Worker Screening
About
How to check prospective new staff for criminal records, working with children checks and reference checks
Process Map
Related Items
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- Criminal and Police Checks
- NDIS New Worker Induction Module
- Criminal record checks that result in a record
- Pre-employment checks
- Identifying staff that require a worker screen check
- Objections to an NDIS worker screening check
- Managing worker screening records
- Working with children checks
Screening Required for NDIS Support Workers
Screening Required for Aged Care Workers
Process - Step by Step
Start
- Worker screening is the process used when we investigate prospective staff to verify their qualifications and confirm that the person has required clearances. (for example, if the role is a risk assessed role).
- In an environment where staff are in contact with vulnerable people, including
- people with disability,
- children and
- the aged,
- worker screening is a vital part of reducing risks to clients and maintaining our high quality of services.
- This process covers:
- screening all prospective staff
- ensuring staff are checked for their working with children (if relevant), and
- conducting reference checks.
Step 1. Conduct reference checks
- When interviewing prospective staff, ask the applicant for referee details and obtain the applicant’s permission to contact them (ideally, by phone).
- Referees should be past or current employers of the applicant, although they can also be anyone who is able to provide details about the person’s character, education or suitability
- Before contacting the referee, check the information that needs to be verified
- Have relevant managers provided specific instructions for the types of questions that should be asked?
- Are there any aspects of their application or their interview that need to be verified?
- Are there any concerns about the applicant’s suitability that the referee may be able to clarify?
Step 2. Notify applicants about required screening
- Usually, the majority of the relevant security checks will occur after a new applicant is selected
- Identify whether the applicant is or could be working in a risk-assessed role, this may determine whether checks are required (although HWH does have the right to request screening checks for all employees if required)
- Notify the applicant for a risk-assessed role that worker screening is required including:
- what checks are required
- how/when checks should be provided
- any special arrangements while the worker is in the process of obtaining checks (e.g. supervision and risk assessments).
Decision:
Does the applicant already have all the required checks and clearances
Does the applicant already have all the required checks and clearances
- Yes - go to Step 4. Record Information
- No - fall through to Step 3. NDIS worker screening clearance
Step 3. NDIS worker screening clearance
- Staff in risk assessed roles require an NDIS worker screening clearance (or equivalent check during the transition period).
- We have the right to request other roles also have an NDIS worker screening clearance even if those roles are not risk assessed.
Step 5. Obtain a working with children check
- In general, it is the responsibility of the applicant to arrange and pay for a check that clears them to work with children and young people.
- Remember that each state or territory has their own requirements for obtaining this type of check.
Step 4. Record Information
- Record all relevant information about the staff worker screening checks and clearances
End