[mummytoboyandgir...]

how long does it take to get it if l want to help out at school l have to apply for the working with chidren check has anyone been through it and got theres or not got it?

any advise would be good

[3mummy3]

I had one for work already and i cant remember how long it took for it to be issued but at our school you can start helping as soon as you provide the school with the receipt to say you have applied for the check, you dont actually have to wait to receive the acceptance letter/card.

[danni m]

When you take the application to the post office they give you a receipt that can be used in the interim until your card comes.

[cward]

Wow at our school you just do it online and then they send you out a form which you sign and take to school with id to verify it.

Even though I have one for work I still have to do a seperate one for school

[~Mo+Moosh~]

I did one so I could help out at school and I think it took about a week to 10 days to process.

[BadCat]

You need a check to help out at school? Wow. New one on me. I've been helping for years and never had a check.

It's OK though, I'm done helping now.


Oh, sorry, no idea of the answer to your question.

[Tigerdog]

you dont actually have to wait to receive the acceptance letter/card

This is actually incorrect - they should have the clearance before they let you start working, otherwise why bother getting a check done at all if they're just assuming it's going to come back OK? If schools are letting you commence the work on this assumption then really, they are breaking the law.

This post has been edited by Tigerdog: 15/11/2012, 09:54 AM

[Tigerdog]

Even though I have one for work I still have to do a separate one for school

I'm not sure that this is correct either. The same one should cover all purposes, there aren't different ones - the only thing that would differ on the piece of paper is the date of application (provided you hadn't committed a recordable offence in between checks). If you were seeking employment in areas where this was needed there would be nothing stopping you from paying to get one yourself then presenting it at interviews - the employer doesn't need to pay for it and get it done themselves, as long as it's been done you are OK.

Here in the ACT there has been a very concerning development in this area. They have introduced a controversial Working With Vulnerable People Check which has commenced this month (to cover working with children, elderly disabled and otherwise vulnerable people). The gamut of your criminal history can be examined for this check, not just those things relevant to the job, it can include such minor things as traffic offences which are then disclosable to the employer. The capacity for people with 'lived experience' to find employment in the sector will be greatly reduced (very relevant to drug and alcohol services as there is a distrust of workers without this) and it begs the question about when a person is able to leave their past behind and start with a clean slate. It will also be a logistical nightmare for employers as employees will be issued with permissions at various levels which mean they may be able to do this but they can't do that in the course of their daily work. Very worrying, another case of beauracracy gone mad in the interests of better protecting vulnerable people.

This post has been edited by Tigerdog: 15/11/2012, 10:02 AM

[mummytoboyandgir...]

but what do they check for?

[Persnickety_]

We just fill out a form at the office