Transcript Document

Becoming a
member of CAS
Contains guidance on how to comply with the
Disclosure and Barring Service (Formerly CRB) Code
of Practice, and sample child and vulnerable adults
protection policies. Please note that as from 1
December 2012 the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)
and Independent Safeguarding Authority will be
merged to form the Disclosure and Barring Service
(DBS). The DBS will continue to carry out the criminal
records disclosure check service provided by the
CRB.
Churches' Agency for
Safeguarding
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Introduction
The Churches’ Agency for Safeguarding is an
umbrella body set up by Christian denominations
and organisations to provide Disclosure and
Barring Service Disclosure checks for employees
and volunteers of its member churches and
organisations.
This pack contains everything you need and
everything you need to know about becoming a
member of CAS.
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Safeguarding
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Types of membership, fees and
ways of applying
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Full Membership – Membership of CAS is open to any church or
associated church body of Churches Together in Britain & Ireland
(CTBI), Churches Together in England (CTE) or the Free Churches
Group. Full members pay a yearly grant of at least £5000.
Informal (Associate) Membership – Informal members pay per
application form for their organisation. Informal membership is open to
any Christian-based organisation and joining CAS is free.
We charge £12 each for paper-based DBS applications and £12
for online electronic applications i.e. regardless of membership
level. From July 2013 the fee for paper applications will rise to
£14. Note that the online electronic application service will be
available from early in 2013, so please contact us on 0207 467
5216 if you would like to find out more about this service.
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Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA)1974 helps
people who have been convicted of a criminal offence
and who have since lived on the right side of the law.
In general, people convicted of a criminal offence,
who receive a sentence of no more than two and a
half years in prison, benefit from the Act if they are
not convicted again. Once a rehabilitation period has
expired, and no further offending has taken place, a
conviction is considered to be ‘spent’
The Act states that in most circumstances recruiters can
only ask questions regarding an applicant’s unspent
convictions. However, for posts which involve
working with children or vulnerable adults, the Act
makes an exemption and questions can be asked
about applicants’ criminal records including spent
convictions
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Safeguarding
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Your Recruitment Policy
Because recruiters are allowed to ask questions
regarding an applicants criminal record, they have
a responsibility make the applicant aware of this
and also how they intend to deal with any
disclosure of information. This is why you need a
recruitment policy. The policy included in this pack
will provide the basic requirements. You may add
information relevant to your organisation
Recruiters will also need to add their procedures for
dealing with unclear disclosures
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Safeguarding
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Sample child protection and protection of
vulnerable adults policy
CAS has developed a generic child protection
policy which can be amended to suit your
organisation. Although it will need to retain
certain basic principles it can be amended
accordingly, then checked by CAS before your
membership is completed
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Safeguarding
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The Disclosure Application Process
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The applicant receives a Disclosure and Barring
Service (DBS) disclosure application form from
the organisation
The applicant completes the form and meets with
the verifier
The verifier checks the form and ensures that the
required identification has been seen
The verifier and the applicant complete the CAS
form
The form is sent to CAS
CAS process and countersign the form
The form is sent to the DBS
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Safeguarding
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What happens next
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The DBS will process the disclosure
application and send a copy of the disclosure
certificate to the applicant and to CAS
If the disclosure has no information regarding
convictions etc CAS will send a letter to the
verifier (or a specified contact) advising that
there is nothing preventing the applicant from
taking up his/her chosen role
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Safeguarding
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What information could it
contain?
