AidCamps International - Applicant Checks

Applicant Checks

In order to protect the local communities where we place Independent AidCamp volunteers, and our partner organisations, we will ask for and may check details of your criminal record. We will also ask for two references, and a health certification from your doctor. This page explains the processes for UK and non-UK residents, and also contains our Recruitment of Ex-offenders Policy.

If you have ever been a resident of more than one country we may require criminal record information from each of those countries. Please note that we cannot accept applications from residents of countries where there is no formal criminal record checking system.

Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from volunteering through us.

All Applicants are required to honestly answer all questions on the application form, including "Do you have a criminal record?"

UK Residents

On Acceptance of Your Application

We will ask you for the details of your criminal record. You are obliged to disclose all convictions defined as unspent by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

For advice on spent and unspent convictions see the Nacro website at www.nacro.org.uk or call their ex-offenders helpline at 0800 0181 259.

On Agreement of Your Placement

Where appropriate we will require you to apply to the Criminal Records Bureau (via an "umbrella body") for a Disclosure of your criminal record.

We will require a Standard Disclosure if your placement puts you in close or regular contact with children or vulnerable adults (most of our placements do), or an Enhanced Disclosure if your placement involves directly working with children or vulnerable adults, or is in healthcare.

As part of the criminal records check you will need to go to a post office to have your identity verified, and this will cost you £5; we pay the other fees involved. The process of obtaining a disclosure can take up to 6 weeks.

We will also ask for references from two people with experience of you in a non-personal capacity, and a health certification from your doctor.

Non-UK Residents

On Acceptance of Your Application

We will ask you for the details of your criminal record. You are obliged to disclose all convictions defined as unspent by the legislation of your country. If your country has no such legislation then you are obliged to disclose all convictions.

On Agreement of Your Placement

You will be responsible for obtaining and sending to us the original of an official listing of your criminal record from your country's authorities. If needed, we can provide supporting documentation, e.g. a letter (in English) explaining why you need the listing.

We will also ask for references from two people with experience of you in a non-personal capacity, and a health certification from your doctor.

If any documents are not in English then you must also provide officially certified translations. We reserve the right to verify all documents with your country's embassy in the UK.

Our Recruitment of Ex-offenders Policy

As an organisation using the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure service to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, AidCamps International complies fully with the CRB Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for placements fairly. It undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed.
AidCamps International is committed to the fair treatment of its volunteers and potential volunteers, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependents, age or offending background.
This written policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders will be made available to all Disclosure applicants at the outset of the recruitment process.
We actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of motivation, skills and potential and welcome applications from a wide range of potential volunteers, including those with criminal records. We select all volunteers for placements based on their motivation, skills, qualifications and experience.
A Disclosure is only requested after a thorough risk assessment has indicated that one is both proportionate and relevant to the placement concerned. For those placements where a Disclosure is required, all application forms, job adverts and recruitment briefs will contain a statement that a Disclosure will be requested in the event of the individual being offered the placement.
We encourage all applicants to provide details of their criminal record at an early stage in the application process. We request that this information is sent under separate, confidential cover, and we guarantee that this information will only be seen by those who need to see it as part of the recruitment process.
Unless the nature of the position allows AidCamps International to ask questions about your entire criminal record, we only ask about ‘unspent’ convictions as defined in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 or by the equivalent legislation of the applicant’s country.
We ensure that all those in AidCamps International who are involved in the recruitment process have been suitably informed to identify and assess the relevance and circumstances of offences, and are familiar with the relevant legislation relating to the employment of ex-offenders, e.g. the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
At interview, or in a separate discussion, we ensure that an open and measured discussion takes place on the subject of any offences or other matter that might be relevant to the position. Failure to reveal information that is directly relevant to the position sought could lead to withdrawal of an offer of a placement.
We undertake to discuss any matter revealed in a Disclosure with the person seeking the placement before withdrawing a conditional offer of acceptance.
We make every subject of a CRB Disclosure aware of the existence of the CRB Code of Practice and make a copy available on request.

CRB Code of Practice PDF, 373kb

Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from volunteering with us. This will depend on the nature of the placement and the circumstances and background of your offences.

AidCamps International is a registered British charity, number 1101059