Nights Away Permit Scheme - Nights Away Advisers - ScoutBase UK

Nights Away Permit Scheme- Nights Away AdvisersSItem Code FS120804 Sep/07 Edition no 1 (103757) 0845 300 1818IntroductionThis factsheet provides a guide to those wishingto become Nights Away Advisers. It should beread in conjunction with Policy, Organisation andRules (POR) of The Scout Association. Moredetailed information on the scheme, forCommissioners and for applicants can be found inseparate factsheets.The Nights Away Permit SchemeThe Nights Away Permit Scheme promotes qualityresidential and camping experiences. It allowsadults who have demonstrated their skill andknowledge to take young people away on nightsaway events. It also supports and encouragesadults to acquire and improve the skills required toprovide residential experiences.The Role Of The Nights Away AdviserThere are two key functions of the Nights AwayAdviser; promoting nights away events, andassessing applicants for nights away permits.1 Promoting Nights Away Events.Nights away events are a key part in providing anadventurous programme for young people, so it isimportant to ensure we are delivering this. TheNights Away Adviser has a key role in workingwith Leaders, Commissioners and campsites andactivity centres to ensure that nights away eventsare taking place and every young person isgetting the opportunity to experience such anevent. The exact methods of promoting nightsaway events will vary from District to Districtdepending on local circumstances.2 Assessing Applicants For Nights AwayPermitsThe Nights Away Adviser also has a key role inensuring the quality of nights away events byassessing applicants’ technical abilities beforethey are granted a nights away permit. This isdone by assessing the eight core skill areascovered in the Assessment Checklist for a NightsAway Permit and passing a recommendation onto the applicant’s Commissioner.How To Become A Nights Away AdviserNights Away Advisers are appointed by Districts,and occasionally Counties, through the sameprocess as any other adult appointment. To beconsidered as a Nights Away Adviser, or forrenewal of a role as Nights Away Adviser, youneed to fulfil the following criteria:1 Technical Knowledge – Hold a Nights AwayPermit. The level of the permit held determinesthe level of permit that you can assess for.2 Assessment Skills – Validate the Nights AwayAdviser’s version of module 25 of The ScoutAssociation’s Adult Training Scheme.3 Remain Up To Date – Have attended theequivalent of at least one day of Nights AwayAdviser forums or workshops in the last five years.Technical KnowledgeTo ensure that they all have the technicalknowledge required to carry out the role, all NightsAway Advisers are required to hold a Nights AwayPermit. The level of Nights Away Permit that aNights Away Adviser holds also determines thelevel of permit they can assess for, so a NightsAway Adviser holding; an indoor permit can onlyThe 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 2assess for indoor permits, a campsite permit canassess for campsite and indoor permits, agreenfield permit can assess for any permits, alightweight expedition permit can only assess forlightweight expedition permits.Assessment SkillsAs well as having the required technicalknowledge, Nights Away Advisers also require theskills to be able to assess. This training andvalidation is provided through Nights AwayAdviser’s version of Module 25 AssessingLearning (Nights Away) of The ScoutAssociation’s adult training scheme. Due to themodular format of the training scheme this willinvolve no unnecessary training courses for thosewho already have these skills, as validation of canbe done through carrying out an assessment withthe support of a Training Adviser (who will quitepossibly be an experienced Nights Away Adviser).Remain Up To DateIt is important that Nights Away Advisers remainup to date and active within their role. To ensurethat they are, all Nights Away Advisers arerequired to have been on at least a day (7 hours)of Nights Away Adviser workshops or forumswithin the last five years. This figure should beseen as the minimum rather than the target.These workshops could be run by Districts,Counties, Regions, Nationally or a combination ofthe above.Useful LinksFS120800Nights Away Permit Scheme