ASSESSMENT FOR DISCLOSURE

SECTION 1

The Need for Disclosure
Whenever a decision is made to recruit to any position (whether paid or voluntary), the person recruiting (or the recruiting body) must assess whether a Disclosure is required and, if so, at what level.

The key factor affecting this decision is whether the person recruited will have contact with children (the term "children" includes all children and young people under the age of 18) or vulnerable adults (such as people with a severe learning disability). The procedures describe decisions relating to work with children; however, the same considerations apply to working with vulnerable adults.

It is important to consider, in the case of each position, whether there will be contact with children and, if so, the nature and extent of that contact. A chart is provided listing posts which always require a Disclosure; however, parishes may recruit to posts other than these (for example, vergers and sidespersons) which could require a Disclosure, depending on the nature of the duties undertaken and other local circumstances.

The decision whether or not to seek a Disclosure, and the reasons for it, should be recorded.

Most Disclosures will be sought in respect of adults (that is persons aged 18 years or over) having contact with children. However, when a young person aged 16 or 17 is recruited to a position involving being in charge of/responsible for children, then a Disclosure should be sought in respect of that young person (and supervisory arrangements should be made for the protection of any younger helpers). The CRB does not expect anyone under the age of 16 to be appointed as a volunteer.

Levels of Disclosure

Enhanced Disclosures
Enhanced Disclosures are appropriate for people who have unsupervised access to children (or vulnerable adults).

The CRB says that Enhanced Disclosures are
"for posts involving a far greater degree of contact with children or vulnerable adults. In general the type of work will involve regularly caring for, supervising, training or being in sole charge of such people".

Standard Disclosures
Standard Disclosures are appropriate for people who have access to children (or vulnerable adults) but are always supervised by someone else who has an Enhanced Disclosure.

The CRB says that Standard Disclosures are
"primarily for posts that involve working with children or vulnerable adults".

Degrees of contact Parishes may find it helpful to assess the degree of contact involved, as follows:-

  1. People in positions of trust, who are likely to be in contact with children In addition to clergy and readers, and ordinands in training (for whom all Disclosures are handled by the Bishop's Office), examples of people in such positions include: Child Protection Co-ordinators or Advocates, stipendiary Lay Workers, members of Ministry Leadership Teams and Worship Leaders. Churchwardens but only those whose duties bring them into contact with children.
    Enhanced Disclosures should be obtained.
  2. People with responsibility for/in charge of children
    (This category includes helpers who may be temporarily in charge of children - for example, when taking them to the cloakroom or toilet).
    Examples are Sunday School teachers/helpers; youth workers/helpers; crêche workers/helpers; organists, choir leaders, head servers, tower captains where there are/could be children in the choir/team. People who are involved with organising/running one off events, camps/residentials events.
    Enhanced Disclosures should be obtained.

  3. People who are not responsible for/in charge of children but who may have opportunities for one-to-one contact with children.
    (Even if there is little possibility of one-to-one contact once an event has begun, there may be the possibility of such contact beforehand or afterwards).
    Examples are those involved in mixed age activities such as choirs, bell ringing teams or teams of servers of which children are members (or could be visited by children).
    Standard Disclosures will probably be required, unless there are circumstances which make an Enhanced Disclosure more appropriate.
  4. People who come into contact with children but do not have responsibility for them or (normally) opportunity for one-to-one contact.
    Whether a Disclosure is required will depend on the assessment made of the nature and extent of the contact and of the possibility of that contact being abused. For example, it may or may not be appropriate to seek a Disclosure for a sidesperson, a verger or a cleaner, depending on the circumstances in which they carry out their duties. If a Disclosure is required, it is likely to be a Standard Disclosure.
  5. People who have no contact with children No Disclosure is required.
5.

Chart
A chart is provided to assist with the assessment of positions (Section 1a).

The chart lists some of the more common positions. However, the list is not exhaustive and parishes should assess any other positions to which people are recruited.

Vulnerable Adults
The CRB is now able to access lists from the Department of Health of those who are banned from working with vulnerable adults. Whilst the CRB's directives are aimed primarily at those working in the Department of Health, Social Services, Care Homes etc, there are occasions in parish life where people are recruited to work with or assist vulnerable adults. Example: Pastoral Visitors.

The CRB state that a person who regularly cares for, trains, supervises or is in sole charge of vulnerable adults is entitled to an ENHANCED DISCLOSURE.

A vulnerable adult for the purposes of an Enhanced Disclosure is a person aged 18 or over who receives services for a condition or disability listed below:-

a) a learning or physical disability
b) a physical or mental illness, chronic or otherwise, including an addiction to alcohol and drugs, or
c) a reduction in physical or mental capacity
d) a dependency upon others in the performance of, or a requirement for assistance in the performance of, basic physical functions
e) severe impairment in the ability to communicate with others,
f) impairment in a person's ability to protect him or herself from assault, abuse or neglect.

The following type of position attracts STANDARD DISCLOSURE:-

Any employment or other work which is concerned with the provision of care services to vulnerable adults and which is of such a kind to enable the holder of that employment or the person engaged in that work to have access to vulnerable adults in receipt of such services in the course of his/her normal duties.