The Safer Recruitment process is designed to ensure that only suitable adults are selected to work with children and young people, and that all volunteer leaders are recruited in a safe, consistent, and transparent manner. The following steps should be completed (for all new applicants or returning leaders) in the order outlined below. There is a separate process for Battalion appointments here.

Before commencing the formal Safer Recruitment process, the Company Captain/Correspondent should meet with the applicant to discuss the role, consider their suitability, and confirm their willingness and commitment to be a volunteer leader.

1. Applicant completes the LREG1-EW Form

The applicant should:

• Complete Parts 1–4 of the LREG1-EW form.
• Provide details of two suitable referees for the Church to follow up.

2. The Company Captain/Correspondent should

• Complete Part 5 of the LREG1-EW form.
• Forward the form to the Minister or appropriate Church official.

3. Church Nomination

The Minister or appropriate Church official should:

• Complete Part 6 of the form.
• Take up and retain references or give reasons why this hasn’t been necessary.
• Indicate which Disclosure Check Route is applicable.
• Return the completed form to the Company Captain/Correspondent.

Where the partnered Church processes include the applicant’s nomination to be formally documented in the minutes of the next Church Leadership meeting, the completed LREG1-EW form should not be held back in order for this to be undertaken.

4. Submit the completed form

The Company Captain/Correspondent is responsible for submitting the fully completed LREG1-EW form to BB Headquarters.

5. Disclosure checks completed through BB Headquarters

The Identity Checker (Company Captain/Correspondent) should

• Arrange to meet the volunteer (applicant) in person.
• Complete the online DBS Application Form.
• As the Identity Checker, verify the applicant’s original identity documents during the meeting. This is required by BB Headquarters to process the volunteer’s online Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application.
  
  To confirm that the identity documents presented are acceptable, refer to the guidance available here.

6. Mandatory Training

All applicants, including returning leaders, must complete mandatory e-learning modules in Safeguarding and Managing Risk before they can be fully registered as leaders. BB Headquarters will provide applicants with instructions on how to register with Online Brigade Manager (OBM) to complete these modules. 

Once registered:

• All Helpers and Residential Activity Helpers are required to complete the Safeguarding and Managing Risk modules of Youth Leader Training within 12 months.
• Warrant Officers are required to complete Youth Leader Training (YLT) within 12 months.

Of note, there are additional training requirements for other roles. Before appointment:

• Lieutenants are required to complete YLT.  
• Captains are required to complete YLT and Company Management Training.   

7. Final Approval

BB Headquarters will ensure that all elements of the Safer Recruitment process have been successfully completed before approving the applicant as a leader. The new or returning leader (and the Company Captain/Correspondent and Battalion Secretary) will receive notification of this in an email. Once received, the new or returning leader can attend BB sessions and activities. For new appointments, a lifetime leader registration card should be received within 4-6 weeks.

For further advice or support, please contact BB Headquarters at support@boys-brigade.org.uk or call 0300 303 4454.