A WOSM quality standard
WOSM is committed to ensuring each of its Member Organizations maintains an internationally recognised standard of governance. This is achieved by supporting and strengthening the capacity of all recognized National Scout Organizations (NSOs) with regard to good governance principles, a quality youth programme and a focused Adults Management System. To achieve this, the Global Support System and Global Support Assessment Tool (GSAT) were developed in 2012 and rolled-out across the Movement.
GSAT is a quality standard that assesses the compliance of an NSO with international best practices in good governance and quality Scouting. It is based on a consolidation of requirements specific to the Scout Movement, and on Best Management Good Governance best practices, a quality standard developed in collaboration with Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS), the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing, and certification company with a proven track record in a non-governmental organisation (NGO) audits.
The GSAT standard serves as a reference of best practices. Its application enables NSOs to assess their strengths and weaknesses and improve accountability to all stakeholders.
GSAT objectives:
- Provide a common cross-regional assessment that measures compliance with good governance principles and quality Scouting across the globe.
- Support NSOs in addressing their capacity issues and setting their priorities.
- Promote synergies between NSOs.
- Make certification possible through a third party, if desired by the NSO.
- Sharpen the support given by WOSM (at the world and regional levels) to its NSOs, based on identified needs and trends.
- Provide input to further support WOSM strategies.
GSAT criteria for AiS area
GSAT for AiS focuses on 13 dimensions, listing the necessary processes and procedures for each. The requirements under AiS are:
- Criteria 601: The NSO has an Adults in Scouting Policy and procedures that outline the steps in the adult life cycle, including recruitment, appointment, induction, monitoring, evaluation, and retirement (for all key positions at all levels of the organisation). This policy is based on the World Adults in Scouting Policy and is regularly reviewed.
- Criteria 602: The NSO has an effective national Adults in Scouting committee or team that consists of members with relevant competencies, is gender balanced, and reflects the diversity of the community in which it operates. The committee or team works in collaboration with the national youth programme committee or team.
- Criteria 603: The NSO has role descriptions and uses mutual agreements for all adult positions. These are regularly reviewed, adapted to the organisation’s structure needs, and communicated to all concerned parties.
- Criteria 604: The NSO has defined and implemented a performance management system to appraise annually the performance of all adults (professional staff and volunteers), which results in an action plan for their development.
- Criteria 605: The NSO has defined and implemented a clear and competitive remuneration/compensation package policy for professional staff.
- Criteria 606: The NSO has a defined and implemented a system for recognising the contribution of adults. This system records recognitions and recommendations and is accessible to all members. Recognitions are awarded in a reasonable time and follow transparent practices.
- Criteria 607: The NSO has mechanisms in place for the efficient succession to adult positions (professional staff and volunteers). Volunteers have fixed periods, and all appointments are recorded.
- Criteria 608: The NSO has a clear system for adult development focused on personal development of competences for all adults both professional staff and volunteers. Each learning opportunity has clear objectives and minimum competences required and is periodically reviewed.
- Criteria 609: The NSO includes fundamental aspects of Scouting, leadership, management and relationships, and World Initiatives in its Adults in Scouting training curriculum.
- Criteria 610: The NSO includes youth engagement in decision-making in the curriculum of all Adults in Scouting training, based on the World Scout Youth Involvement Policy.
- Criteria 611: The NSO provides regular training for the different strategic topics and levels of the NSO’s structure from national to local. Training includes the WOSM Wood Badge competencies (e.g. fundamental aspects of Scouting, leadership and management, project management, communications, and adult development).
- Criteria 612: The NSO ensures that all adults receive elemental Safe from Harm training as part of their integration process before they interact with children and young people. It must include the following elements.
- Recognising and identifying abuse.
- Responding and reporting a potentially harmful or abusive situation.
- Understanding the national Safe from Harm policy and code of conduct.
- Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in Scouting.
- Criteria 613: The NSO has a system in place to review the background of adults, including the following elements:
- Performs relevant background checks of all incoming adults according to the national laws and regulations.
- Prevents adults who do not comply with the safeguarding policy prerequisites to interact with children and young people.
- Regularly checks that the compliance of adults is in place.
See also:
Global Support Assessment Tool