(The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974)
The Criminal Records Bureau has been set up by the government to ensure safer recruitment practice to protect the vulnerable.
Two types of checks are available; standard and enhanced. A conviction will not necessarily bar you from obtaining employment. You will be advised in the job application pack whether the post requires a check and the level . Posts which involve working with children or vulnerable groups are covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendments) Order 1986 and the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000. If this post involves working with children it is also covered by the protection of Children Act 1999.
A caution or conviction will not necessarily debar you from applying for the post. We will consider any previous offences in accordance with our equal opportunities policy. There are, however, certain offences which will debar you from working with children under the regulations made under the Protection of Children's Act 1999, including Schedule 1 offences such as sexual and violent offences.
At interview, or in a separate discussion, we will 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.
Prior to any offer of employment being made you will be required to complete a disclosure application form. On this form you will need to declare all cautions, bind-over orders and convictions. This includes offences which are considered spent for other purposes or that you may believe have been removed from your record. All information given will be treated as strictly confidential and will be stored securely.
Once completed this disclosure form will be sent to the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). The CRB will search police, Department of Health, and Department for Education and Skills records for relevant information. The CRB will inform you of their search and they will also send a copy of the result to Slough Borough Council. This information will enable the council to make its decision on possible employment.
We undertake to discuss any matter revealed in a disclosure with the person seeking the position before withdrawing a conditional offer of employment.
If you require further information you can contact the CRB direct on 0870 90 90 844 or visit their website.
If you do take up employment it is necessary for you to inform your line manager of any cautions, bind-overs or convictions you sustain during the subsequent course of your employment. Failure to do so will lead to dismissal.
Important: We will report all persons to the relevant authorities who attempt to obtain employment whilst they are disqualified from working with children or vulnerable adults.
The information you provide will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Acts 1998 and any subsequent legislation. Under this act you have a right of access to information we hold about you. The application form is used for selection and monitoring purposes. If you are not appointed the form will be kept for a period of 12 months. The successful applicant’s application form will form part of a personal file, which will be kept securely by Slough Borough Council.
This act protects people with disabilities from unlawful discrimination. The council operates a “Guaranteed Interview Scheme” for applicants who declare they have a ‘disability’ (as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 & 2005). Any ‘disabled’ applicant who meets the essential criteria for the job will be offered an interview. To enable the scheme to operate, managers compiling shortlists will be informed when a candidate has a ‘disability’.
The definition of disability, as outlined in the Disability Discrimination Acts (DDA) 1995 & 2005 is as follows:
“A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities”.
To be protected under the acts:
And
The effect an impairment may have on day to day activities is defined in the act as falling within the following categories:
Some examples now covered by the DDA include: mental illness or mental health problems, learning disabilities, diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, HIV and Multiple Sclerosis.
The normal retirement age from the council’s service is 65 years. In consequence, this contract will end on your 65th birthday. The council intends to remind you of this at least six months before that date. At that time you will also be informed (as required by the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006), that you can request the council to consider the possibility of continuing your employment.
Slough Borough Council is committed to being an employer of choice. Our aim is to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, gender, marital status, family responsibility, age, disability, sexual orientation, trade union activity, or religious belief.
In addition, applicants that are required to undertake a criminal disclosure will not be asked to disclose convictions which are ‘spent’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, unless the nature of the work demands this information. Having an ‘unspent’ conviction will not necessarily bar applicants from employment. This will depend on the circumstances and background to the offence(s). [Refer to Criminal Records Bureau information above].
Recruitment and selection criteria, procedures and practices will be kept under regular review to ensure that individuals are selected or promoted on merit. All employees will be given equal opportunity and, where appropriate, training to progress within the council.
Local authorities have a legal responsibility to promote equality of opportunity. The council is committed to the use of those statutory provisions which permit positive action to improve recruitment and access to training where disadvantaged groups are under-represented. In particular, the council aims for its workforce to be representative of the local population of whom over a third are of ethnic minority origin.
The council continually monitors this policy to assess its effectiveness.
Anyone who applies for a job with Slough Borough Council and is unsuccessful can arrange for verbal feedback to be given by contacting the chair of the interview panel.
Reasonable out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed when attending for interview; travelling expenses are limited to second class rail/bus fare. Mileage is reimbursed at a rate of 19.8p per mile. Candidates will be sent their expenses by cheque after the interview. If a candidate is invited from overseas, travel expenses will be calculated from the nearest airport/ seaport in this country.
Successful applicants will be required to complete a medical questionnaire and may be required to meet with our occupational health adviser if required.
It is our policy to carry out checks to confirm the details on the application form/CV. False information which results in an appointment will render the individual liable to dismissal without notice.
You will be asked to produce certificates confirming your qualifications or membership of professional bodies that are stated in your application form/CV.
The references offered will be taken up. We also reserve the right to contact any other previous employer for a reference. We will also take into consideration relevant information received from any source. This may include information held by the authority, for example in social care or education, and information received from other external authorities or bodies.
Under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, it is a criminal offence to employ anyone who is not entitled to live or work in the United Kingdom. You will be asked to submit original proof of identification (photocopies are not acceptable), such as a birth certificate, national insurance number, passport or driving licence. You will be asked to submit all marriage/relevant certificates in cases where you have changed your name, and previous address details.
For all enquiries please contact the Customer Service Centre
01753 475111
My Council
Landmark Place
High Street
Slough
opposite Slough Library
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