Purpose and scope

The Lake District Ski Club (LDSC) is committed to safeguarding children (anyone under 18) and adults at risk. LDSC conducts criminal record checks (such as Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme checks or similar) on applicable positions as part of this process.

The aim of the Safer Recruitment policy is to help deter people who might abuse children or adults at risk from applying for paid or voluntary roles where they will have access to those vulnerable groups.

Individuals involved in the recruitment and selection of volunteers are responsible for familiarising themselves with and complying with the provisions of this policy.

This Policy shall be applied consistently in relation to all volunteers regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity status, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

This policy applies to all volunteers, members, parents/carers and any other individuals associated with LDSC.

Recruitment process

If a role involves working with children (anyone under 18) or adults at risk, the role requirements will be carefully reviewed to determine if a DBS check is required.

Applicants will asked to confidentially self-disclose any unspent criminal offences or child protection investigations. If the role requires an enhanced DBS check, we will also ask applicants to disclose any unprotected spent offences. Where the information raises a safeguarding concern, details will be shared with the Snowsport England Safeguarding Lead.

LDSC provides an induction programme for all new volunteers which includes our safeguarding policies and procedures. As part of the induction process all volunteers are required to complete an initial probationary period to ensure that their conduct, performance, behaviours and attendance meet the required standards.

DBS Checks

Any individual intending to work in Regulated Activity with children, young people or adults is required to complete an Enhanced DBS check and Barred List check before commencement of employment or engagement and at least every 3 years during their employment or engagement.

Regulated activity is work that a barred person must not do. It is defined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (SVGA) which has been amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (PoFA).

Any individual intending to work in a role which involves work with children or adults at risk but is not defined as Regulated Activity will be required to complete an Enhanced DBS check before commencement of employment or engagement and at least every 3 years during their employment or engagement, will regularly monitor the specific nature of roles and whether they are defined as Regulated Activity.

All conditional offers of engagement are subject to receipt of a satisfactory DBS check completed through Snowsport England, and an Overseas Criminal Record check if appropriate.

In order to minimise risk, if a role is not defined as Regulated Activity but requires an Enhanced DBS check and this check takes much longer than anticipated, in exceptional circumstances where a delay in employment or engagement may cause significant operational difficulties the may authorise an individual to commence their work in a supervised capacity.

However, this does not apply to roles considered as working in Regulated activity. If we are not satisfied with the outcome of any of the above checks (DBS check or Overseas Criminal Record check) we may decide to withdraw a conditional offer of engagement.

We may also withdraw a conditional offer of engagement if an applicant has failed to cooperate with this process or if the process has not been completed within reasonable timescales.

Volunteers who begin performing additional duties or a different role that moves them into Regulated Activity will be asked to complete a new Enhanced DBS and Barred List check.

DBS Checks Revealing Content

A DBS check will disclose any spent convictions, cautions or reprimands that are not protected and been subject to filtering by the DBS. DBS checks may also disclose other relevant information based on the position applied for. Snowsport England will receive a notification when a DBS check has revealed content (i.e. an offence); however, Snowsport England will not know the details of the content.

When Snowsport England receives a notification that a DBS check has revealed content, the applicant will be asked to provide the original DBS check for review. Snowsport England will then review the information to decide if any further information or action is required. If the DBS is not provided to Snowsport England for review, it may withdraw any conditional offer of employment or engagement and take appropriate steps to prevent the individual from working with children and adults at risk.

Related Policies and Procedures

This policy should be read alongside our policies and procedures, including:

-Anti-Bullying

-Code of conduct

-Diversity and inclusion

-Online safety and communication

-Photography and filming

-Safeguarding policy