Process
Thank you for your interest in volunteering. On the following pages you will find a role description and the person specification.
You can apply for the role yourself using the application form, or nominate someone else using the nomination form. Nominated people are under no commitment to apply unless they wish to.
Shortlisting will be based solely on the information provided by each candidate in their application form. All applications should address the requirements of the role, as laid out in the role description and person specification
Key dates
The closing date for applications is Friday, 5th January 2024
Interviews will be held on the Thursday 11th January 2024 at 7:30 pm or 8:30pm
Further information
For more information, or for an informal chat about this vacancy, please contact:
Name: David Kitchen
Email: dc@brentscouts.org.uk