As an organisation using the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure service to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, South Downs College complies fully with the CRB Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly.
The College undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of conviction or other information revealed.
South Downs College is committed to the fair treatment of its staff, potential staff or users of its services, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependants, age, physical/mental disability or offending background.
We have a written policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders, which is made available to all Disclosure applicants at the outset of the recruitment process.
We actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential and welcome applications from a wide range of candidates, including those with criminal records. We select all candidates for interview based on their skills, qualifications and experience.
All applicants called for interview will be asked to provide details of their criminal record at an early stage in the application process. We request that this information is sent with their application in a sealed envelope marked for the attention of the College Secretary at South Downs College and we guarantee that this information is only seen by those who need to see it as part of the recruitment process.
Owing to the nature of positions which provide access to children questions will be asked about your entire criminal record including “spent” and “unspent” convictions as defined in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All successful applicants will be required to submit an Enhanced Disclosure to the CRB. Under the provisions of the Protection of Children Act 1999 and the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 a number of people are banned from working in schools and colleges (see Annex below).
We ensure that all those in South Downs College who are involved in the recruitment process have been suitably trained to identify and assess the relevance and circumstances of offences. We also ensure that they have received appropriate guidance and training in the relevant legislation relating to the employment of ex-offenders, e.g. the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
At interview, or in a separate discussion, we ensure that an open and measured discussion takes place on the subject of any offences or other matter that might be relevant to the position. Failure to reveal information that is directly relevant to the position sought could lead to withdrawal of an offer of employment.
We make every subject of a CRB Disclosure aware of the existence of the CRB Code of Practice and make a copy available on request.
We undertake to discuss any matter revealed in a Disclosure with the person seeking the position before withdrawing a conditional offer of employment.
Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of your offences.
Annex
People banned from working with children
The following people are banned from working with children at South Downs College:
- people on the DfES List 99
- people on the DoH List
- people on the National Assembly of Wales List
- people aged 18 or over convicted of certain specified offences against those aged under 18 (or 16 in some instances) and given a hospital or guardianship order or a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. Suspended sentences of 12 months or more are treated as qualifying sentences.
The specified (Schedule Four) offences are:
- murder or manslaughter
- rape or burglary with intent to commit rape
- grievous bodily harm
- cruelty to children
- kidnapping, false imprisonment and abduction
- indecent assault on a man or a woman
- sexual intercourse with a child under 13
- intercourse with a girl aged between 13 and 16
- buggery with a child under 16
- indecency between men
- abuse of trust
- incest and related offences
- assault with intent to commit buggery
- indecency with children under the age of 14
- offences relating to or encouraging child prostitution
- offences relating to child pornography.