{"alias":"contentPage","byline":null,"standfirst":null,"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"sidebar","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp class=\u0022Standard\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFS120802 Published February 2026, replacing October 2024\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3 class=\u0022ScoutSubHead\u0022\u003EIntroduction\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Standard\u0022\u003EThis page provides an overview for Nights Away Assessors who are assessing applicants for a nights away permit. It should be read in conjunction with Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR) of The Scout Association. Find out more information about the scheme for\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/nights-away-and-camping/nights-away-permit-scheme/applicants-guide/\u0022 title=\u0022Applicants\u0027 Guide\u0022\u003Eapplicants\u003C/a\u003E and for \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/nights-away-and-camping/nights-away-permit-scheme/commissioners-guide/\u0022 title=\u0022Commissioners\u0027 Guide\u0022\u003ELead Volunteers and Approvers\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoBodyText2\u0022\u003EBefore beginning your Nights Away process, please check with your Lead Volunteer or Nights Away Assessor or Approver to confirm the correct procedure that you should follow.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoBodyText2\u0022\u003EDistricts are in the process of moving all approvals of Nights Away to within the new digital membership system. As a result, your County/District may implement this process right away or choose to wait until closer to the transition date (deadline to be determined). At the District\u0027s discretion, you can still use the existing systems (downloadable nights away notification form or local digital solution).\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoBodyText2\u0022\u003EFor more information about the changes, please visit the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/volunteer-experience/\u0022\u003EVolunteer Experience\u003C/a\u003E webpages.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3 class=\u0022Standard\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe Nights Away Permit Scheme\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Textbody\u0022\u003EThe Nights Away Permit Scheme promotes quality residential and camping experiences. It allows adults who have demonstrated their skill and knowledge to take young people away on nights away events. It also supports and encourages adults to acquire and improve the skills required to provide residential experiences.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3 class=\u0022ScoutSubHead\u0022\u003EThe Nights Away Assessors role in assessment\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Textbody\u0022\u003EThe role of the Nights Away Assessors is to carry out assessments of permit applicants\u2019 technical skills and experience. Based on this, they pass a recommendation on to the responsible Lead Volunteer / Permit Approver of the Applicant and it\u0027s them who actually grants the permit, following other checks.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3 class=\u0022ScoutSubHead\u0022\u003EThe Assessment\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Textbody\u0022\u003EThe assessment is not an opportunity to try and trick applicants. It\u0027s an assessment of their skills and experience. It should be based on the\u003Cspan\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://prod-cms.scouts.org.uk//media/nvqchtii/ac120900-nights-away-may-2025.docx\u0022 title=\u0022AC120900 Assessment Checklist for a Nights Away Permit November 2024\u0022\u003ENights Away Assessment Checklist\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003Eand should contain no surprises for the applicant. It\u0027s not intended to be a pass or fail. If a particular item is something that the applicant usually doesn\u0027t use, such as a marquee or petrol stoves, then a general understanding of the issues around using one is sufficient. If necessary, a restriction can be utilised.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3 class=\u0022Standard\u0022\u003EThe three stages of an assessment:\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E1. \u003C/strong\u003EDuring planning of the event\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2. \u003C/strong\u003EDuring the event itself\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E3. \u003C/strong\u003EAfter the event at the evaluation session.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Textbody\u0022\u003EThe Nights Away Assessor should be working with the applicant throughout the planning of an event, as well as on the event itself, to provide support and advice as well as assessing competence. The aim is to ensure as many people as possible have the skills to be able to lead nights away events. Nights Away Assessor should also be flexible in conducting assessments and recognise that camps and residential experiences can legitimately be run in a number of different ways.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Textbody\u0022\u003EPlease remember that, even on nights away events where an assessment is taking place, there needs to be a permit holder on site responsible for the event.