Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

The School of Education fully implements the University of Nottingham’s Safeguarding Policy in relation to children and vulnerable adults. The school has a strong and extensive partnership with local and regional schools, colleagues and other institutions and therefore a central part of the policy focuses on the need for many students in the school to apply for, and receive, a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure.

Who should apply for an Enhanced CRB Disclosure

Any student whose study involves them in contact with children or vulnerable adults. That means:

• all students on PGCE and the SCITT;
• all students on UG and PG Counselling programmes;
• all UG, Masters and Research students whose research involves interviewing, and/or working with, children or vulnerable adults; 
• all UG, Masters and Research students whose research involves working in schools.

International Students

If you are a student based at the University of Nottingham campus then you need to apply for a CRB disclosure if the above applies to you. This applies whether your research is conducted inside, or outside, the UK. 

Additionally you need to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct from your home country. This should be brought with you to the induction event. If you cannot obtain it before this point then it will need to be provided before conducting any form of work in external institutions. If your country does not issue these then please contact the appropriate administrator. For further information please see the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure's information on overseas criminal record checks.

How to Apply for a CRB Disclosure

Initial Teacher Education and Undergraduate and Postgraduate Counselling students are sent a CRB application at an appropriate stage of the application process or during their course. Masters and Research students should discuss with the tutor/supervisor whether they need to apply. Additionally, they should read the School of Education’s ethics information.

Application forms can be requested from the contacts listed above right. Once the application is completed you should take the form and necessary documents to the appropriate administrative assistant for checking.

The cost of a CRB application is currently £44.00. You should pay by cheque made payable to the University of Nottingham. If you are unable to pay by cheque please discuss an alternative method of payment with the administrator. Cash is NOT accepted.

The University of Nottingham Safeguarding Form

In addition to the CRB application you are also required to complete an additional form on which you are requested to disclose any cautions or offences including spent and unspent convictions. This form is compared to your CRB disclosure once received.

Offences/Cautions on the Enhanced Disclosure

Most offences that appear on a CRB disclosure do not prevent a student taking up, or remaining, on course. The School of Education operates a policy that all students with an offence on the disclosure meet with the Taught Courses Manager and a Course Leader/Director. The purpose of the meeting is to support the student in any future job application, discuss any placement implications and the background of the offence. The meeting is confidential unless the offence is of a nature which affects placement on the course.

The Enhanced Disclosure

All disclosures are shredded after 6 months. The date and disclosure number only, are logged on your student record.

Other Information

• If you already have a disclosure from another institution you do need to apply for a new one. This is a University requirement.
• If you are a teacher conducting research in the school in which you are employed and have a CRB issued for that institution then you do not need to apply for another disclosure. 
• A disclosure normally takes 4-6 weeks to be processed once it is received by the CRB. If you have lived in a number of places the process could take longer.
• Schools and Institutions may not ask to see your CRB disclosure. They are entitled to ask for proof of identity (your University card) and your CRB disclosure number and date.
•  Any offence committed during the duration of a course that requires a CRB disclosure should be disclosed to the Taught Courses Manager or appropriate Course Leader. A failure to disclose may result in the suspension of your course.
• A copy of the disclosure is sent to both the student and the University. The student is responsible for the CRB disclosure. The University may not provide the student with its copy.
• If you have any concerns about your application then you may talk to your supervisor, tutor, course leader or Terry Whysall (Taught Courses Manager).