Central Office
Stirling House
82-86 Stirling Street
Airdrie
ML6 0AS
01236 748011
South Office
84 Main Street
Wishaw
ML2 7AB
01698 358866
VANL is able to carry out Disclosure checks for volunteers for member organisations. The information below is aimed at both volunteers themselves and volunteer-involving organisations.
Because many of the volunteering opportunities available in North Lanarkshire involve volunteers coming into contact or working with children, young people or vulnerable adults, some volunteer-involving organisations may request that you agree to a police check before you can start volunteering with them.
It is very rare that this will present a problem in allowing you to start in your volunteering placement; the only inconvenience may be it may take a few weeks for the check to be processed before you can start.
The important aspect to remember is that the onus is on the volunteer-involving organisation you are involved with to ask you about police checks and to process the check for you.
You do not have to agree to a police check being run on you and the organisation cannot run a check on you without your permission, but you may not be accepted into your volunteering placement if you do not allow a check to be run. The results of the check should be treated with the utmost confidentiality and if procedures are followed correctly, only one member of the volunteer-engaging organisation requesting the check will see the results. If you are worried about this, it is a good idea to ask your volunteer supervisor what policy they have in dealing with police checks for volunteers.
If you have a previous conviction that you are concerned might affect your volunteering placement, it is best to discuss this privately with your volunteer supervisor or your VANL adviser on first contact. Having past convictions does not necessarily mean you cannot become involved in volunteering in the present.
In many instances, mostly where volunteers are not dealing with young people or members of the public, a police check will not be required. Some volunteer-engaging organisations may request references from you similar to an employment situation.
VANL can provide support to local volunteer-involving organisations in the administration of free Disclosures (police checks) for new or prospective volunteers who will be working with children, young people or vulnerable adults.
The Protection of Children Scotland Act states that all new volunteers working with children, young people or vulnerable adults should have a police check carried out. Volunteer disclosures, can be processed by contacting VANL.
In 2010, new legislation surrounding the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act will change Disclosure legislation, making the process easier and more accessible for volunteer-involving organisations.
VANL, as an intermediary body of the Central Registered Body in Scotland (CRBS, the voluntary sector arm of Disclosure Scotland), provides advice to volunteer-involving organisations as to how to process disclosures for their volunteers. VANL also hosts disclosure surgeries for volunteers to have their disclosures completed confidentially and free of charge.
Firstly, your organisation will have to register and become a member with VANL, if you have not already done so. Membership costs 15 per annum, and you can find out more by visiting the membership section and downloading an application form.
Additionally, your organisation should have a Protection of Vulnerable People policy, a Rehabilitation of Offenders policy and a Safe, Secure, Use, Handling and Destruction of Disclosure Information policy before it can provide support with processing your police checks. VANL can provide advice on developing these policies if required.
Once you are a registered and member organisation of VANL, and have these three policies in place, VANL can work with you in processing the police checks you require carried out.
If you are a volunteer or an organisation and would like further information or advice about Disclosures, please contact VANL by telephone or email.
Contact:
Duty Officer
01698 358866
Find out more about Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire.
Find out more about the benefits of taking out membership of VANL.