Leader in charge

Leader in charge (FS120360) 

(January 2024 replacing Safety Practical tips May 2020)

All meetings, events and activities must have a leader in charge who has responsibility for co-ordinating all adults and young people.

Recent experience has shown that accidents can happen when there isn't a leader clearly designated as being in charge overall, or when that person assumes that other people are looking after safety issues. Responses to accidents are also impaired in such circumstances.

Coming soon 

Leader in charge

The leader in charge is, simply put, the adult present at an evening meeting, event or activity who has the role of co-ordinating the work of all adults towards delivering the Programme or activity in a safe manner. Scouting safely is not just about ensuring that risk assessments and safety checks are conducted; all adults need to be clear on what they need to do, and young people should be given clear instructions, guidance, and rules.

The leader in charge does not have to personally fill in every risk assessment; this can be done by someone else in discussion with other adults. Nor do they have to give rules or guidance to either young people or adults personally. Being the leader in charge is about being the person with an overview of safety in the given situation.  The best way of doing this is for all adults involved in the activity to agree which one of them will undertake this function.

Putting this into practice

·         The leader in charge must understand their responsibilities.

·         It should be clear to all adults present who is taking on the role as leader in charge.

·         The leader in charge is responsible for:

o    Overseeing the activity

o    The safety of adults and young people present.

o    Allocating tasks to adults present such as

§  Making sure someone will take a register.

§  Making sure someone will take regular headcounts.

§  Anything else that will help the activity run safely.

o    Ensuring adults with specific roles understand their responsibilities.

·         It may be useful to discuss the risk assessment prior to the activity starting, selecting who will give guidance and instructions to the young people and when and where head counts will be conducted.

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Additional resources and information can be found within our Safety section of our website.