Statement

The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 provide a statutory basis for the vetting of persons carrying out relevant work with children or vulnerable adults. The Act also creates offences and penalties for persons who fail to comply with its provisions. The Act stipulates that a relevant organisation shall not permit any person to undertake relevant work or activities on behalf of the organisation, unless the organisation receives a vetting disclosure from the National Vetting Bureau in respect of that person.
Therefore it is a requirement for any person, group or organisation working with children or vulnerable adults on Newmarket-on-Fergus Community Centre premises to be Garda Vetted before they commence programmes on our premises with children or vulnerable adults. It is an offence not to do so. Children are young people under the age of 18 years. Children between the ages of 16 and 17 years may be Garda Vetted if they have written consent from their parent or guardian. Children under 16 years may not be Garda Vetted.

Policy

The decision to engage with Garda Vetting is part of Newmarket-on-Fergus Community Centres safeguarding standards to protect the welfare of children and vulnerable adults who use our facilities. All leaders of groups or organisations and their operatives, who have regular and continuous access to young people or vulnerable adults while using our facilities are required to partake of the Garda Vetting process. This is necessary within safeguarding standards for Newmarket-on-Fergus Community Centre. Failure to successfully complete the process may result in a withdrawal of permission to use our facilities.

How to Apply

Clare Volunteer Centre will help with the process by registering your group or organisation with The National Vetting Bureau (Ph.065-6866800 or e-mail sharon@volunteerclare.ie). There will be a small administrative charge. Clare Volunteer Centre will invite you to complete an invitation form (NVB1) which you will return to them, and on receipt of the completed form by them, they will process your invitation. You will then receive on-line from The National Vetting Bureau a vetting form (NVB2) which you are invited to complete and return to Garda Vetting on-line. In due course you will receive a response from Garda Vetting. The vetting process will take approximately 3 weeks, this time scale must be taken into account when engaging any voluntary or paid worker. No person under the age of 18 may undergo a vet unless with signed parental or guardian permission (form NVB3). No person under the age of 16 may be vetted.
It should be noted that by receiving a 'clearance' Garda Vetting response this does not mean that The National Vetting Bureau have recommended that the candidate is suitable for the job offered. The decision to engage the candidate is the group or organisations decision only.

Who is required to be vetted?

1. It is now a legal requirement to vet all persons working with children and vulnerable adults. It is an offence not to do so.
2. All persons, groups or organisations who use the facilities of Newmarket-on-Fergus Community Centre who have access to children or vulnerable adults on a regular and continuous basis must be Garda Vetted.

Requirements for the Garda Vetting process

1. If your group or organisation needs a number of people to be vetted it would be in order to appoint a Garda Vetting liaison person within your organisation to administer the process. All disclosures of the vetting procedure will be made to the liaison officer only. This disclosure is private and confidential. The candidate will have given permission for this in the invitation form. In consideration of the candidate for a position within the group or organisation, information will be shared only on a need to know basis. Information must not be shared outside of the interview panel for the job.
2. The liaison person must obtain proof of identity from the applicant and hold this information in a safe place until that person no longer works for the organisation. This applies even if the applicant is a family member or an acquaintance of 30 years or more. Photo ID, passport or driving licence is acceptable plus a current utility bill for proof of address. One identity must be photo proof. You must see these originals but photocopies may be kept on file. All information will be held in compliance with relevant Data Protection Acts.
3. A person who assists an organisation or group on an occasional basis and for no commercial consideration need not be vetted. This would include persons who assist on an occasional basis at a sports or community event or activity other than where such assistance includes the coaching, mentoring, counselling, teaching or training of children or vulnerable persons.
4. A separate application must be made for every organisation a person works for. A previous Garda Vetting cannot be carried over to a new position in another organisation.
5. There is no definitive valid vetting period. It is up to the organisation to decide. Some organisations activities are more sensitive than others therefore a shorter period may be required. The usual is every 3 years.
6. Failure to complete the Garda Vetting application form and application will disqualify the candidate from work in our premises for any group or organisation if the person is going to work with children or vulnerable adults.
7. The provision of inaccurate information on the Garda Vetting Application Form, such as an inaccurate date of birth or address, may disqualify.
8. Failure to disclose a conviction will disqualify.

Policy Review:

This policy will be reviewed as necessary and particularly to comply with any relevant legislative changes.