Glynis Ballard

5th March 2002 01603 219050

glynis.ballard.edu@norfolk.gov.uk

Dear Headteacher

Earlier in the year, MI Sheet 24/02, announced the establishment of the Criminal Records Bureau, and detailed some of the implications for schools.

It has now been confirmed that the Bureau will "go live" from 11th March this year. From that date requests for the new style disclosures will be sent by EPS direct to the Criminal Records Bureau based in Liverpool rather than Norfolk Constabulary.

Any stocks of the old style Police Check forms should be destroyed after this date as they will not be able to be used to request a disclosure. You will recall that the new forms have a unique identity number and cannot therefore be photocopied.

Stocks of the Disclosure Application forms, plus guidance notes for recruiters and the subject of disclosures have been requested from the CRB, but these will not be released until after 1st March. EPS will continue to send out these forms with letters of appointment. Examples will be sent to schools for information.

The regulations covering which categories of staff in schools should be subject to disclosures have been clarified. Presently there are some groups of staff exempted but, in future, all school based staff will be required to undertake a disclosure, including those employed on a casual basis. Volunteers and school governors will also be covered by the new regulations. Further advice will be issued to schools concerning the position for Governors in conjunction with the Governor Support Unit.

 The cost of each disclosure requested will be £12 (free for volunteers and school governors), which will be met centrally for the first year of operation.

Once the disclosure has been undertaken, a copy of the outcome will be sent to both the subject of the disclosure and to EPS. The disclosures may be retained by us for a short period of time, subject to a stringent security policy. They will not be sent to a third party. Schools will be informed that the disclosure was clear, or consulted where there is any cause for concern.

Subjects of disclosures are required to present evidence of their identity. The minimum evidence required will be either a passport or new style driving licence, plus two proofs of address (eg. utility bills), plus a birth certificate, marriage certificate, a recent payslip or a P45 or P60.

As the disclosure application form will usually be issued with letters of appointment it will be difficult to complete the form at the time of interview. However, the County Council is developing a checklist that can be completed at the interview stage and all candidates requested to bring their proofs of identity on the day. This form should be signed by the chair of the selection panel and returned to EPS at the same time as schools notify their Personnel Assistants of new appointments. This proforma can then be used to verify details given on the disclosure application form.

A copy of this proforma will be sent to schools with the forms as soon as they are available.

At the same time as the CRB becomes operational, separate List 99 checks will also cease.

Anyone for whom a List 99 check would have been requested, will now be subject to a disclosure.

The ability to request a disclosure is limited to those organisations that have already registered with the CRB. Applications can only be requested by a countersignatory already registered with and cleared by the CRB.

Schools using alternative personnel providers should check that the organisation has been registered with the CRB and able to undertake disclosures on their behalf.

Yours sincerely

Bryan Slater

Director of Education