Female Staff Cover

Adult Staff Execs
1

Hi All

Looking for info. Does a cadet squadron have to have female staff cover for a 1/2 day, non-overnight activity, such as helping at a local charity event?

I would like, if possible, some reference as I can’t off the top of my head remember where it might be covered.

Thanks

JM

2

[quote]ACP4 Chapter 2 wrote:

Adult to child ratios and mixed gender groups

  1. When working with groups of children or young people, it is important that the level of supervision is appropriate to their age group and their needs, which may be very specific. In general, younger children need to be more closely supervised and will require a higher adult to child ratio. For voluntary organisations, the NSPCC recommend that for children aged 13 – 18 years there should be at least 1 adult to 10 children. If the group is mixed gender, the supervising staff should also include both male and female members of staff, wherever possible. If this is not possible, both male and female adult supervisors are to be available ‘on call’ during ACO activities…Whilst respecting privacy at all times, an adult supervisor must attend and remain with any cadet who receives any medical or first aid treatment. If the adult supervisor is not of the same gender as the cadet, he/she must be accompanied by another person of the same gender to act as chaperone (this could be another cadet). Further guidance on adult supervision requirements can be found in the relevant ACATIs, ACTOs, ACPEdTIs and in ACP 237.[/quote]

It would seem that in your example, having a female CFAV on call would be sufficient if you’re doing a community event of some sort. Staffing requirements for such activities are not covered in any ACTOs, ACATIs, ACPEdTIs, etc. AFAIK - so ACP4 Chapter 2 covers them by default.

Cheers
BTI

3

That being said never forget your staff cadets, my CWO often has to be our female cover due to a chronic shortage of female staff.

4

It always amuses me when units panic at not having female cover, yet never bat an eyelid when females are solely responsible for male cadets…

5

It amuses me as well, but that’s the modern world for you. Until commonsense comes into play in society this mindset won’t change.

I’ve seen camps and activities partially or fully binned as there hasn’t been female staff, but never because there haven’t been any male staff.

6

When was the last time you saw a camp with solely female staff?

7

Not camps perhaps, but other things definitely. However if there was a camp where you could get no female staff to go, I would lay money they wouldn’t stop boys attending in the same way they stop girls, if they can’t get female staff cover.

8

I made this point about a recent event.

ie:

Panicky VRT: We have no female staff cover! We have to panic and run in circles!
Me: We have a Staff Cadet Sergeant going. Doesn’t she count?

And was told:

Panicky VRT: No! No! It’s a grey area. Maybe. No. Absolutely not.