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Textbody\u0022\u003EThe\u003Cspan\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://prod-cms.scouts.org.uk//media/nvqchtii/ac120900-nights-away-may-2025.docx\u0022 title=\u0022AC120900 Assessment Checklist for a Nights Away Permit November 2024\u0022\u003EAssessment Checklist\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003Eprovides you with the syllabus to work to when assessing. There\u0027s room after each area for you to write thoughts on areas for development or record if the applicant\u0027s knowledge is sufficient\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Standard\u0022\u003EThere are a number of methods at your disposal to assess the applicant\u2019s competence level. Generally, you should use elements of each of these in each assessment and the levels of each depending on factors, such as the applicant, environment and so on.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"accordion","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","showExpand":false,"items":[{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EWorking with the applicant during the planning, implementation and evaluation stages of the event to assess their skills and competence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Practical assessment"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ETalking with the applicant, often through scenarios and examples, to find out how they would deal with them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Theoretical assessment"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ELooking at the breadth, circumstances and currency of the applicant\u2019s experience in a leadership role on nights away events.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Previous experience"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp class=\u0022ScoutNumbered\u0022\u003EAny qualifications held, such as renewing a previous permit or a qualification from another organisation, such as Girlguiding.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Textbody\u0022\u003EThe Lead Volunteer or Nights Away Approver may also want you to assess the applicant\u2019s knowledge of the Scout Association nights away rules and how these will affect them, and record this on the Assessment Checklist.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Relevant qualifications"}]},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3 class=\u0022ScoutSubHead\u0022\u003EThe Recommendation\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Textbody\u0022\u003EAfter assessing an applicant, you\u0027ll need to come up with a recommendation for the level of permit to which you believe they\u0027ll be able to lead nights away events, based on their technical skills.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Standard\u0022\u003ERestrictions allow permits to be tailored to the level of skill, experience and personal requirements of each applicant. They should be based on their competence levels as seen within the assessment. Whenever you do make a recommendation for a restrictive permit, you should be prepared to explain your reasons for this and what the applicant would need to improve to get a less restrictive permit.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022MsoNormal\u0022\u003EThey will record your recommended level of permit on the membership system and on the assessment checklist. Then responsible Lead Volunteer or Nights Away Approver for the applicant will be notified by the membership system, that a recommendation for a permit approval is outstanding for their review.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Standard\u0022\u003EPermits are not section specific and Districts and Counties / Areas must not operate a policy of issuing only section specific permits. It\u0027s recognised that for some individuals a restriction to this effect may be appropriate. However consideration must be made on how this will affect the use of Young Leaders or other young people on the residential experience.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3 class=\u0022Textbody\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ERenewal\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Textbody\u0022\u003EAll permits have an expiry date which is a maximum of 5 years from the issue date. After this the permit ceases to be valid. Renewal of a permit is conducted in the same way as initial application except the form of assessment is likely to differ.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Textbody\u0022\u003EThe permit holder will need to apply for a permit within the membership system and will identify a Nights Away Assessor, who will then consider the experience of the applicant and decide the most appropriate form of assessment.\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022Textbody\u0022\u003EA practical assessment is unlikely to be required, but the Nights Away Assessor may wish to meet the applicant or may simply consider the experience listed and issue a recommendation to the Lead Volunteer or Permit Approver on the strength of the known evidence.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":"This page provides an overview for Nights Away Advisers (NAAs) assessing applicants for a nights away permit.","pageType":null,"location":null,"browserTitle":"","versionDate":"15 July 2023","reviewDate":"02/11/2020","redirectUrl":"","id":46687,"nodeName":"Assessment Guide","title":"Assessment Guide","type":"contentPage","image":null,"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Assessment Guide","headerSubTitle":"","headerCta":"","headerCtaText":"","headerCtaLink":"","headerBackgroundColour":"ffe627","showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":[]},"subHeader":"This page provides an overview for Nights Away Advisers (NAAs) assessing applicants for a nights away permit.","silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80NjY4NyJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-your-section/planning-your-programme/nights-away-and-camping/nights-away-permit-scheme/assessment-guide/"}