Information for Applicants Requiring Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Clearance
Where an offer of a place is made subject to a CRB check this is indicated in the relevant programme entry in this prospectus. We will assist applicants in the process of gaining their CRB enhanced disclosure certificate and further details will be sent to applicants once they are invited to attend for an interview. The University requires that all those people who will be working unsupervised with children or vulnerable adults gain an enhanced disclosure certificate from the CRB before commencing their programme.
When completing the application form applicants should declare any convictions, cautions or bind overs that they have received – irrespective of when they received them or whether the applicant considers them to be ‘spent’ or of insufficient consequence to report them. If, before applying, an applicant would like advice as to whether a previous offence is likely to prevent their entry onto a particular course they are welcome to write in confidence to: Lorraine Symonds, Admissions Manager. The envelope should be marked ‘Private and Confidential’.
Applicants with convictions, cautions or who have been bound over are not automatically barred from studying Health related or Primary Education programmes. The University considers each applicant separately. What is important is that applicants are open with us about their past.
Where an applicant declares a conviction, caution or bind over, we make an academic decision first. Once this has been completed, those offered a place will be asked to submit further information concerning their circumstances and then a decision is taken as to whether to confirm the offer.
Where an applicant fails to disclose information that subsequently comes to light through the CRB process, the applicant faces the likelihood of having their offer of a place withdrawn.
Non-UK residents must go through the CRB process when they commence their programme. It is expected that students from those countries where a further check can be made, will also go through this process. Further advice will be given to non-UK resident applicants at the time of being called for interview.
As of 1st March 2006 the University no longer accepts certificates from other organisations.
There is a charge made by the CRB for this process (currently £36) and a £5 administrative charge made by the University. Some health-related programmes have these charges paid for by the Department of Health. Details of charges will be given to you once an offer of a place has been made or can be requested from the Department of Admissions and Recruitment.
Applicants for 2010 Entry
The Government has announced that there will be a review of the arrangements in relation to safeguarding, and particularly the requirement that anyone wishing to work, or train to work, with children or vulnerable adults must be registered with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). This includes, but is not limited to, the following subject areas:
- Early Childhood Studies
- Education Studies
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy
- Operating Department Practice
- Physical Education and Sport & Exercise Science
- Play Therapy
- Radiography
- Social Work
- Teaching
Where indicated in the prospectus or on the University’s website, specific programmes/modules may involve regular access to children and/or vulnerable adults, also known as regulated activity.
Where this is the case, students may be legally required to register with the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) which is administered by the Independent Safeguarding Authority. The Independent Safeguarding Authority is a single agency that monitors all individuals who want to work or volunteer with vulnerable groups. Registration with the scheme will cost £64*, as a one off payment, which will cover both the cost of registration and a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. Following successful registration a person will be issued with an ISA Registration Number which will stay with you for the rest of your career. The University will send further information on registering with the VBS as part of the admissions process when they become available.
*the University also charges an administrative fee which is currently £5 at the time of posting this information.
For further information on the Independent Safeguarding Authority please visit their website:
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