Important Guidance for Applicants

Bahá’í Institutions have a responsibility to keep children (up to the age of 18 years) safe when taking part in organised activities.  To assess your suitability to work with children, we are required to ask for certain information as part of our safeguarding policies.  Asking for this information upfront helps us have an open conversation about the circumstances behind any information declared.

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís for the UK treats all individuals involved in organised activities equally and fairly, regardless of of any protected characteristics (ethnicity, disability, age, gender or gender re-assignment, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, marriage or civil partnership).

Answering YES to any of the questions below does not mean that you will be excluded from your chosen service.  We will only consider information that is relevant to the role being applied for and where there may be associated risks.

Failure to provide accurate and truthful information is considered a serious matter.  Any finding of serious misdirection or intent to deceive will result in a review of the application and suitability to volunteer.

If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to contact the Northern Ireland Safeguarding team responsible for AccessNI checks in strictest confidence at BCNI.CSO@bahai.org.uk

Applicants in Northern Ireland Information:

The volunteering post you have applied for is a ‘Regulated Activity’ as it includes unsupervised teaching / training children /young people under the age of 18. The relevant legislation in relation to such posts is the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007.  It is the policy of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom that anyone having such access at a Bahá’í or Bahá’í sponsored activity or event must have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. In Northern Ireland this Certificate is obtained through Access NI. Anyone who is 16 years or above and who is working with young people under the age of 18 will need to apply for an enhanced disclosure certificate.

DBS Barred List

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) keeps a barred list on people who are unsuitable for working with children. People on this list are barred from regulated activity with children and it is a criminal offence for someone on this list to work or apply to work in a regulated activity. In submitting this application you are confirming that you are not on any barred list held by DBS as unsuitable to work with children.

Criminal Records History

The Disclosure will contain details of any convictions not ‘protected’ as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, as amended in 2014. It may also include certain information from police records which the police reasonably believe to be relevant. To be appointed, you must tell us of convictions including spent ones that are not ‘protected’ as defined by the 2014 amendment of the Rehabilitation of Offenders (NI) Order 1978

The fact that a person has a criminal record or has convictions or criminal investigation does not automatically render him/her unsuitable. Suitability is assessed in the light of all information available. The Disclosure Certificate will also indicate if there are no such matters on record.  Any information received will be treated confidentially in line with NSA / BCNI Policies and AccessNI Code of Practice. We will talk to you before a final decision is reached. After the decision is made the information will be destroyed in line with the GDPR Data Protection Act 2018 and other relevant legislation; NSA / BCNI and AccessNI policies.

Once this form is completed, the safeguarding team in Northern Ireland will email you with the next steps required to complete the Access NI Enhanced Record Check. This will involve completing and submitting an AccessNI Online Application and receiving a reference (if this is your first time completing an Access NI check). The safeguarding team will not process your application until all documentation has been received and completed.

A criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining a post and being added to the Accredited Tutors’ list. Suitability is assessed in the light of all the information available. Our policy on the Recruitment of Ex–Offenders is available on request
The safeguarding team in Northern Ireland adheres to AccessNI Code of Practice for Registered bodies available online at    https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/accessni-code-practice  
Also online is the AccessNI Privacy Notice at  https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/publications/ani-privacy

How To Complete This Form

1.      You must answer all questions in this form. Please read the notes underneath each question, as these explain what you need to consider before responding.

2.      If answering YES to any of the questions, you should use the space provided in the form to include any supporting information that you would like us to consider.

3.      If any information you have declared changes after you have submitted this form to us, you must let us know at the earliest opportunity before your commencement date.

TWO DOCUMENTS of identification is needed

All applicants living in or serving in Northern Ireland must provide a minimum of 2 documents to AccessNI when completing the online application. The list of acceptable documents can be found on this website: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/accessni-identity-check-guidance-signatories

These documents need to be presented to an identified ID checker. Once you submit this form, the safeguarding team in Northern Ireland will contact you about the next steps of the process, including the identification check. 

• I confirm that I have read and understood the above guidance.
• I consent to a criminal records check (Access NI) and approaching a person who knows me well for a reference.
• I understand that an Enhanced AccessNI Check against the list of those barred from working with children must be carried out before an appointment can be confirmed. This has been explained to me and I am aware that all convictions not ‘protected’ must be disclosed. I understand that the decision to appoint is made in the light of all information available. I declare that the information I have given is accurate and I consent to the check being made.
• I consent to my personal information being processed and stored by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the UK and the safeguarding team in Northern Ireland.
• I declare that the information I have provided is true and accurate, and I will inform you of any changes which might impact on my suitability for this role.

Additional Information:

Service Role Definitions:

• Children's Class Teacher: Fostering the development of spiritual qualities in children aged up to 11 years old, creating a good classroom environment and sharing the development of the children with their parents. 
• Junior Youth Group Animator: Spiritually empowering small groups of junior youth aged between 11-14 years, guiding them through materials and accompanying them in acts of service. 
• Study Circle Tutor: Helping a group of individuals aged 15+ go through materials of the Ruhi Institute and accompanying them in acts of service to their communities.
• Facilitator: Guiding participants through the study of Bahá'í Writings or prepared materials for reflection.
• Volunteer: Those who give up their time to serve the needs of the participants at various spaces including, but not confined to, children's classes, junior youth groups, study circles or events.
• Other: All other roles including event organisers.

Data Protection Notice:
In compliance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the personal data relating to your registration, which has been or is in the future obtained by The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom may be held and processed by the Assembly either by computer or manually for any purpose relating to the administration or management of the group. Your personal data will also be stored and accessed by the NI safeguarding team who are responsible for AccessNI checks. Your personal data is not shared with any organization outside the Bahá’í institutions.