Explorer Scout Structures and Roles

DESC Induction Days

May/June 2004

Some basic facts

Membership 14-18 (13.5-18.5) years co-educational

Leadership leader-led but with input from

members

Some more basic facts

Meet in Explorer Scout Units but District has operational

responsibility

District must make provision for a YL Unit can be a shared provision

Structures

Explorer Scout Units District Partnered with

• Group or number of Groups• Activity Centre• Other Scouting body

Young Leaders Unit

So a big District might look like this...

Group

GroupGroup

Group

GroupGroupGroup

SpecialistActivity

District

YLU

But it might look like this...

GroupSpecialistActivity

District

YLUGroupGroup

But for smaller Districts it might look like this...

Group

District

YLU

District

SpecialistActivity

But what about this?

District District District

SpecialistActivity

Group

YLU

Shared DESC

District Unit

Does not need a Partnership Agreement

Consolidates manpowerKeeps administration simple

Units supported by Groups/Specialist bodies

Partnership agreement tool that allows this to happen can cover finances, property,

identity and anything else

Can be supported by: Water activity centre Campsite or activity centre Any other legitimate Scouting body

Young Leaders

all YL’s are Explorer Scouts any ES with a leadership role must

be member of the YLU led by ESL(YL)Must have opportunities to:

take part in other ES activities experience the balanced District

Programme gain awards

So what does the District do?

Ensures provision is in place Keeps database of all ES Ensures that balanced

programme is operational throughout the District

Keeps ES in the communications loop

But there’s more!

Opens and closes ES Units in consultation with GSL’s regularly review provision

(annually)

Establishes Partnership agreements a three way process

And it goes on!!

Set up annual ES Meeting• all Explorer

Scouts/ESL’s/DESC /DESA

Set up ES Committee • meets as necessary• elected/nominated

members/DESC/DESA/one other ESL

• chaired by an Explorer Scout

Registration

ES all registered with the District as individuals

No mechanism for ES Units to register

Numbers of Units will come from census data

New roles

DESC and any DESL’s

ESLESL(YL)DESAACC/AAC (ES)

ESL

runs and leads an ES Unitdirectly responsible to DESC delivers a balanced programme

within the Unit (may need help from DESC)

encourages Awards facilitates moving-in and moving-on

processes

ESL(YL)

runs and leads an ES (YL) Unitdirectly responsible to DESC ensures that training modules are

deliveredensures that YL’s have access to the

balanced District programmeencourages Awardsmust liaise closely with Section

Leaders

DESA

unique supporter for DESCorganised and efficient

administrator record keeping moving-in/on process recruitment and retention

key communicator for Section

Role of the DESC

unique to Explorer Scout Sectioncombines

GSL Section Leader District Manager for the section

• (note not ADC)

DESC:

is appointed by CC/AC on advice of DC

reports to DCis a member of the District teamis a member of the District

Executive

A Task (In groups of 3 or 4)

Identify the key responsibilities of a DESC under each of these headings: Training Programme Communication Management

You have 20 minutes

Task 2 - Your JD

Task 2 In your groups and using the

blank forms provided, construct a job description for yourself.

Refer to the key responsibilities that you identified in the last task

Where do these fit in?

Programme and awardsFinance and resourcesRepresentationRecruitment and retentionYoung Leaders