Police vetting requirements for ECE services
What is Police vetting?
Police Vetting is a search of the Police database for any information held about a person who is the subject of a police vet. Police vetting is not a complete background check of the person, it is important that ECE service providers use the Police vet only as part of their recruitment process and then every 3 years until the person concerned is no longer in a role that means they need to be vetted.
Information about traffic infringements, other than those resulting in demerit points or a suspended driver's licence is not available.
Other information about a subject’s interaction with the police eg as a victim or complainant, may be flagged to the service provider if there is a concern that as a result of their experience (in any context - including family violence) there may be a risk to children placed in the subject's care.
Criminal conviction information is released in accordance with the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004. Details of the vet include the conviction history, location of the court, the date of the offence, the offence itself, and the sentence imposed.
Who needs to have a Police vet?
Every person who is appointed to a position at a ECE service, who is not a registered teacher or holder of a limited authority to teach and who works at the ECE service during normal service opening hours must be vetted.
Every contractor or the employee of a contractor who has or is likely to have unsupervised access to children at the ECE service during service opening hours must also be vetted.
Every person over 17 years of age who lives in a home where a licensed home-based education and care service is being provided, must be vetted (no vetting is required if the home concerned is the home of every child to whom the service is being provided).
What do I do with the results of a Police vet?
The subject of the police vet should be given the opportunity to view any information provided in the vet and correct any inaccuracy of information.
The decision whether to employ an individual when the Police vet has revealed they have had involvement with the police remains the responsibility of the service provider. For points to consider when making this decision refer to the guidance on police vetting on the Police website.
This information is confidential to the subject and the service provider and needs to be securely stored until it is no longer useful for employment purposes. Only those staff delegated with staff responsibilities that would require them to access the information should be able to do so.
Where do I get a Police Vet completed?
All vetting is to be done through the New Zealand Police Licensing and Vetting Service Centre. To receive an individualised agency code and the Consent to Disclosure of Information Form, schools and ECE services should email QueryME@police.govt.nz [no spam].