Safer Recruitment Policy

Safer Recruitment

1. Disclosure and Cleared Staff

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Safe recruitment of staff is central to our safeguarding commitment and all of our positions are ‘exempt’ from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). All Kings Camps staff must declare any unspent convictions or cautions in the recruitment process and complete an enhanced disclosure check to work with children. A DBS update can also be performed for those under the registration for working with children.

DBS checks compatible across the United Kingdom

All information from the separate agencies throughout the UK (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) are similar and therefore DBS checks can be used across all our UK camps.

Scotland – Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG)

The PVG scheme is managed by Disclosure Scotland. Anyone in regulated activity with children is required to join the PVG scheme. For existing PVG scheme members (covering child workforce), a PVG Short Scheme Record will be required. The new organisation will be added to the individual’s scheme membership and will be notified of any information identified for that individual.

2. Equal Opportunities Policy – Staff

No person applying for the position(s) available will be treated less favourably than any other person on the grounds of their race, colour, religion, language, culture, gender, appearance, disability, marital status, class, personality or lifestyle. We will endeavour to employ staff that represent in some way the different ethnic groupings of children attending the camp.

3. Eligibility to Work in the UK

In line with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, all staff must provide evidence of their eligibility to work in the UK

  • On induction day, all staff must show the Site or Regional Manager proof of eligibility documents in person alongside a photocopy of the same documents for Head Office to log
  • If a staff member is not present on induction day, these must be produced on day one before the individual starts work

Staff must produce original documents (and a photocopy of the same documents) from the following list (NB: Driving Licences are NOT acceptable):

  • A current British, EEA or Swiss Passport or National Identity Card (note this is not a Student Card or National Insurance Card)
  • A current Permanent Residence Card, registration certificate or document certifying permanent residence issued by the Home Office, UK Border Agency to a national of an EEA country or Switzerland
  • A current Biometric Immigration Document (Biometric Residence Permit) issued by the UK Border Agency, which indicates that the person is allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK, or has no time limit on their stay.
  • A current passport endorsed to show that the holder is exempt from immigration control, allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK, has the right of abode in the UK and no time limit on their UK stay

The data will be returned to Head Office as part of camp returns, it will be logged (paper copies only) and stored for a period of 2 years in line with data retention guidance.

4. Safeguarding Volunteers and Visitor Status

Kings Camps is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Safer recruitment is central to the way we work and all staff and volunteers are expected to share our commitment to safeguarding, always creating an environment where young people feel safe and can thrive. We recognise that:

  • The welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act 1989 & 2004
  • All children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
  • Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
  • Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare
  • We will seek to keep children and young people safe through the safe recruitment and suitability checking of staff or volunteers

We have a responsibility to make staff at every level aware of their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding. All volunteers, individuals caring for a child or working with a child through a third-party agency therefore:

  • Must be aged 18 or over
  • Will be assigned visitor status, are required to sign in and out each day and wear a visitor lanyard throughout their attendance
  • Are not responsible for, and will not be left alone with, any other children on site Property of Kings Active Foundation 2024 43
  • Will be asked to complete our unique online training on safeguarding and child protection to provide the relevant training on our code of conduct as well as our reporting process, policies and procedures unless they are able to provide proof they hold a similar qualification
  • Will be asked to produce an enhanced disclosure with barred list check prior to camp
  • Will be required to comply with our rules, policies and procedures including a positive attitude towards safeguarding practices

Any individual either caring for a child or working with a child through a third-party agency will be required to provide us with the following information:

  • Full name
  • Address
  • Contact number
  • Email address
  • Enhanced disclosure with barred list check

In addition to the above, if the individual is working through an agency we will also require:

  • Job Title and Department
  • Supervisor/Line Manager name and contact number
  • Employer’s address

All information will be treated in line with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations).