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AMENDMENT:  amended July 2004 to reflect the changes of age limits..

1. Also refer to the booklet The Appointment of Adults available from the Scout Information Centre.

2. A person may apply for a:

   • Warrant;

   • change of Warranted Appointment;

   • local appointment;

   • change of a local appointment.

3. All applications for an appointment must be made on Form AA. The applicant must complete and sign Form AA after being made aware, by the Group Scout Leader or appropriate Commissioner of the:

   • Purpose and Method of the Association;

   • Fundamentals of Scouting;

   • Religious Policy;

   • Equal Opportunities Policy;

   • Safety Policy;

   • Child Protection Policy;

   • Anti-Bullying Policy;

   • responsibilities and commitments of the appointment;

   • training obligations of the appointment;

   • procedure for the appointment of adults.

4. The completed Form AA must be sent to the District Secretary. Upon receipt of the Form AA the Secretary will:

   • ensure that any enquiries required are completed;

   • obtain any references required;

   • arrange for the applicant to meet the appropriate Appointments sub-Committee as soon as possible.

   Additionally, for applications for Warranted Appointments, once a satisfactory initial response from Headquarters to the Personal Enquiry has been received, the District Secretary must:

   • issue a Provisional Appointment with an expiry date five months from the date of issue;

   • inform the County or Local Training Manager (depending on local training arrangements) that a Provisional Appointment has been issued.

5. If the applicant's character and antecedents are not known, or if the applicant is returning to Scouting locally after a period of absence, the District Secretary must arrange for at least two references in writing to be obtained to ascertain the person's suitability. References must be obtained using Form RF.

6. In the event that the referee has given any indication that the applicant may not be suitable for an appointment, the District Secretary must contact the referee in confidence to establish further details.

7. In the event of such references establishing that the person is not suitable for an adult appointment, full details must be sent by the District Secretary to the Records Manager at Headquarters in a letter marked Private and Confidential. The District Commissioner must be informed.

8. An adult may not be appointed where a current report from a professional or statutory source suggests that the individual is not a 'fit and proper' person to hold a position in Scouting.

9. The District Secretary will make the following available to the District Appointments sub-Committee before they meet the applicant:

   • confirmation that enquiries have been made in accordance with the enquiry procedures;

   • any report received from Headquarters in reply to any Personal Enquiry;

   • the information gathered on Form AA;

   • the information gathered on Form RF.

10. The District Commissioner and the District Appointments sub-Committee must each and separately be satisfied that:

    • The applicant is at least 18 years old.

    • all consultations or approvals required by these Rules have been undertaken or obtained;

    • the applicant is suitable in all respects to undertake the responsibilities of the proposed appointment;

    • the applicant has the necessary qualifications to carry out the duties of the appointment;

    • the applicant understands and accepts the Purpose and Method of the Association;

    • the applicant understands any Adult Training obligations which apply to the appointment;

    • the applicant agrees to abide by the Policies and Rules of the Association.

11. All reasonable practicable steps must be taken to ensure that those appointed to a role in Scouting are 'fit and proper' persons.

12. In all cases of doubt concerning the suitability of an individual the responsible Commissioner and Appointments sub-Committee must err on the side of caution and not appoint. The welfare and safety of young people must be the over-riding factor.

13. If the Appointments sub-Committee supports an application for a Warrant, the District Secretary must wait until a satisfactory final response from Headquarters to the Personal Enquiry has been received and the applicant has completed the Getting Started Adult Training modules.

14. Once the District Secretary is satisfied that these requirements have taken place, the completed Form AA should be sent to Headquarters, who will issue a Warrant.

15. On receipt of the Warrant, the District Secretary records the appointment in the appropriate records, and passes it to the District Commissioner for presentation.

16. If the Appointments sub-Committee supports an application for any other appointment, the District Secretary records the appointment in the appropriate records, issues the appropriate Certificate of Appointment (if required) and passes it to the appropriate Commissioner or Leader for presentation.

17. If the Appointments sub-Committee does not support the application, the District Secretary will inform the District Commissioner who, if accepting the sub-Committee's conclusion, must submit, with the Secretary, a full report to Headquarters, marked Private and Confidential.

18. If the District Commissioner does not accept the conclusion of the Appointments sub-Committee, the application must be considered and reviewed by the District Executive Committee.

19. In the event of the District Commissioner not agreeing with the District Executive Committee's decision, the matter must be referred to the County Commissioner whose decision must be accepted as final by all parties.

20. In exceptional circumstances Headquarters may, in consultation with the responsible District or County Commissioner, refuse to issue a warrant.