Hertford Scouts District Lead Volunteer

Role description

Outline: 

To manage and support the Scout District to ensure it runs effectively, and that Scouting within the District develops in accordance with the rules and policies of The Scout Association. To ensure the District provides good quality Scouting for young people and proactively supports and manages adults in the District.

The role can be shared with others in a Job share setting.

Responsible to: County Lead Volunteer

Responsible for: Group Lead Volunteers, District Youth Leads, District Leadership Team Members, 14-24 Team Leaders, Programme Team Leaders, Support Team Leaders, Volunteering Development Team Leaders, District Leadership sub-teams, 

Main Contacts: County Lead Volunteer, County Trustee Board, County Team Members, District Trustee Board Chair, District Trustee Board, District Team Members, Group Lead Volunteers, Wider community contacts, businesses, other youth organisation leads, etc

Appointment requirements: 

Must complete the relevant training for the role within the prescribed timescales. Must be eligible for charity trustee status (as a member of the District Trustee Board). This role is likely to include contact with young people and will therefore require disclosure checks.

Main Tasks

• Ensure that the District thrives and has the best systems in place to support the Groups, to support all adult volunteers in the District and to develop Scouting in the District
• Provide line management and support to the adults in the District that directly report to you including setting objectives for their work and holding regular reviews and one-to-one meetings.
• Engage with local external bodies (District, Parish Councils, local & national charity supporting groups) to build connections and networks to help influence opportunities to support for Scouting in Hertford through volunteering, fundraising, brand awareness. 
• Produce a vision for the District and implement a development plan to meet that vision. 
• Ensure that Scouting in the District is attractive to young people and adults from all backgrounds in the District. 
• Ensure that the District has an adequate team of supported and appropriate adults working effectively together and with others to meet the Scouting needs of the area. 
• Ensure that problems within the District are resolved so that excellent Scouting is provided to young people in the District. 
• Work with the County Lead Volunteer and other District Lead Volunteers in the County to ensure that Scouting thrives.
• Ensure that an excellent safeguarding and safety culture exists across the District including addressing issues if they arise, with help from County, Regional and National teams.  

Note: Some of the tasks for which the District Lead Volunteer is responsible may be delegated to others in the District Team

Person specification

Knowledge and Experience:

Essential

• Ability to manage adults effectively

Desirable

• Understanding of the challenges of working in the voluntary sector
• Experience of working with young people and/or community work with adult groups
• Experience of working in the Scout or Guide Movements as an adult

Skills and Abilities:

Essential

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Provides advice and guidance effectively to others
• Provides inspirational leadership for the District
• Provides strategic direction for the District
• Motivate adults volunteering in the District
• Can build, maintain and facilitate effective working relationships with a wide range of people including building a collaborative ‘Team’ working approach
• Enables others to identify issues, clarify objectives, develop attainable objectives and gain the necessary skills and confidence to work as an effective team
• Ability to negotiate compromises
• Plans, manages and monitors own tasks and time
• 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
• Can use basic computer software

Personal Qualities:

Essential

• An understanding of the needs of adult volunteers
• Flexible approach
• Self-motivated
• Able to work as part of a team and promote good teamwork
• Resourceful, energetic, and enthusiastic about the job
• Acceptance of the fundamentals of the Scout Movement