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A disclosure could contain information
regarding convictions, cautions and, in
some instances, information regarding a
previous investigation or an ongoing enquiry
CAS will discuss the content with the lead
person in your organisation
We will assist you throughout the process
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Safeguarding
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Your procedure for unclear disclosures
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On very rare occasions a disclosure will contain information
regarding an incident in the applicants’ background
CAS will write to the applicant asking for confirmation that the
Disclosure information is correct and recommending that he/she
discusses the unclear disclosure with a verifier if he/she hasn’t
done so already
CAS will contact the lead person in your organisation to advise
him or her of the content
At this point, if the offence does not relate to children or does not
cause concern, CAS will notify the verifier that the applicant has
been cleared to work with children
If the offences relate to children, or if they cause concern, the
Head of CAS will contact the lead contact from your organisation
for a further discussion
Most organisations will form a disclosure assessment panel at
this point to review the case
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Safeguarding
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Forming a disclosure
assessment panel
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Most organisations form a disclosure assessment panel to
make decisions on unclear disclosures. The panel is often
called a ‘risk assessment panel’. The panel is given
anonymous information relating to the applicant, their
offence, a copy of the job description, and enough
information for it to come to a decision
A panel is usually made up of three or five people who have
relevant safeguarding experience e.g. social workers, police
officers or teachers. They do not have to be members of your
organisation, but they would need to agree to become
involved if a panel is required
A panel’s decision is final. Once CAS have been advised of a
panel’s decision it will advise the verifier whether the panel
has/has not cleared the applicant to work with children
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Verifiers
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Verifiers form an important part of the Disclosure
Application process
Verifiers are responsible for checking the
Applicant’s identity before signing a declaration
confirming that they have done this. They will also
receive a final letter advising if an applicant can or
cannot work with children
Verifiers are also advised if an error has been made
on an application form.
In some instances the church or denomination may
want the final letter to be sent to an alternative
person to the verifier. This must be agreed with CAS
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What the verifier must do
Verifiers will need to complete Sections W and X of
the DBS form and also check that the form has
been completed correctly by the Applicant. They
also need to complete the CAS form and
Documentary Evidence sheet. For more details
please read the guidance notes below on how to
complete an application.
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Safeguarding
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Who will see the Disclosure?
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The Applicant and CAS will receive a copy of the Disclosure
Certificate. The Applicant is not required to show anyone a
copy of his/her certificate
CAS will contact the Lead Person for your organisation if there
is a concern with regards to the applicability of any offence to
the role. If the offence is deemed serious e.g. an offence
involving children and/or vulnerable adults, we will advise you
within 24 hours of receipt
If the disclosure is clear, a letter will be sent to the verifier
advising that the Applicant is clear to work with Children. CAS
will keep a copy of the certificate and paperwork for six months
before destroying it in line with DBS guidelines.
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Safeguarding
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Errors
CAS will make every effort to ensure that applying for a
DBS Disclosure is as simple as possible.
Unfortunately over 35% of applications contain errors
Where possible we will try and resolve all errors by
phone and will attempt to call an Applicant or Verifier
three times before we send a form back. However,
some errors always require the form to be sent back,
e.g. if the form is not signed, lack of ID seen.
If we have to return a form to a Verifier from your
organisation we will charge £5 per application.
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Safeguarding
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CRB Code of Practice
The CRB require all umbrella bodies and the organisations
they act on behalf of, to handle and store information
received from the CRB in the correct way. This means that
you need to have a written policy on the storage and
handling of the information you receive regarding an
employee/volunteer (see sample below).
It is a short document which you will need to personalise to
your organisation
You will also need to read and retain a copy of the DBS
(CRB) Code of Practice.
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What you will need to provide us
with
A copy of your child protection policy and/or Vulnerable
Adults policy.
 A copy of your recruitment of offenders policy
 A list of verifiers and alternative contacts (below)
 A copy of the minutes of the meeting where your
organisation agreed to adopt the necessary policies and
join CAS or a signed resolution to this effect (see below)
 A completed membership application form (see slide 19)
You may use any of the policies supplied by CAS or you may
use your own. Please contact us if you would like some
advice on developing or implementing these policies
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Safeguarding
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What we will provide you with
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A copy of our Memorandum and Articles (below)
Access to resources from the Churches’ Forum
for Safeguarding (CFS) which CAS convenes
Guidance throughout the Disclosure Application
process
An informed recruitment decision on all volunteers
and workers
Briefing papers and sessions on new
safeguarding policy developments
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Safeguarding
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What now?
Please complete the following form and return it
to CAS
If you have any questions regarding this process
please contact the CAS Team Administrator on
0207 467 5206
Churches' Agency for
Safeguarding
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