Vetting in Northern Ireland Staff working with Children and Vulnerable Adults

1. Vetting in Northern IrelandStaff working withChildren and Vulnerable Adults Andy Thomson MA Catholic Church Northern Dioceses

2. Legislation • Rehabilitation of Offenders Order 1978 • Rehabilitation of Offenders Exemptions Order 1979 • Part V Police Act 1997 • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and Order 2007 • Criminal Records Disclosure Regs. 2008 • DPA and ECHR

3. Criteria for Vetting • Exempt Question and Proscribed Purpose • Regulated Activity; Teaching, Training, Instruction, Care, Supervision, Advice or Guidance to Children or Vulnerable Adults and assistance to Vulnerable Adults • Children <18 years • V.A. as defined by SVG

4. Process Regulated Activity ? Application form and ID verified. Checked and countersigned by NVO. Forwarded to AccessNI who check, CRO, PNC, Barred Lists, Police Intel, Garda

5. Process 2 Certificate Issued To Applicant and Northern Vetting Office Risk Assessment and Decision Freedom to Appoint Letter issued

6. Role of Authorised Signatory • Consider Information Disclosed • Check with applicant if necessary • Assessment of Risk • Risk v Role v Responsibility • Consider risk management and sharing • Protection has primacy over rehabilitation

7. Assessment of information • Understanding Offences • Violence , Sexual Motives, Dishonesty • Court Disposal and Sentencing • Value of ‘Soft Intelligence’ on Certificate • Spent and Unspent Convictions • Cautions • Barred or Disqualified

8. Process of Appeal • Any appeal against information goes to AccessNI • Appeal against decision, to NVO • Advise applicant of process • Church Authority convenes Panel • Applicant makes representations to Panel • Panel makes decision for consideration of Church Authority. • Was original decision Irrational or Unreasonable