Following recent confusions we have written this web-page to draw together P.O.R. and the relevant factsheets to create a single reference point on the subject of the Supervisor hill-walking permit. In publishing this page, it has been checked and verified by Scout HQ.
When applying for a hill-walking permit, you can be authorised to have a "lead only" certificate (where you are in charge of your immediate group) or a "Supervisor" certificate (where you are in charge of up to three walking groups).
Fact-sheet ac120900 states:
"What Is A Supervisor?
A Supervisor is someone who is not directly involved with an activity, but is responsible for it." "Details of what a Supervisory Permit allows you to do for each activity can be found in the activity specific fact-sheet."
This is detailed on Fact-sheet fs120454 which states:
"Definition of Supervision
If you hold a permit to supervise Hill-walking then you can supervise up to three groups remotely. This should be from no further away than 3km if on foot, or 10km if in a vehicle. You should also ensure that adequate systems have been set up to monitor and communicate with the group/s. The permit holder remains responsible for all groups at all times. "
This means that if you are supervising, you shouldn't be any further away (on foot) than 3km from any of your supervised teams. Similarly, by road the distance increases to 10km. With regards to adequate systems and communications, these are dealt with below.
"What Is Supervision? (ac120900)
Supervision includes:
- Assessing the group's level of understanding, training and expertise to undertake the activity.
- Understanding the plan of that group and how it will manage the activity including responses to emergencies and problems.
- Firm direction of alternative plans to include 'escape'.
- Putting in place a plan of monitoring safety and progress.
- Being in the vicinity of that activity to make adjustments"
As a Supervisor, you are responsible for ensuring that the group/s you are supervising understand what they're getting in to, have the skills, training and expertise to do that activity, that they know how to deal with problems and emergencies, that they respond to your command when it is given (irrespective of their own thoughts), that they communicate as and when required and that you are in their vicinity, supervising.
As a Supervisor, you will also ensure that there is a suitable "Walking Group Leader" you have pre-determined as able to take charge of the group if you need to leave that group to respond to a problem with one of your other group/s. This means that if you decide to lead a group whilst supervising others, you must have two suitably qualified people in place to lead your team (this is you and A N Other who either holds a permit for the area you are in or a Young Adult who you have pre-determined to be a Walking Group Leader.
If leaving your group (or indeed leading a group) you must ensure that the group size complies with P.O.R. rule 9.32.
Irrespective of whom you put in that place, the overall responsibility of the group and its Group Leader ultimately rests with you as Supervisor. This is defined in fact-sheet fs120454:
"Designations
When remotely supervising groups the holder of a Hill-walking supervisor permit needs to designate a Leader for each group. This designation lasts only for the current activity while the permit holder is supervising.
People designated as Group Leaders should hold the skills and be responsible enough to lead a group safely in the terrain in which they are. There is no problem with making young people group leaders if they are up to the role and it can be used as a useful development tool."
In awarding the Supervisor status, we (the Assessors) need to be happy that the applicant has hill-walking skills of a standard above and beyond the level of the terrain that is being supervised. Consequently, should an incident occur, the Supervisor has the necessary skills to handle that incident whilst still supervising others. The art of Supervision needs to be recorded and practiced frequently to ensure its retention at the renewal state of the hill-walking permit.
"P.O.R. Rule 9.32f
When leaders holding permits are checking on the safety of Scout parties or their routes, the party size may be less than four but never less than two. "
So, when you are walking remotely to check up on your supervised groups, there must be a minimum of two of you, both over 18 years old.
"All the members of such a reduced party must each have the skills and experience required to travel safely in the hills in such circumstances. "
Therefore the ideal way of demonstrating this experience and skill is to have that second (or more people) in the reduced party, qualified under the hill-walking permit scheme.
All new or renewing hill-walking applications that either want or have Supervisor status will be closely inspected to ensure these skills are evident and/or being practiced. Where log records and/or historical events show a failing of this supervisor status, it may be withdrawn from the individuals' permit.
Where new applications are made, it would greatly assist your application if an assessment/report from someone whose shadowed you (for you to gain experience) could be submitted with your application. Here's an example of an excellent submission which gained the applicant his Supervisor permit. This example is now our preferred model.
