Part Ii Protection of Children
Articles 3-6 place a duty on the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (the Department) to keep a list of individuals who are considered unsuitable to work with children and set out the circumstances under which an individual may be placed on the list. Child care organisations must, and other organisations may, refer individuals to the Department for inclusion on the list. In general terms, the conditions are that the individual has been dismissed, transferred or otherwise removed from a child care position on the grounds of misconduct which harmed a child or placed a child at risk of harm. Requirements are also placed on employment agencies, nursing agencies and employment businesses to make referrals. Certain other authorities may make referrals in specified cases. The Department may place an individual on the list following a relevant inquiry. Before confirming an individual’s inclusion on the list the Department must follow specified procedures which include inviting the comments of the individual.
Articles 7-10 set out other circumstances under which an individual may be placed on the list. These include cases where the Department considers that an individual should be listed following a relevant inquiry and transfers from the existing PECS Register.
Articles 11-14 provide that an individual may appeal to a Social Care Tribunal against any decision by the Department to include his or her name on the list. An individual may also apply to a Social Care Tribunal to be removed from the list. The criteria for appeals and applications are set out. Applications for removal from the list may only be made with leave of the Tribunal and subject to other conditions set out in the Order. Provision is made for the Chief Constable or a director of social services to apply to the High Court for an individual to be restored to the list, where specified criteria are met.
Article 15 provides that regulations relating to employment in schools may prohibit individuals working as teachers, or in non-teaching posts, on the grounds that they are unsuitable to work with children.
Articles 16-17 provide that a where a child care organisation proposes to offer an individual employment in a child care position it must check whether the individual is included on the list of those deemed unsuitable to work with children held by the Department, or the list of those deemed unsuitable to work with children by virtue of regulations to which Article 15 applies. Those wishing to have checks carried out may apply to the Department and regulations may provide for a fee to be imposed in relation to checks. This is an interim provision pending commencement in Northern Ireland of Part V of the Police Act 1997, which provides for disclosures of criminal records and other information relating to those seeking certain types of employment.
Article 18 provides that the Department may establish a voluntary accreditation scheme. The intention is to enable non-child care organisations to apply for accreditation. The accreditation scheme will be designed to encourage organisations to adopt good child protection practice.
Article 19 provides that a person connected with a child care organisation may report failures of their own, or another child care organisation, to carry out checks or make referrals as required by Article 4(1) or Article 16(1)(a).
Articles 20-21 include definitions of certain terms including “child care organisation” and “child care position” and include transitional provisions.
Articles 22-29 make provision for courts to make a “disqualification order” where an individual has committed certain offences which are set out in the Schedule and receives a “qualifying sentence”. Subject to conditions set out in the Order, applications may be made to a Social Care Tribunal for a review of a disqualification order and the Tribunal may direct that a disqualification order is to cease to have effect, if it is satisfied that the individual is suitable to work with children. The High Court will be able to restore a disqualification order, on the application of the Chief Constable or a director of social services, if it is satisfied that that the individual has acted in a way which gives reasonable cause to believe that the individual poses a risk to children.
Articles 30-31 provide that it will be an offence for an individual to work in a “regulated position” whilst on the list of those deemed unsuitable to work with children held by the Department, the list of those deemed unsuitable to work in teaching or other education-related employment, or whilst subject to a disqualification order. It will also be an offence to apply for, offer to do or accept work in such a position. A person who knowingly offers or procures work in a regulated position for such an individual will commit an offence and will also do so if he fails to remove such an individual from a regulated position. The definition of “regulated position” is set out in Article 31 and is intended to cover a wide range of occupations involving work with children or the management of services for children.
Article 32 provides the Department with a power to provide, by order, that the offences referred to above will apply to an individual subject to a prohibition or disqualification made in another jurisdiction.
Articles 33-34 provide that the imposition of a disqualification order will have no impact on the period of rehabilitation applicable under the Rehabilitation of Offender’s (NI) Order 1978 and include definitions of certain terms.
