Vetting process

Requirements for staff and hosts when working for St Brelade’s College

St Brelade’s College has precise requirements, with regards to information provided and background checks that must be met by staff and hosts when working for us. As we are British Council accredited, we adhere to the most current safeguarding standards set by them and our recruitment and disciplinary procedures reflect this.

Staff

Hosts

STAFF REQUIREMENTS

Depending on the job position and the contact the individual will have with children in this position, the documentation, checks and induction procedures will vary accordingly.

WHAT’S REQUIRED?

Teachers are required to complete a St Brelade’s College application form, provide a C.V., copies of their degree, teaching certificates and their original passport presented to prove identity & determine their right to work in Jersey. All qualifications are verified directly with the institution where they were completed. All prospective teachers are interviewed in person, by telephone or video call and 3 references undertaken (2 written & 1 verbal). References specifically ask about a candidates suitability for working with under 18’s and if they have been subject to any disciplinary procedures.
All teachers are inducted before they begin teaching and they are observed as soon as possible after starting.
All teachers, administration & residence staff who have direct contact with children are obliged to present their original passport or recognised proof of identity to the school office as evidence of eligibility to work.
All staff who have direct contact with children are obliged to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check or provide a recent Certificate of Good Conduct (if usually reside abroad) as well as sign our Criminal Record Declaration prior to commencing employment. When applying for a position, any convictions, cautions or bind-over are declared. Applicants are warned that failure to declare any of the aforementioned convictions could result in dismissal or prosecution. Any DBS checks carried out by another institution will be accepted on the proviso that an original copy is presented, it is within three months of date of issue or it is registered on the update renewal service. DBS checks will be rechecked annually if registered on the update renewal service or redone every three years if unregistered. Staff should also notify the school of any changes to the status of the certificate e.g. criminal convictions or pending enquiries.
All staff will carry out the Accreditation UK Safeguarding and Prevent awareness training online.

If a member of staff has applied for a DBS check and it is not back before the employment start date, the management will provide a rationale for employment to commence. The rationale will include ensuring the staff member does not have unsupervised contact with anyone under 18 years; this would include teachers teaching in classrooms located in areas of the school where there are other staff members, activity staff accompanying groups with other staff members, maintenance staff working in areas where other staff members are present.

STAFF DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

In the event of an employee’s work with young people falling short of the standards required, depending on the situation, the employee will usually be offered training and guidance initially by senior staff members. Should standards not improve the employee will then receive a verbal warning followed by a first warning in writing. In the event of a continuation of poor performance the employee will be given notice of dismissal. In cases of misconduct, the employee will be invited to discuss any allegations of misconduct with the Principal or Director of Studies, who will then decide upon a course of action according to the severity of the incident. The school policy is to give a verbal warning for a first offence, followed by a written warning and, should there be insufficient improvement, the staff member may be dismissed with appropriate notice. In cases of gross misconduct a staff member may be dismissed without notice or pay in lieu of notice. In cases of safeguarding allegations, depending on the situation, a referral may be made to the Children and Families Hub and staff may be asked to stand down from their role or change their role, pending investigation.

HOST REQUIREMENTS

Before we can place students in homestay, potential hosts must provide certain information, references and checks for different household members, as well as undergo a home visit by a member of our Student Services team.

WHAT’S REQUIRED?

Applicants are obliged to complete an application form and sign a declaration agreeing to abide by the English UK Homestay Code of Practice and confirm that no one in the household holds a criminal record which would render them unfit to host children. All household members must be declared.
Hosts are obliged to inform the school of any new occupants, staying in the household and should notify the school of any change of circumstances. Hosts are obliged not to allow visitors staying overnight unsupervised access to students under the age of 18 years and should notify the school of details of any visitors staying in the home, confirming visitors will not have unsupervised access to students.
All household members over 18 years are obliged to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. If they do not have a valid DBS certificate, the school will carry one out (the £50 fee per check will need to be paid back if homestay providers host under 4 weeks of the year) and it is then their responsibility to register on the update renewal service at a current cost of £16 per year in order to keep the certificate current. Any Enhanced DBS checks carried out by another institution will be accepted if the workforce type is Child Workforce, it is within three months of date of issue and/or it is registered on the update renewal service. DBS checks will be rechecked annually if registered on the update renewal service or redone every three years if unregistered. Hosts should also notify the school of any changes to the status of the certificate e.g. criminal convictions or pending enquiries. There may be additional checks carried out with the local authorities in order to support homestay applications.
Applicants are obliged to complete two Personal Reference Forms (for their household) for hosting under 18 years and one personal reference form for 18 years or over which are valid indefinitely, at the discretion of the school. References may be followed up verbally at the discretion of the school.
Applicants will be visited and vetted prior to being accepted as a homestay. Vetting will include assessing the suitability of the host(s) to care for children under 18 years. All homestays will be revisited at least every 2 years and spot visits may be randomly carried out. Hosts will be obliged to reapply annually and details of all household members will be recorded and updated accordingly.
Applicants will carry out the Accreditation UK Safeguarding training online, if hosting children under 18 years.
As per St Brelade’s College booking terms, children aged 12 years or under are obliged to share their homestay with a sibling, friend or another student of the same mother-tongue in homestay in order to provide additional safeguarding measures.

HOMESTAY DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

If hosts do not meet the criteria outlined in the English UK Homestay Code Of Practice, the St Brelade’s College homestay guidelines (found on the homestay portal) & safeguarding policy, St Brelade’s College will terminate the contract between them. Homestays which prove to be unsuitable for any reason will be removed from the register. The school would offer training & guidance in many cases where criteria is not met. In cases of suspected misconduct, a referral may be made to the Children and Families Hub and the children would be removed from the homestay, pending investigation.

Useful information

> Definitions of abuse
> Jersey’s Children First Wellbeing Indicators
> School rules for going out in Jersey

Vetting process

STAFF REQUIREMENTS

WHAT’S REQUIRED?

STAFF DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

HOST REQUIREMENTS

WHAT’S REQUIRED?

HOMESTAY DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

Useful information

Reisedokumente

Zahlungsbedingungen

STORNOGEBÜHR

VERSICHERUNG

SCHÜLER MIT VISUM

Documents d’identité pour le voyage

Conditions de paiement

FRAIS D’ANNULATION

ASSURANCE

VISAS ÉTUDIANTS

Travel documentation

Payment terms & conditions

CANCELLATION FEE

INSURANCE

VISA STUDENTS

Process for reporting a concern