We can only request a disclosure check when an individual is employed in a position which involves the following activities:

Working with children

Working with children (under 18s) is defined as any work that is:

Work in a regulated position

This would apply where the activity is directly part of the employee’s work (eg working in the University nursery) or the employee is undertaking research or other activities as part of their University work in a qualifying institution:

1. an institution which is exclusively or mainly for the detention of children
2. a hospital which is exclusively or mainly for the reception and treatment of children
3. a care home, residential care home, nursing home or private hospital which is exclusively or mainly for children
4. an educational institution exclusively or mainly for children
5. a children’s home or voluntary home

Work in a further education institution where the normal duties of that work involve regular contact with persons aged under 18

As the University is a higher education institution this condition would not normally apply, but there may be situations where an employee has regular unsupervised contact with under 18 year olds which would require a disclosure.

Other positions that are covered include:

1. a position whose normal duties include work on a day-care premises
2. a position whose normal duties include caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children
3. a position whose normal duties involve unsupervised contact with children under arrangements made by a responsible person
4. a position whose normal duties include caring for children under the age of 16 in the course of the children’s employment
5. a position where the normal duties include supervising or training children under the age of 16 in the course of the children’s employment
6. member of a governing body of an education institution, or of a relevant local government body
7. a position whose normal duties include supervising or managing an individual in his work in a regulated position

Working with vulnerable adults

A vulnerable adult is defined as a person over 18 who receives services of a type listed in (1) below, or has a condition listed in (2) or has a disability listed at (3).

1. The services are:

• accommodation and nursing or personal care in a care home
• personal care or support to live independently in his or her own home
• any services provided by an independent hospital, independent clinic
• independent medical agency or National Health Service body
• social care services
• any services provided in an establishment catering for a person with learning difficulties

2. The conditions are:

• a learning or physical disability
• a physical or mental illness, chronic or otherwise including an addiction to alcohol or drugs
• a reduction in physical or mental capacity

3. The disabilities are:

• a dependency upon others in the performance of, or a requirement for assistance in the performance of basic physical functions
• severe impairment in the ability to communicate with others
• impairment in a person’s ability to protect him or herself from assault, abuse or neglect

Other categories

In addition there are certain specific roles requiring disclosure checks. Those that might be relevant to the University include:

• Medical practitioner
• Chartered Accountant, certified accountant
• Dentist, dental hygienist, dental auxiliary
• Nurse, midwife
• Professions supplementary to medicine
• Chartered psychologist
• Registered foreign lawyer
• Legal executive
• Employment within the health services
• Any employment or other work concerned with the supervision of electronic communications with or between children for the purposes of child protection