ACCESS NI

Vetting checks for everyone working with children and vulnerable adults.

Irish Table Tennis Association Ltd ULSTER BRANCH
Vetting Policy for Children and Vulnerable Adults

Vetting Policy for Children and Vulnerable Adults (download)

Introduction

Safeguarding in Table Tennis means doing everything possible to minimize the risk of harm to children and young people. Each club has a legal and moral duty of care to protect children and young people in their care from abusive and harmful behaviour. A safe environment will provide children and young people with an opportunity to experience fun and achievement.

Table Tennis Ulster (TTU) need to verify the identification of those volunteers who work closely with children and vulnerable adults (known as regulated activity). This will include a check of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) which keeps lists of people who are unsuitable for work with children. A person’s suitability to work in regulated activity is checked by completing an AccessNI Enhanced Disclosure Vetting check. To complete the process each volunteer must produce relevant identification in person to the verifying officer.

Regulated activity involves working frequently (once a week or more) or unsupervised with children. For example, you work in regulated activity if you: teach, train, instruct, care for or supervise children.

The provision of vetting checks and the issuing of criminal record certificates are governed by a Code of Practice as set out in Part V of the Police Act 1997. To access the Codes of Practice please use the attached link: www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/accessni-codepractice.

General information

• TTU has given its Safeguarding Officer the authority to verify the identification of those volunteers who are required to complete an AccessNI Enhanced Disclosure Vetting check.
• A criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining a position. TTU will consider the relevance of the conviction to the role/position.
• TTU has a recruitment of ex-offenders’ policy which is available on request.
• In the Republic of Ireland, the ITTA is registered with the Garda Vetting Unit, and will be responsible for members registered in the ROI.

Who must complete a vetting check

Provincial

• Members of the Executive to be vetted where necessary
• Full-time and part-time staff of the TTU to be vetted
• TTU coaches to be vetted
• Members of TTU sub committees to be vetted where necessary
• Referees and Umpires to be vetted

Club and Coaches

• Coaches of table tennis clubs within Ulster who have regular dealings with children and young people.
• Volunteers within local clubs who have regular dealings with children and young people.
• Coaches and volunteers who have regular dealings with vulnerable adults within their clubs.

How to complete the process

• Provide contact details for two referees. TTU’s Safeguarding Officer will then contact referees to verify references.
• Complete TTU’s AccessNI application form – click here to download the form
• Return the completed form to the club chairperson along with appropriate ID as outlined in the application form. They will verify the ID and forward the application form and copies of ID to TTU’s Safeguarding Officer.
• TTU’s Safeguarding Officer will process the application and inform the club of the outcome.
• Where there is information disclosed, the Safeguarding Officer will request the Disclosure Certificate from the applicant to complete an appropriate risk assessment.
• AccessNI checks should be completed prior to taking up a role in Regulated Activity and will be renewed every 3 years.

Duty to refer to Disclosure and Barring Service

Under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order, all organisations have a duty to refer information to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in certain circumstances. In all cases there are two conditions, both of which must be met, to trigger a referral to the DBS by a regulated activity provider.

A referral MUST be made to the DBS if TTU:
a. Withdraws permission for an individual to engage in regulated activity, or would have done so had that individual not resigned, retired, been made redundant or been transferred to a position which is not regulated activity; because
b. They think that the individual has: engaged in relevant conduct; satisfied the criteria set out in the Harm Test; or received a caution or conviction for a relevant offence.

If both conditions have been met, TTU must refer the information on to the DBS. The referral must be made to the DBS when TTU has (in following with good practice) gathered sufficient evidence as part of its investigations to support its reasons for withdrawing permission for the person in question to engage in regulated activity, consulted with the relevant social services or police if appropriate.

TTU must also be informed if any club removes an individual from engaging in regulated activity for reasons outlined above to enable TTU to consider the information and decide about the persons coaching award.

Additional information on the DBS and the referral process can be found on the DBS website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service

For details of Garda Vetting Procedures please contact TTU.