Nights Away Permit Scheme - ScoutBase UK

Nights Away Permit SchemeSItem Code FS120800 Sep/07 Edition no 1 (103753) 0845 300 1818IntroductionThis factsheet provides a general overview to theNights Away Permit Scheme. It should be read inconjunction with Policy, Organisation and Rules(POR) of The Scout Association. More detailedinformation for applicants, Nights Away Advisersand Commissioners can be found in separatefactsheets.The Nights Away Permit SchemeThe Nights Away Permit Scheme promotes qualityresidential and camping experiences. It showsthat all those leading nights away events foryoung people within Scouting have the skills,experience and personal suitability to take youngpeople away safely. It is designed so that it can betailored to be as flexible as possible, while at thesame time providing a robust checking process forleaders of nights away events. The permit shouldbe seen as an enabling device to show a person’scompetence and provide reassurance to parentsof the young people, while at the same timeencouraging adults to acquire and improve theskills required to provide residential experiences.What Is The Permit Scheme?Everyone who leads a nights away event foryoung people within Scouting is required to hold aNights Away Permit for the type of event they arerunning.Although managed locally, the Nights AwayPermit Scheme is a national scheme, so oncegained, a permit will allow you to run a nightsaway event in any District or County.How The Scheme WorksApplicantResponsible CommissionerPermit GrantedFS120801Nights Away PermitScheme - Applicants'GuideApplicationNights AwayAdviserRecommendationFS120803Nights Away PermitScheme - Commissioners'GuideFS120802Nights Away PermitScheme - AssessmentGuideFS120804Nights Away PermitScheme - Nights AwayAdvisersThe Scout AssociationGilwell Park Chingford London E4 7QW Tel + 44 (0)20 8433 7100 Fax + 44 (0)20 8433 7103 email info.centre@scouts.org.uk www.scouts.org.uk

page 2 of 2The person who grants your permit will be yourresponsible Commissioner. This will be yourDistrict Commissioner if you have a Group orDistrict appointment, and your CountyCommissioner if you have a Countyappointment.A responsible Commissioner can only grant apermit on the recommendation of the NightsAway Adviser. The Nights Away Adviser willprovide the responsible Commissioner with arecommendation after an assessment based onthe Nights Away Assessment Checklist.A permit is time limited up to a maximum of fiveyears at which point it expires. If you wish tocontinue leading nights away events for youngpeople you will need to apply for a new permit.However if the new permit is to exactly the samelevel as the old permit and you have beenrunning residential events, there may be no needfor a practical assessment. That decision is up tothe Nights Away Adviser.There are no prerequisites to gaining a permit,so there is no requirement to have attended aModule 16 course. Indeed the Nights AwayPermit Scheme is different to Module 16 (NightsAway), so there is no requirement to gain anights away permit to finish your Wood Badgetraining, and validating Module 16 does notautomatically grant you a nights away permit.However gaining a permit is one way ofvalidating Module 16 and it is the best way togain the skills and knowledge needed for anights away permit where training is required.What Is Assessed?There are four areas assessed to gain a permit:1 Technical Competence – This is assessed bythe Nights Away Adviser and looks at the eightcore skill areas required to run a nights awayevent. It is usually assessed through a practicalassessment of running an event.2 Scout Association Rules – This can beassessed by either a Nights Away Adviser or theresponsible Commissioner. It looks at whetherthe Applicant is aware of the Rules and guidancefor running nights away events within Scouting.3 Child Protection – This will be carried out bythe responsible Commissioner and ensures thatthe necessary Personal Enquiry checks havebeen carried out and the appropriate childprotection training has taken place.4 Personal Suitability – This is carried out by theresponsible Commissioner, often in conjunctionwith a Group Scout Leader or similar, to checkthe Applicant is suitable (in terms of attitude) tobe leading nights away events for young people.PassportsTo encourage young people led residentialevents, such as patrol camps or Explorer Scoutexpeditions, a nights away permit holder cangrant a nights away passport to an under 18year old. This will be done after a check on theyoung person’s knowledge and ability to lead theevent by the permit holder. It will allow the youngperson to lead a residential event with noLeaders present and will last for a single event.NotificationOnce an applicant has been granted a permitthey can start running nights away events. Eachtime they run an event they need to notify theirDistrict Commissioner, and if they are staying onnon Scout premises the host DistrictCommissioner, before the event takes place.This is done through passing the information inthe Nights Away Notification (NAN) form to theDistrict Commissioner.Useful LinksAC120990 Assessment Checklist for a NightsAway PermitFS120801 Nights Away Permit Scheme -Applicants' GuideFS120802 Nights Away Permit Scheme -Assessment GuideFS120803 Nights Away Permit Scheme -Commissioners' GuideFS120804 Nights Away Permit Scheme -Nights Away AdvisersFORMNAN Form NAN