1. Does the suggested Equal Opportunities Policy conflict with our values as a church?

The Criminal Records Bureau/Scottish Criminal Records Office/Access NI require organisations to have a policy to ensure they do not discriminate against those who have a criminal record.  There are many who have offended in the past who should not be denied employment (paid or voluntary).  However this does not apply if the nature of their offence(s) means that they might pose a risk to a child or vulnerable adult. 

The CRB/SCRO/Access NI have provided an outline of a Rehabilitation of Offenders-type policy for organisations to consider adopting within a general Equal Opportunities Policy.  We have adapted this further to make it more relevant to churches or faith groups.  It can be amended but it is important it meets CRB/SCRO/Access NI requirements and is not illegal. 

Our amended version emphasises the fact that services are provided by churches to the wider community regardless of their beliefs.  Some churches have mistakenly thought that an Equal Opportunities Policy is intended for church membership or can be applied in all aspects to appointing someone to the ministry.  A church may provide services to a range of people of different faiths, but this does not imply that the Minister or Church Leader does not need to be a Christian!  Clearly, s/he would need to be able to sign up to the tenets of faith in order to do the job.  The CRB/SCRO/Access NI are more concerned there is no discrimination against past offenders unless it is necessary to do so. 

2. Our church has linked with a local organisation to carry out criminal records checks. However, a question has been raised whether we can satisfy the CRB requirement that those involved in the recruitment process are suitably trained to identify and assess information about offences and correctly interpret relevant legislation regarding the employment of ex-offenders.

A number of churches and organisations have discovered that their umbrella body is only able to provide a basic processing service and have little or no understanding of church child protection related matters or the particular issues arising from offenders in churches. 
Very few churches are equipped to meet the legitimate demands of the CRB but churches linked with CCPAS will receive advice and support in all these areas.

If a Recruiter needs to be advised of information that comes to light during a check, they will be linked with a member of our staff who will provide advice and support.  This person will be someone who is not involved in the disclosure process in order to ensure that we meet the demands regarding confidentiality.  This is fully explained in the information sent to Recruiters.

To register with the CCPAS Disclosure Service simply click on the Disclosure Service page on our website: www.ccpas.co.uk and download the CCPAS Disclosure Document.  If you need any further assistance then please do not hesitate to contact our Disclosure staff on 0845 120 45 49 or email disclosure@ccpas.co.uk, who will be happy to assist.

3. The CRB/SCRO require recruiters to be suitably trained to assess the relevance of past offences which might be revealed. How can we as a church meet this requirement?

As part of our disclosure service we provide consultancy and advice in individual situations through a worker we will assign for this purpose.  You are therefore covered if you are part of our scheme.  If you are registering directly with the CRB/SCRO/AccessNI (or through someone else, e.g. your own denomination/umbrella or local group) then make sure you/they are equipped to provide this.  It is your responsibility to make certain that this is in place.  It is not optional.  If you are not part of our service but would want to use this support, then you must register this interest with us.  Requests should be made via e-mail or letter.

4. I am a self-employed freelance worker. Can I apply for a CRB check as I work with children?

If you work on a self-employed basis and would like to obtain a disclosure for that role ( for example for a piano teacher or a party entertainer) then your only option is to apply for a Basic Disclosure through Disclosure Scotland – see http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/apply-online/ . This would give your convictions considered unspent under The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Enhanced Disclosures currently made via the CRB are to enable employers to make appropriate recruitment decisions and are therefore not available to people who are self-employed.  Voluntary workers with children can wear several “hats” and it may well be that they would qualify for a check in another capacity, e.g. as part of a church.  For the check by the church to have any value in a self-employed/freelance capacity, their roles as a self employed worker and their role within the church would have to be broadly similar.  It should also be remembered that a clear certificate does not necessarily mean there are no concerns. There is a proposal under the new ISA Vetting and Barring Scheme that will allow self-employed individuals to join in their own right.  However, the current coalition government are still consulting on this.

5. I want to find out whether the police hold any information about me on the police national computer and local police records.  How can I do this? 

Under the Data Protection Act 1998 individuals can ask for information held about them. This applies to paper records as well as computer data.  It is proposed that enquiries about information held on the Police National Computer will eventually be administered by the Criminal Records Bureau. However until this happens, individuals must apply direct to their local police station. Further information on data protection can be obtained from:  The Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF. Website: www.ico.gov.uk . This cannot be used for your own purpose. No one should ask you to undertake this for employment or other purposes.

6. There are occasions when employees and volunteers from my organisation come in contact with children and vulnerable adults at exhibition stands or when invited to speak at a church. These people haven’t been CRB checked up to now and I’m not sure they’re eligible. Can you help?

We cannot see that there would be grounds for checking someone working on an exhibition stand. This situation is no different from a shop keeper. In regard to speakers at churches or other venues, children and young people are likely to look up someone in this position in much the same way as a church minister or elder. Your workers would qualify to apply for a criminal records check in such circumstances, though the words ‘with child contact’ would need to be added after the job title when they fill out an application.  

7. How do I register with CCPAS to obtain criminal records checks for those who work with children and/or vulnerable adults in my organisation?

Simply go to the Disclosure Service page on our website: www.ccpas.co.uk and download the CCPAS Disclosure Document.  If you need any further assistance then please do not hesitate to contact our Disclosure staff on 0845 120 45 49 or email disclosure@ccpas.co.uk, who will be happy to assist.

8. We are a large organisation and want to use CCPAS for safeguarding and carrying out criminal records checks for our workers, what services can you offer us?

If you are a large organisation or denomination (processing a minimum of around 1000 checks per year), please call our Disclosure Manager, Barbara Ball, on 0845 120 45 49 to discuss our bespoke membership scheme and rates.

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