CAS

FAQs and Other Info

FAQ’S ABOUT THE DISCLOSURES

What is the shelf life of a disclosure?
Advice varies on this – the CRB has recommended that a disclosure is valid only for 3 months since that is how long they keep the information. See next question…

Can disclosures be used elsewhere – for other employment or volunteer roles?
The simple answer is no. A disclosure is for a particular job or role at a particular time. Other organisations may accept them, check with the body to which you are applying.

The CAS now states that no previous Disclosures may be accepted from outside of CAS. Disclosures may be transferred within CAS but the new role will have to be assessed in the light of any information on your disclosure. The CAS decided on the basis of legal advice that the certificate can be used for other similar roles within the church up to 6 months from the date of issue and only within the CAS umbrella. If you are working in more than one church denomination check the transferability with each organisation.

If you need to reuse your disclosure obtained through CAS in a new setting, check with that organisation to find out their rules on this.

FAQ’S ABOUT THE FORMS AND COMPLETING THEM

What forms do we need?
1. You will need the CRB form and guidance notes – either obtained direct from CRB or via your denomination.
2. Churches Agency for Safeguarding (CAS) forms specific to your denomination are available from your relevant websites, head offices, ministers or secretaries etc. A CAS form must accompany each CRB form and will show us who has seen your documents (the verifier) and who we should inform about your disclosure recruitment checks.
3. You will also need the CAS - Documentary Evidence Sheet which is signed by the verifier and shows us which documents have been seen and used as evidence which do not appear in section X.
4. The CAS form and Documentary Evidence Sheet are available through your denomination – check the policy books or denominational websites under the policy name for Child Protection eg. Safeguarding, Safe to Grow.

Why are forms often returned?
There was an error rate of about 55 to 60% plus in the year 2003. A random sampling of forms was carried out by the CAS in January 2005 and came up with a chart (Pdf) showing the errors. Clearly this is frustrating since this costs valuable time and money. So in the interests of keeping your denomination’s expense on this exercise to a minimum, PLEASE READ THE GUIDANCE NOTES. See also Error charging information on the NEWS page.

Where are the guidance notes?
The CRB issue guidance notes with every form.The CRB guidance notes are not essential, please make sure you have a copy of the Registered Body (CAS) guidance as well.
The CAS is now issuing their guidance notes to verifiers and with some CAS forms distributed from the office.
The most up-to-date guidance notes are on the website – and downloadable from this site or denominational websites.

Do we still have to complete other forms for our own church or meeting?
Yes, you will still have to complete registration or application forms to become a volunteer or employee. You should also have a volunteer agreement or contract. You may be required to offer references. These should happen as part of your recruitment process alongside the CRB/ CRBS checks. If you are new to an organisation you may also have to confirm your identity independently of the CRB/CRBS documentary evidence process.

What happens if there is information on your disclosure?
1. First of all you should check whether it is correct. If it is not you should write to the CRB with a copy to us asking for the information to be corrected.
2. In cases where there is anything significant shown the Lead Countersignatory at the CAS office will also write to you to confirm the content of your disclosure, you will have ten days to respond.
3. At this point there may be a discussion on an anonymous basis with the lead person in the denomination you are seeking to work in, in order to decide whether a panel conference is necessary to consider the matter.
4. If there are minor matters, not relevant to the role, a letter will be sent at this point recommending that there is nothing in your disclosure to prevent you working in that role.
5. Once you have confirmed the content of your disclosure, or having challenged it and we have received the new one, we may confirm that the disclosure shows nothing that prevents you working with children. If the arrangement of a panel is necessary, this panel will consider the matter. This will be considered by an independent panel of experts in the denomination or District where you want to work, not by the CAS. In most cases they will not have a copy of the disclosure, they will have all the relevant information anonymously, in order to make an informed decision.

What are the Data Protection rules on the storage of Disclosure information?The CAS must destroy Disclosures and information taken from them within 6 months, retaining only a record of the names and dates of birth of the application, the disclosure number and the date received. The denominations or local church will only hold the letter recording the CAS recommendation on suitability.

WHO SHOULD APPLY FOR A DISCLOSURE?
The CRB offers two levels of Disclosure, Enhanced and Standard, it defines their suitability as follows:

An Enhanced Disclosure is usually obtained by individuals who have regular contact with children and young people, and whose work in the church might involve ‘regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge’. The following roles would normally require an Enhanced Disclosure in most of the denominations: –

Children and youth workers· Junior Church workers and Sunday School teachers

Leaders of weekday groups, holiday clubs and residential weekends

Officers of youth organisations (e.g. Girls Brigade, Boys Brigade etc)

Workers with Under 5’s

Ministers and Methodist Deacons, Lay workers(Pastoral, Children and Young People), Children’s advocates and specific Baptist Deacons.
CHECK WITH YOUR DENOMINATION/ ORGANISATION’S POLICY BEFORE YOU APPLY

Standard Disclosures are usually issued for those who regularly undertake limited roles which bring them into contact with children and young people but who have no supervising or training responsibilities. This can include anyone who may be on the premises when there are children and young people present e.g. cleaners, caretakers.
CHECK WITH YOUR DENOMINATION/ ORGANISATION’S POLICY BEFORE YOU APPLY